The KDE Project has released KDE Frameworks 6.18, which brings several enhancements and features, particularly in the realm of usability and visual performance. This update comes alongside notable versions of KDE Plasma 6.4.5 and KDE Gear 25.08.1.
One of the standout features in this release is the capability to utilize the Copilot key on laptops to launch applications, similar to other keyboard shortcuts. However, users currently cannot remap the Copilot key to act as another key, although developers are working towards this functionality.
The update also includes visual improvements for loading toolbars, better integration with Plasma’s job tracker to prevent sleep and screen locking during tasks, and enhanced performance across Kirigami-based applications and the System Settings pages. Notably, it boosts the speed of thumbnail generation throughout all KDE apps and enhances overall performance and memory usage.
In terms of design choices, KDE Frameworks 6.18 has removed colorful third-party app icons from the Breeze icon theme. This decision was made due to the lack of resources to maintain these icons and to respect the branding of third-party apps.
Several bug fixes have also been implemented, addressing issues with the Plasma System Monitor sensor widgets, crashes related to file dragging in Dolphin, and problems with draggable list items in Kirigami-based apps and System Settings pages. Additionally, the release resolves a flaw that prevented the "File already exists!" dialog from appearing when renaming files on the desktop.
Users are encouraged to check their distribution’s software repositories for availability of KDE Frameworks 6.18 and update their systems promptly, particularly if they’re utilizing the KDE Plasma desktop environment or related applications.
For more details on the changes introduced in KDE Frameworks 6.18, you can visit the release announcement page.