TL;DR
KDE Plasma has announced that its upcoming version 6.8 will eliminate support for the X11 display server, moving entirely to Wayland. The change will be effective with the release in approximately five months, signaling a significant shift in the project’s development focus.
KDE Plasma has announced that version 6.8 will be the final release to support the X11 display server, with the X11 session removed from the login screen and all related code eliminated. This marks a major milestone in KDE’s transition to Wayland, the modern display protocol.
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According to official statements from KDE, the removal of X11 support will be included in Plasma 6.8, expected around March 2024. Starting with this release, users will only be able to log into Plasma via Wayland, as X11 sessions will no longer be available at login. All X11-specific code paths in Plasma Shell, System Settings, and device configuration will be removed.
Despite the removal of native X11 support, XWayland will continue to be supported, allowing users to run X11 applications seamlessly within the Wayland session. KDE assures that applications designed for X11 will remain functional, and users on other desktop environments will not be affected. Plasma’s login manager will still permit logging into X11 sessions of other desktop environments.
Why It Matters
This transition is significant because it consolidates KDE’s development efforts into a single, modern display protocol—Wayland—potentially improving performance, security, and system efficiency. It also reflects broader industry trends favoring Wayland over X11, which has been the standard for Linux graphics for decades.
For users, this means adapting to a new environment, with some workflows and custom scripts potentially needing updates. The move aims to streamline development and enable new features that are difficult to implement with the legacy X11 system.
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Background
KDE began its gradual shift from X11 to Wayland over the past few years, with Plasma 5.27 marking a significant milestone in this transition. Internal metrics indicate that over 95% of Plasma 6.6 users are on Wayland, with the majority of development and testing now focused on this protocol. The decision to phase out X11 support aligns with industry-wide moves toward Wayland, which offers improved security, compositing, and modern graphics capabilities.
Previously, KDE maintained support for both display servers to ensure stability and compatibility, but ongoing development and user feedback have shown a clear trend toward Wayland adoption.
“It’s done when it’s done! We’ve reached a point where X11 support is being phased out entirely in Plasma 6.8.”
— Martin, KDE developer
“Moving forward with a single code path through Wayland will allow us to bring new performance improvements, memory optimizations, and exciting features throughout Plasma.”
— KDE official statement
What Remains Unclear
It is not yet clear how some specialized workflows, custom scripts, or third-party tools that rely heavily on X11 will adapt or be affected by this change. KDE acknowledges that some users may experience issues during the transition and encourages feedback.
What’s Next
Following the release of Plasma 6.8, KDE will continue to monitor user feedback and address any issues related to Wayland support. The development focus will shift entirely to enhancing Wayland capabilities, with future updates aimed at improving stability, performance, and feature set. Users are encouraged to test the latest beta versions and report any problems.
Key Questions
Will X11 applications stop working after Plasma 6.8?
No. XWayland support will continue, allowing X11 applications to run within the Wayland session.
Why is KDE removing X11 support now?
The majority of users are already on Wayland, and removing X11 support simplifies development, improves performance, and aligns with industry standards.
Will this affect users on older Plasma versions?
No. The change is specific to Plasma 6.8. Users on Plasma 5.27 and earlier will not be affected until they upgrade to Plasma 6.8.
What issues might I face during the transition?
Some specialized workflows, custom scripts, or tools might need adjustments, and there may be initial bugs or compatibility issues as users adapt to Wayland.
Source: Hacker News
