KDE 4.2 installation/upgrade on Debian,Kbuntu and OpenSuse

January 27, 2009. The KDE  Community announced the immediate availability of "The Answer", (a.k.a KDE 4.2.0), readying the Free Desktop for end users. KDE 4.2 builds on the technology introduced with KDE 4.0 in January 2008. After the release of KDE 4.1, which was aimed at casual users, the KDE Community is now confident we have a compelling offering for the majority of end users.

Debian 
KDE 4.2.0 packages are in the experimental repository. Installation Information .

Kubuntu 
Januty: Packages for the development Jaunty release are available. If you use Jaunty you will be able to upgrade as normal.

Interpid: 
Packages for Kubuntu 8.10 can be installed by following the instructions below. If you installed KDE 4.2 Beta or RC you can merely update your existing installation.

Instructions
The updated packages for Kubuntu 8.10 are located in the Kubuntu Experimental Software Personal Package Archive (PPA) repository. To update to KDE 4.2, please follow these instructions:

1) Remove the koffice-data-kde4 package if you have it installed. The current koffice2 packages in the kubuntu-members-kde4 PPA are incompatible with the KDE 4.2 packages since they try to install icons to the same locations.

2)Follow the Kubuntu Repository Guide to enable Recommended Updates and add the following to your 'Third-Party Software' tab:

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/kubuntu-experimental/ubuntu intrepid main

3) You can add the package signing key with this command:

gpg --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys 493B3065 && gpg --export -a 493B3065 | sudo apt-key add -

4) Old Plasma packages are not compatible with KDE 4.2, you should uninstall any plasmoids.

5) You can now update any existing KDE 4 installation to the most recent version using the Adept Updater tool in your system tray.

6) Now log out and press Alt + E to restart X. When you log in you will have KDE 4.2.

Opensuse
openSUSE packages are available in one click installation for
openSUSE 11.1 (one-click install )
openSUSE 11.0 (one-click install )
openSUSE 10.3 (one-click install ).
KDE Four Live CD with KDE 4.2 is also available .

Compiling KDE 4.2.0
The complete source code for KDE 4.2.0 may be freely downloaded . Instructions on compiling and installing KDE 4.2.0 are available from the KDE 4.2.0 Info Page .

Spread the Word
The KDE team encourages everybody to spread the word on the Social Web as well. Submit stories to websites, use channels like delicious, digg, reddit, twitter, identi.ca. Upload screenshots to services like Facebook, FlickR, ipernity and Picasa and post them to appropriate groups. Create screencast, upload them to YouTube, Blip.tv, Vimeo and others. Do not forget to tag uploaded material with the tag kde42 so it is easier for everybody to find the material, and for the KDE team to compile reports of coverage for the KDE 4.2 announcement. This is the first time the KDE team is attempting a coordinated effort to use social media for their messaging. Help KDE spreading the word, be part of it.

On web forums, inform people about KDE's new compelling features, help others getting started with their new desktop.


Reporting KDE Bugs
Please report all KDE bugs and feature requests at bugs.kde.org . The site has a nice bug-reporting "wizard" and will permit far easier tracking of bugs than an email to a list.

Sources
kde.org
Kubuntu