Summary

The web content provides instructions for installing KDE Plasma 6 on Arch Linux using the extra/testing repository.

Abstract

The article "Get KDE plasma 6 on Arch — the one minute setup" outlines two methods for installing the latest version of KDE Plasma, which at the time of writing is not available in the Arch extra repository but can be found in the extra/testing repository. The first method, dubbed the "rapid option," involves uncommenting the extra-testing repository in the pacman.conf file and performing a system update. The second, more complex method, entails manually selecting which packages to update from the extra-testing repository by adding specific lines to the pacman.conf file. This approach allows for more granular control over package updates. Both methods conclude with a system synchronization and potentially a reboot to enjoy the new Plasma desktop environment. The article also provides guidance on how to revert to the stable extra repository once the new Plasma version is officially released there.

Opinions

The author implies that the rapid option is straightforward and suitable for users who wish to update all KDE Plasma packages to the testing versions.
The more complex option is presented for users who prefer to selectively update specific packages, indicating a preference for stability or dependency management.
The article suggests that moving to the extra-testing repository is a temporary solution until the new Plasma version is available in the stable extra repository, indicating a cautious approach to using testing repositories.
The author's use of phrases like "voilà" and "enjoy your brand-new plasma 6" conveys enthusiasm and satisfaction with the KDE Plasma 6 desktop environment.

Get KDE plasma 6 on Arch — the one minute setup

ATM the new version of KDE plasma is not available yet on the extra repository of arch. But it is on the extra/testing repository !

There is a simple step by step explanation on how to move to it.

First, if you want to see all the plasma related package, you can do it with pacman like that :

$ sudo pacman -Qe | grep plasma
eos-plasma-sddm-config 22.03.1.2-1
eos-settings-plasma 1.5-1
kdeplasma-addons 5.27.10-2
plasma-desktop 5.27.10-1
plasma-disks 5.27.10-1
plasma-nm 5.27.10-1
plasma-pa 5.27.10-1
plasma-systemmonitor 5.27.10-1

Then you have two options : a rapid one and a more complex one.

The rapid option is very simple, you just move from extra to extra/testing.

The more complex one is the same, but you set a couple more of parameter in the pacman configuration file for updating only the package you want. The downside is that you have to enter the full list of package you want to move from extra to extra/testing.

The rapid option

We open the pacman configuration file :

nvim /etc/pacman.conf

And we need to seek for the repository section, it looks like that :

Here you can see that the extra-testing part is commented. So we just need to remove the # part and uncomment it.

There you should have something like that :

[endeavouros]
SigLevel = PackageRequired
Include = /etc/pacman.d/endeavouros-mirrorlist

#[core-testing]
#Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

[core]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

[extra-testing]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

[extra]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist

So, after that, we need to sync all that :

pacman -Syu

And after some question, for example for moving baloo to testing, hit a reboot and voilà ! You have plasma 6.

The more complex option

If you want to pick, by hand, all the package you want to move you have to add a little extra line to your pacman.conf file :

[extra-testing]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
Usage = Sync Search

Here, the usage parameter gives us the possibility to be specific when we want to install something from the extra/testing repository !

And all the other packages keep working with the extra repository (for example when you do a pacman -Syu) 🙂

Then next you can sync :

pacman -Sy

After that, you have to pick all the package you want to move. A quick way to check the list is to initiate a sync with the list of package we have found with pacman -Qe :

And next rerun your pacman -Syu with all the package name.

— — — — — —

Then enjoy your brand-new plasma 6 🥳

How to go back when the release is out on extra ?

You just have to remove the following line to your pacman.conf file :

[extra-testing]
Include = /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
Usage = Sync Search

and do a pacman -Syu, reboot and done !