KDE accumulates a lot of unnecessary files and components over time.
KDE accumulates a lot of unnecessary files and components over time.
I'm setting up Arch on an old system to give it a new life. I considered KDE because it's user-friendly for people who already use Windows, has a nice appearance, and uses fewer resources compared to Xfce Desktop. I tried GNOME 40, but it felt too unfamiliar. After removing it, I switched to Linux-zen with the standard kernel instead. I also had to revert to xorg because Wayland was causing many issues on my GTX 275 graphics card. Once xorg was installed, I began adding Plasma and KDE applications. I didn’t realize how complicated it would become. My main concerns are why KDE is so bloated and how to clean up by removing everything except essential programs in one go (a minimal install).
A simplified version that cuts out excess elements, possibly from a GitHub script—though I couldn’t locate one.
Which distribution should you choose? If you opt for a Debian-based system, you can use Apt to apply the no-install-recommends flag. This ensures only KDE and its necessary dependencies are installed, excluding anything extra. They emphasize "everything but the essential programs."
You're referring to Arch's lightweight approach—installing just the essential meta-package as suggested in the wiki. The kde-applications group handles all available KDE tools, making it straightforward. This philosophy aligns with users who prefer customizable solutions that fit their needs without unnecessary bloat. If you're concerned about excess features, it's worth noting that many alternatives offer full functionality while staying streamlined.
In Arch Linux, the kde-applications group contains all installed KDE applications. You added them yourself, and KDE didn’t automatically include them. The default KDE package set is just Plasma. If you prefer fewer packages, avoid pulling group or meta packages. On other distributions, this depends on how they organize their packages.
Use your package manager to delete all unwanted items (pacman -Rs konversation konqueror discover...). Save these commands as a script so you can run them easily next time. I fully understand—KDE should focus on improving the desktop environment instead of creating low-quality apps, especially since we’re not even paying for development.