KDE turns 30, bids farewell to X11 with Plasma 6.8

KDE is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a significant change in its graphical architecture. The recently released KDE Plasma 6.8 is fully compatible with Wayland, moving away from the X11 system. While applications designed for X11 can still run through XWayland, the decision to adopt Wayland as the standard reflects a shift towards more modern and efficient technologies.

## Why it matters This change is crucial for KDE users, as Wayland promises better performance and security compared to X11. However, the transition also means that some traditional features, such as screen recording with X11-based tools and the ability to "shade" windows, will no longer be available. This may impact those who rely on these functions in their daily workflows.

## What we know The new Plasma 6.8 version includes enhancements and tweaks that improve integration with non-KDE tools. For instance, the Spectacle screenshot tool can now include system audio and microphone input in recordings. Additionally, KWin, which now handles both window management and display server duties, brings a set of refinements that enhance the user experience.

## What remains unclear It is still unconfirmed whether KDE plans to restore some of the features that have been removed with the transition to Wayland, such as window shading. Moreover, how the restoration of saved sessions will behave under this new environment remains to be determined, which could affect the user experience for those who depend on this functionality.