KDE 4.0 Compilation Requirements

Compilers

Compiler Requirements. KDE is designed to be portable and hence to compile with a large variety of GNU/Linux, UNIX, Windows and MacOS compilers. However, KDE is advancing very rapidly and the ability of native compilers on various systems to compile KDE depends on users of those systems reporting compile problems to the responsible developers.

In addition, the C++ implementation in gcc, the most popular KDE compiler, has been advancing rapidly, and has also recently undergone a major redesign. As a result, KDE will not compile properly with older versions of gcc or their newest unreleased version.

Compiler support table
Compiler	Version	Status	Comment
gcc	3.2 and older	Not supported
	3.3	Supported
	3.4	Supported
	4.0	Supported	4.0.0 is not supported
	4.1	Supported
	4.2	Supported
	4.3	Experimental	May or may not work, but patches are accepted
Microsoft VisualStudio	6.0	Not supported
	.NET 2002	Not supported
	.NET 2003	Supported
	.NET 2005	Supported	Including the Express version
	.NET 2008	Supported	No reports yet of success, but there shouldn't be problems
SunStudio	11	Unknown
	12	Ongoing	Support is being worked on

Software Requirements, by Function

Basic

Package	Level	Description	Explanation	Modules
Qt >= 4.3	Required	Qt is the C++ cross-platform GUI toolkit upon which the great majority of KDE is built.	Qt is required by all KDE modules.	kdelibs, kdepimlibs, kdebase, kdeadmin, kdeartwork, kdebindings, kdeedu, kdegames, kdegraphics, kdemultimedia, kdenetwork, kdepim, kdesdk, kdetoys, kdeutils, koffice, kdevelop
FreeType	Recommended	A Free, High-Quality, and Portable Font Engine	Better DVI support in okular	kdegraphics
FooPackage	Recommended	Foo description	Foo explanation	kdemodule, kdemodule, kdemodule

Help

Package	Level	Description	Explanation	Modules
libxml2 >= 2.4.8	Recommended	Libxml provides an XML parser and toolkit. XML is a metalanguage to design markup languages, such as HTML.	Libxml is used for reading KDE documentation. Note that even though earlier versions of libxml2 may work, versions 2.4.26 through 2.4.28 have a bug which prevents their use in KDE.	kdelibs, kdepimlibs, kdebase, kdeadmin, kdeartwork, kdebindings, kdeedu, kdegames, kdegraphics, kdemultimedia, kdenetwork, kdepim, kdesdk, kdetoys, kdeutils, koffice, kdevelop
FooPackage	Recommended	Foo description	Foo explanation	kdemodule, kdemodule, kdemodule

Hardware

Package	Level	Description	Explanation	Modules
CUPS >= 1.1.9	Optional	CUPS (the Common Unix Printing System) is a modern printing architecture for UNIX systems.	CUPS provides enhanced printing administration, printing options and usability to all KDE applications. KDE provides tools to configure CUPS.	kdelibs, kdebase
FooPackage	Recommended	Foo description	Foo explanation	kdemodule, kdemodule, kdemodule

Networking

Package	Level	Description	Explanation	Modules
pppd	Optional	Pppd is a PPP (Point-to-Point Protocol) daemon. PPP is a common protocol for connecting to the Internet via a modem.	Kppp uses pppd to connect to the Internet using a computer POTS modem.	kdenetwork
LibVNCServer / LibVNCClient >= 0.9.1 (download)	Optional	LibVNCServer / LibVNCClient is a library for VNC support.	KRDC uses LibVNCClient for VNC client support. Krfb uses LibVNCServer for VNC server support.	kdenetwork
rdesktop >= 1.5.0	Optional	rdesktop is a Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) client.	KRDC uses rdesktop for RDP support.	kdenetwork
FooPackage	Recommended	Foo description	Foo explanation	kdemodule, kdemodule, kdemodule

Browsing

Package	Level	Description	Explanation	Modules
Java >= 1.3	Recommended	Java is a programming language designed for use in the distributed environment of the Internet. Since Netscape integrated Java into its browser, Java has become a popular language for websites.	Some websites require the use of Java for some or all of their services. In addition, Java bindings exist for KDE which enables writing KDE applications in the Java language.	kdebase, kdebindings
FooPackage	Recommended	Foo description	Foo explanation	kdemodule, kdemodule, kdemodule

Security

Package	Level	Description	Explanation	Modules
OpenSSL >= 0.9.6	Recommended	OpenSSL is a robust, commercial-grade, full-featured and Open Source toolkit implementing the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL v2/v3) and Transport Layer Security (TLS v1) protocols as well as a full-strength general purpose cryptography library.	KDE uses OpenSSL for the bulk of secure communications, including secure web browsing via HTTPS.	kdelibs, kdebase, kdenetwork, kdepim
FooPackage	Recommended	Foo description	Foo explanation	kdemodule, kdemodule, kdemodule

Graphics

Package	Level	Description	Explanation	Modules
OpenGL	Recommended	OpenGL is an industry-standard API for developing portable, interactive 2D and 3D graphics applications.	The 3D hardware acceleration available through the OpenGL API is used in applications ranging from graphics and modellers to screensavers and video players.	kdelibs, kdebase, kdegraphics, kdemultimedia
Poppler	Recommended	PDF rendering library	Adds PDF support to okular	kdegraphics
Ghostscript	Recommended	PS library	Adds PS support to okular	kdegraphics
libchm	Recommended	CHM library	Adds CHM support to okular	kdegraphics
djvulibre	Recommended	DjVu library	Adds DjVu support to okular	kdegraphics
libTIFF	Recommended	TIFF library	Adds TIFF support to okular	kdegraphics
libjpeg	Recommended	JPEG library	Needed for PalmDB docments in okular	kdegraphics
CUPS lpr and/or lp	Recommended	CUPS version of lpr or lp commands	Needed for advanced printing of PDF, PS, or DJVU docments in okular	kdegraphics
FooPackage	Recommended	Foo description	Foo explanation	kdemodule, kdemodule, kdemodule

Multimedia

Package	Level	Description	Explanation	Modules
ALSA	Recommended	ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) provides audio and MIDI functionality for Linux.	ALSA provides advanced audio support for various KDE multimedia and audio applications	kdelibs, kdemultimedia
Xine-lib	Recommended	The Xine libraries are a backend to decode and play various format of multimedia files (audio and video).	Phonon uses Xine as its main backend	kdebase-runtime
FooPackage	Recommended	Foo description	Foo explanation	kdemodule, kdemodule, kdemodule

Note: at least one Phonon backend must be compiled if you want to have any multimedia support.

Development

Package	Level	Description	Explanation	Modules
Subversion	Optional	Subversion is a revision control system like CVS.	KDevelop 3.0 can use Subversion to maintain a revision control repository for projects. There is also a kioslave for Subversion.	kdesdk, kdevelop
FooPackage	Recommended	Foo description	Foo explanation	kdemodule, kdemodule, kdemodule

Education

Package	Level	Description	Explanation	Modules
OCaml + libfacile	Optional	Objective Caml is the most popular variant of the Caml language; a Functional Constraint Library	OCaml and libfacile are used to implement a chemical equation solver in kalzium	kdeedu
Python + Boost.Python	Optional	Python is a programming language. Boost.Python is a Boost library to allow easy interface of C++ to Python.	Boost.Python is needed for Python scripting in kig.	kdeedu
Readline	Optional	Readline is a library for having an input prompt.	It is used in KAlgebra's console version (calgebra).	kdeedu

Software Requirements, by Module

Module	Required	Recommended	Optional	Comments
kdelibs	Alsa (Linux), Perl, GIF, JPEG, LibXml2, LibXslt, PNG, SharedMimeInfo, Strigi, ZLib	ACLs, BZip2, Libintl, OpenGL, OpenSSL	ASpell, Avahi, DNSSD, Enchant, FAM, Kerberos GSSAPI, HSpell, Jasper, OpenEXR, PCRE, Soprano
kdepimlibs	Boost, Gpgme	LDAP, Sasl2
kdebase-runtime	Bzip2, Xine, Strigi	XCB	OpenEXR, Samba, Soprano, CLucene
kdebase-workspace+apps	Blitz, Strigi	OpenGL	BlueZ, Freetype, GLIB2, GObject, LibXKlavier, Nepomuk, NetworkManager, RAW1394, Sensors, Soprano, XKB
kdepim	Boost, QGpgme, Strigi, ZLib	OpenSSL	GLIB2, GNOKII, LibXslt, Mal, MySQL, Nepomuk, Opensync, Pilotlink, Plasma, QCA2	Only xsltproc from the libXslt package; Plasma from kdebase-workspace
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