KaOS 2025.09: Independent, Polished, and Plasma‑First

KaOS 2025.09: Independent, Polished, and Plasma‑First

Table of contents:-

A Distribution with a Singular Vision

The Installer Experience

Package Management the KaOS Way

The Online Package Viewer

Beyond the Basics: What’s New in 2025.09

Conclusion

With the recent headlines surrounding the KDE Linux Alpha release, many readers may be curious about what a Plasma‑first Linux system looks like in practice. KaOS 2025.09 provides the answer — not as an experiment, but as a mature, independent distribution that has been refining this vision for over a decade. Built entirely from scratch, KaOS is unapologetically focused on KDE Plasma, the Qt toolkit, and 64‑bit systems.

This September 2025 release continues that tradition with updated Plasma, Frameworks, and Gear, a refreshed Midna theme, and thoughtful refinements across the installer, package management, and system tools. KaOS 2025.09 is not about chasing every possible feature — it’s about clarity, cohesion, and a user experience that feels deliberately crafted rather than pieced together.

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A Distribution with a Singular Vision

KaOS is not based on Arch, Debian, Fedora, or any other parent distribution. Every package is built in‑house, for KaOS, by KaOS. This independence allows the developers to make bold choices without compromise. From the beginning, the project has been unapologetically focused on KDE Plasma as its sole desktop environment, Qt as its toolkit, and 64‑bit architecture as its foundation.

This clarity of purpose is what gives KaOS its character. It doesn’t try to be everything to everyone. Instead, it aims to be the best at one thing: delivering a seamless, modern KDE experience. That means no sprawling repositories with dozens of desktop environments, no legacy 32‑bit baggage, and no dilution of effort.

The September 2025 release continues this trajectory, bringing Plasma 6.4.5, KDE Gear 25.08.1, and Frameworks 6.18.0, all built on Qt 6.9.2. The Midna theme has been refreshed with new icons, wallpapers, and a modernized splash screen, ensuring that the visual experience is as cohesive as the technical underpinnings.

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The Installer Experience

KaOS uses the Calamares installer, but with its own refinements. In 2025.09, the Welcome page has been reworked to avoid launching a web browser as root — a long‑standing security concern. Instead, KaOS now uses a QML Drawer to provide information directly within the installer. This small but thoughtful change reflects the project’s attention to detail and its commitment to doing things the right way.

One of the standout features of the installer is its flexibility with filesystems. Automated partitioning now supports XFS, EXT4, Btrfs, and ZFS, giving users a range of modern options without requiring manual setup. By default, KaOS opts for XFS with CRC and finobt enabled. This choice is not arbitrary: CRCs improve error detection, while the inode btree optimizations ensure faster, more consistent performance as the filesystem ages. It’s a forward‑looking default that balances reliability with efficiency.

The installer also gives users a choice of office suites. Calligra remains the default, in keeping with KaOS’s Qt‑first philosophy, but LibreOffice is also available for those who prefer it. This dual offering strikes a balance between ideological consistency and practical flexibility.

Beyond partitioning and office suites, the installer integrates seamlessly with KaOS’s post‑installation tools. Once the system is up and running, the Croeso application greets users with options to adjust common settings, select wallpapers, and install additional packages from curated groups. This smooth onboarding process helps new users feel at home without overwhelming them.

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Package Management the KaOS Way

KaOS uses Pacman as its package manager, the same tool that powers Arch Linux. But make no mistake: KaOS is not Arch‑based. Every package in KaOS is built from scratch, and the repositories are curated with a focus on quality over quantity.

For graphical package management, KaOS provides Octopi. This lightweight, Qt‑based frontend makes it easy to browse, install, and remove software without touching the command line. It’s a perfect fit for KaOS’s audience: users who appreciate KDE’s polish but still want the power of a rolling release.

The repositories themselves are intentionally limited in scope. KaOS doesn’t aim to provide every piece of software under the sun. Instead, it focuses on delivering the best tools for the job, with a preference for Qt applications. That said, GTK applications like Firefox, GIMP, and Thunderbird are available when no viable Qt alternatives exist.

For those who need software outside the official repositories, KaOS offers the KaOS Community Packages (KCP). This system allows users to share PKGBUILDs, similar to Arch’s AUR, but tailored for KaOS. In 2025.09, KCP has been fully migrated to Codeberg, with its manager rewritten for better accuracy and maintainability. This move not only strengthens the community ecosystem but also aligns with KaOS’s commitment to open‑source infrastructure.

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The Online Package Viewer

Transparency is a hallmark of KaOS, and the online package viewer exemplifies this. Instead of leaving users guessing about what’s available, KaOS provides a dedicated web interface where anyone can browse or search the repositories. This tool is invaluable for planning installations, checking dependencies, or simply exploring what the distribution has to offer.

The package viewer reflects KaOS’s philosophy of clarity and focus. By keeping the repositories lean and well‑documented, the project ensures that users spend less time sifting through clutter and more time getting things done.

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Beyond the Basics: What’s New in 2025.09

KaOS 2025.09 is more than just a routine update. It marks a significant milestone in the project’s evolution. For the first time, a default installation is completely free of Qt5. KDE Frameworks based on Qt5 have been removed from the repositories, signaling a full transition to Qt6. While Qt5 is still available for those who need it, its days are numbered. This clean break underscores KaOS’s commitment to staying current and avoiding legacy cruft.

Other highlights of this release include:

• Plasma‑login‑manager: A new, Plasma‑based replacement for SDDM is now in the repositories, though not yet the default. Its inclusion points to a future where even the login manager is fully integrated into the Plasma ecosystem.

• IsoImageWriter rewrite: Now QML‑based, it can not only write ISOs to USB but also download ISOs from other distributions.

• New applications: Typst (a modern typesetting system), Plasma Bigscreen (for HTPCs and TVs), and Hydrogen (a drum sequencer and synth) are now part of the KaOS experience.

• Phonon‑mpv backend: Replacing VLC as the default Phonon backend, this change ensures full Qt6 compatibility.

• Kjournald: A new GUI tool for viewing system logs, making it easier for users to troubleshoot without memorizing journalctl commands.

These additions reflect KaOS’s balance of innovation and pragmatism. The distribution doesn’t chase novelty for its own sake, but it does embrace new technologies when they align with its vision.

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Conclusion

KaOS 2025.09 is a release that embodies the project’s ethos: focus, integration, and quality. By refining the installer, embracing modern filesystems, streamlining package management, and completing the transition to Qt6, KaOS continues to carve out a unique niche in the Linux world.

It’s not a distribution for everyone, and that’s precisely the point. KaOS is for users who know what they want: a polished, KDE‑centric system that values coherence over breadth. In a landscape where many distributions try to be all things to all people, KaOS’s clarity of purpose is refreshing.

For those who appreciate its philosophy, KaOS 2025.09 is not just another release — it’s a statement of intent.

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Disclaimer

All product names, logos, and brands mentioned in this article are the property of their respective owners. KDE, Plasma, Qt, Pacman, Octopi, Calligra, LibreOffice, and other trade names or trademarks are acknowledged as belonging to their rightful holders.

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References

• KaOS Official Website

• KaOS Download Page

• KaOS 2025.09 Release Notes

• Distribution Release: KaOS 2025.09 (DistroWatch.com News)

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