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# SonicDE

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- Desktop environment
- KDE
- XLibre
- Xorg
- Display manager
- Window manager
- Qt
- SDDM

SonicDE (the Sonic Desktop Environment) is an X11-focused desktop environment based on forked KDE Plasma components. It aims to preserve and improve KDE's X11-specific code after upstream KDE announced that the Plasma X11 session will be removed in Plasma 6.8.

SonicDE currently consists of the customized KWin/X11 `sonic-win` window manager and compositor, Plasma Workspace-derived components, the Silver theme, an SDDM theme, and support libraries.

## Installation

### SonicDE binary repository

The SonicDE project provides `x86_64` binary packages through an unofficial user repository.

Install the sonicde-meta package from the SonicDE repository.

The included packages replace installed KDE counterparts where needed. When prompted by pacman, confirm the replacements.

### AUR packages

Alternatively, install SonicDE with the sonicde-metaAUR package.

### Migrating from KDE Plasma

If you are using KDE, disable `plasmalogin.service` before installing SonicDE.

If the graphical session is interrupted during installation, switch to a Linux console (for example with `Ctrl+Alt+F3`) and complete the installation as described in #Installation. To use Sonic Login Manager, enable/start `soniclogin.service`. Alternatively, continue using SDDM or another X11-capable display manager.

## Starting SonicDE

SonicDE is normally started through a display manager.

### Using a display manager

To use Sonic Login Manager, enable `soniclogin.service`. Other X11-capable display managers such as SDDM can also be used.

After logging in, open System Settings and check the About this System page to verify that the running session is SonicDE.

## Configuration

SonicDE inherits many configuration concepts from KDE Plasma. Most desktop settings are configured through System Settings. For generic KDE/Plasma-derived configuration topics, see KDE#Configuration.

For display-manager configuration, see Display manager and SDDM. For X11-specific configuration, see Xorg and XLibre.

## Troubleshooting

### Graphical session interrupted during installation

If installation interrupts the graphical session, switch to a Linux console and complete the installation described in #Installation. To use Sonic Login Manager, enable/start `soniclogin.service`.

### Login manager issues

If you cannot reach a graphical login screen, ensure that a display manager is enabled and started. See Display manager and SDDM. If you use Sonic Login Manager, check the status of `soniclogin.service`.

For packaging issues, report problems to sonicde-arch or to the relevant package repository in the SonicDE Arch package repositories.

### KDE configuration issues

Many configuration issues are shared with KDE Plasma because SonicDE is based on KDE/Plasma components. See KDE#Troubleshooting for generic KDE troubleshooting.

## See also

- SonicDE homepage
- SonicDE GitHub organization
- SonicDE for Arch Linux

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- Desktop environments

SonicDE
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