KDE 4.2 Compilation Requirements -- intended to be a comprehensive list of all external software needed to build a full-featured KDE 4.2.

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	Supported
Microsoft VisualStudio	6.0	Not supported
	.NET 2002	Not supported
	.NET 2003	Supported
	.NET 2005	Supported	Including the Express version
	(.NET )2008	Supported	Including the Express version
SunStudio	11	Unknown
	12	Ongoing	Support is being worked on

Buildsystem

Platform	Package	Level	Description	Explanation	Modules
ALL	CMake >= 2.6.2	Required	CMake is a cross-platform make system used that forms the basis of the KDE4 buildsystem.	CMake is required to build all KDE4 code on all platforms.	ALL
Linux, Unix	Make or GNU Make	Required	Make is a tool which controls the generation of executables and other non-source files of a program from the program's source files.	Any version shipped with your operating system should be ok.	ALL

Software Requirements, by Function

Basic

Package	Level	Description	Explanation	Modules
Qt 4.4	Required	Qt is the C++ cross-platform GUI toolkit upon which the great majority of KDE is built.	Qt is required by all KDE4 code.	ALL
Shared-Mime-Info >= 0.20	Required	The freedesktop.org shared MIME database		ALL
FreeType	Recommended	A Free, High-Quality, and Portable Font Engine	Better DVI support in okular	kdegraphics

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

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

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

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

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

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-Qt4	Recommended	PDF rendering library	Adds PDF support to Okular	kdegraphics
libspectre	Recommended	PostScript library	Adds PostScript support to Okular (including support for printing preview in any KDE application)	kdegraphics
chmlib	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 documents in Okular	kdegraphics
ebook-tools	Recommended	eBook tools	Adds EPub support 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

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

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
CVS	Optional	CVS is a revision control system.	Cervisia is a graphical frontend for the CVS client.	kdesdk

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	Blitz, Strigi, Xine (Linux,Unix)	BZip2, XCB	OpenEXR, Samba, Soprano, CLucene
kdebase-workspace	Blitz, Strigi	OpenGL, LibXKlavier	BlueZ, Freetype, GLIB2, GObject, NetworkManager, RAW1394, Sensors, LibUSB
kdebase-apps	Blitz, Strigi		Soprano, XKB
kdeaccessibility			ALSA
kdeadmin				No compilation requirements
kdeartwork	Strigi	Xscreensaver	OpenGL
kdeedu	Zlib		BoostPython, CFitsio, Eigen, Libfacile, Nova, OCaml, OpenBabel2, OpenGL, Readline, SBIG, LibUSB
kdegames			GGZ, OpenGL
kdegraphics	Strigi	Blitz, Exiv2, JPEG, LibGS, Poppler, SANE,	CHM, DjVuLibre, Freetype, Gphoto2, TIFF
kdemultimedia	ALSA		Cdparanoia, FLAC, MusicBrainz, OggVorbis, Taglib, Theora, TunePimp
kdenetwork	Blitz, Boost, ZLib	OpenSSL	Decibel, DNSSD, IDN, JPEG, LibVNCServer, LibXml2, LibXslt, QCA2, SLP, Sqlite, Xmms
kdepim	Boost, QGpgme, Strigi, ZLib	OpenSSL	GLib2, GNOKII, LibXslt, LibMal, MySQL (Embedded), OpenSync, Pilotlink, QCA2	Only xsltproc needed from the libXslt package
kdesdk	Strigi		LibXml2, LibXslt, Subversion, CVS
kdeutils	Blitz		GMP, LibZip, Python Libs, tpctl
kdetoys	Strigi