I recently updated the packages on my FreeBSD 13.1 machine, but something broke the desktop effects in KDE which provides things like wobbly windows, various transitions, and the shadow effects around windows.

I’m putting this post up to try to seek help on the matter, and I’ll update it when I find a solution.

I’m not sure when the packages for FreeBSD on the quarterly update cycle actually update, but I’m presuming January is one of those moments due to the large number of packages that wanted to update.

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KDE 5.25 was recently released, and I wondered how long a new release takes to show up for FreeBSD.

I asked the ever-helpful @FreeBSDHelp about this.

@FreeBSDHelp With KDE 5.25 out recently, what’s the typical time from release to a KDE update being available for FreeBSD?

And when it is available, would you have to be on latest rather than quarterly pkg updates to get it sooner?

— Tom (@TomaszJ) June 17, 2022

The response was that it depends on how much might need to be updated, but that there is a proactive team that works on bringing KDE to FreeBSD.

Generally depends on degree to which the the whole stack (or not) needs to be updated. Our Desktop & KDE teams are very proactive and work closely with the @kdecommunity

Check out: https://t.co/GUoEibYPCa for more info and join us at #freebsd-desktop on @liberachat 🙂

— FreeBSD Help (@FreeBSDHelp) June 17, 2022

There are a couple of useful links there. You also likely need to be on the latest rather than quarterly packages. I’ll update my repo config at some point for that.

There’s also a GitHub repo you can keep your eye on.

Whoop! Forgot to mention that the KDE team maintains an in-development KDE repository for work in progress and testing updates before it hits the official tree. You can keep an eye out on whats going on right here: https://t.co/Zx9bhHE84p

— FreeBSD Help (@FreeBSDHelp) June 17, 2022