Moving from Kubuntu to kde-core

What's KDE's relationship with Kubuntu?
So there are other ways to have KDE in Kubuntu?
Why kde-core?
Installing kde-core from scratch
Getting to kde-core from a standard Kubuntu installation

What's KDE's relationship with Kubuntu?

KDE is the K Desktop Environment, a complete user interface for a Linux-based operating system. Ubuntu has a version that defaults to having KDE (as opposed to Gnome in Ubuntu and Edubuntu, or Xfce in Xubuntu) called Kubuntu. Kubuntu has a special configuration of KDE consisting of a bunch of software packages the Kubuntu developers thought were a good set of basic applications for most users.

So there are other ways to have KDE in Kubuntu?

There are other ways to install KDE, though, and metapackages make it easy for you to select another configuration. A metapackage contains no software itself, but it is a list or collection of names of other software packages. These are the ones (from small to large) readily available in the Ubuntu world:

kdebase - This is the absolute bare minimum to run KDE. You will get very little frills, and you may be missing what you consider a lot of essential software.
kde-core - This metapackage contains another minimal configuration for KDE but has enough to satisfy most users. The one major missing component is kde-guidance, the package that allows you to configure in the control panel preferred screen resolution and refresh rate.
kubuntu-desktop - This is Kubuntu's default set of applications and services.
kde - Everything but the kitchen sink... actually, this may have the kitchen sink, too! This metapackage points to all the KDE-related packages available.

Why kde-core?

You may not have a reason to run kde-core. You might be perfectly satisfied with kubuntu-desktop. If so, go on your merry way—you don't really need this page. Some people are attracted to kde-core because they want more control over what gets installed (they'd rather build from the ground up than remove unwanted packages one at a time). Others want to try kde-core because it might run more lightly (i.e., faster) on their systems than the standard Kubuntu.

Installing kde-core from scratch

If you haven't yet installed Kubuntu and also have an Alternate CD, then you should install the command-line system only. Once you're done, and you log in, you'll end up at a command prompt that looks like username@computername:~$

At the prompt, type

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install kde-core xorg kdm
sudo /etc/init.d/kdm restart

Then you should be up and running with kde-core. Enjoy!

Getting to kde-core from a standard Kubuntu installation

Of course, if you already have Kubuntu installed, which has more packages than kde-core, how do you get back to kde-core? Well, that's what this command will help you do.

If you're using Kubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy), paste this command into the terminal:

sudo apt-get remove adept adept-batch adept-common adept-installer adept-manager adept-notifier adept-updater akregator amarok amarok-xine apport-qt ark debtags digikam dolphin fftw3 foomatic-db-gutenprint gdebi-kde gnupg-agent gpgsm gtk-qt-engine hplip-gui ijsgutenprint k3b kaddressbook kaffeine kaffeine-xine kamera karm katapult kbstate kcron kde-guidance kde-guidance-powermanager kde-icons-mono kde-style-polyester kde-systemsettings kdeadmin-kfile-plugins kdebluetooth kdegraphics-kfile-plugins kdemultimedia-kfile-plugins kdemultimedia-kio-plugins kdenetwork-kfile-plugins kdepim-kio-plugins kdepim-kresources kdepim-wizards kdesudo kdnssd keep kghostview kio-apt kio-locate kio-umountwrapper kipi-plugins kmag kmail kmailcvt kmilo kmix kmousetool kmplayer-base kmplayer-konq-plugins knetworkconf knotes konq-plugins kontact konversation kooka kopete korganizer kpf kppp krdc krfb kscreensaver ksnapshot ksplash-engine-moodin ksvg ksystemlog ktorrent kubuntu-artwork-usplash kubuntu-default-settings kubuntu-desktop kubuntu-docs kubuntu-konqueror-shortcuts kvkbd kwalletmanager kwin-style-crystal language-selector-qt libclucene0 libcluceneindex0 libept0 libflac++6 libgmp3c2 libgpgme11 libifp4 libijs-0.35 libimlib2 libk3b2 libkbluetooth0 libkcal2b libkcddb1 libkdcraw1 libkdepim1a libkexiv2-1 libkleopatra1 libkmime2 libkpimexchange1 libkpimidentities1 libksba8 libkscan1 libksieve0 libktnef1 libmimelib1c2a libnjb5 libofa0 libopenobex1 libpoppler-qt2 libpq5 libpth20 libpythonize0 libqt-perl librsync1 libruby1.8 libsearchclient0 libskim0 libsmokeqt1 libstreamanalyzer0 libstreams0 libstrigihtmlgui0 libtunepimp5 libxapian15 network-manager-kde networkstatus openoffice.org-kde pinentry-qt pykdeextensions python-kde3 python-qt3 python-qt4-dbus python2.5-dev qca-tls rdiff-backup restricted-manager-kde ruby ruby1.8 scim-qtimm skim software-properties-kde speedcrunch strigi-applet strigi-daemon && sudo apt-get install kde-core

If you're using Kubuntu 7.04 (Feisty), paste this command into the terminal:

sudo apt-get remove acpi-support adept adept-batch adept-common adept-installer adept-manager adept-notifier adept-updater akregator amarok amarok-xine anacron apmd app-install-data apport apport-qt ark avahi-autoipd avahi-daemon bc binutils bluez-cups bluez-pin bluez-utils bogofilter bogofilter-bdb bogofilter-common brltty bsh ca-certificates cdparanoia cdrdao cupsys cupsys-bsd cupsys-client cupsys-common cupsys-driver-gutenprint dc debtags desktop-file-utils dhcdbd dictionaries-common digikam dvd+rw-tools fftw3 finger foo2zjs foomatic-db foomatic-db-engine foomatic-db-hpijs foomatic-filters fortune-mod fortunes-min fping freeglut3 gcc gcc-4.1 gcj-4.1-base gconf2-common gdb genisoimage gij gij-4.1 gs-common gs-esp gs-esp-x gsfonts gtk-qt-engine gwenview hotkey-setup hpijs hplip hplip-data hwdb-client-common hwdb-client-kde iso-codes k3b kaddressbook kaffeine kaffeine-xine kamera karm katapult kbstate kcron kde-guidance kde-guidance-powermanager kde-icons-mono kde-style-polyester kde-systemsettings kdeadmin-kfile-plugins kdebluetooth kdegraphics-kfile-plugins kdemultimedia-kfile-plugins kdemultimedia-kio-plugins kdenetwork-filesharing kdenetwork-kfile-plugins kdepim-kio-plugins kdepim-kresources kdepim-wizards kdnssd keep kexi kghostview kio-apt kio-locate kipi-plugins kmag kmail kmailcvt kmilo kmix kmousetool kmplayer-base kmplayer-konq-plugins knetworkconf knetworkmanager knotes koffice-data koffice-libs konq-plugins kontact konversation kooka kopete korganizer kpdf kpf kppp krdc krfb kscreensaver ksnapshot ksplash-engine-moodin ksvg ksystemlog ktorrent kubuntu-artwork-usplash kubuntu-default-settings kubuntu-desktop kubuntu-docs kubuntu-konqueror-shortcuts kwalletmanager kwin-style-crystal landscape-client language-selector-common language-selector-qt laptop-mode-tools lftp libakode2 libao2 libapm1 libarts1-akode libatk1.0-0 libavahi-core5 libbluetooth2 libcairo2 libcdparanoia0 libcupsimage2 libcurl3 libcurl3-gnutls libdaemon0 libdatrie0 libdirectfb-0.9-25 libexif12 libexiv2-0.12 libflac++5c2 libflac7 libgadu3 libgcj-bc libgcj-common libgcj7-0 libgconf2-4 libglade2-0 libgmp3c2 libgpgme11 libgphoto2-2 libgphoto2-port0 libgpod1 libgs-esp8 libgsl0 libgstreamer-plugins-base0.10-0 libgstreamer0.10-0 libgtk2.0-0 libgtk2.0-bin libgtk2.0-common libgutenprint2 libhunspell-1.1-0 libicu36 libid3tag0 libidl0 libieee1284-3 libifp4 libimlib2 libjasper-runtime libjaxp1.3-java libjline-java libjpeg-progs libk3b2 libkcal2b libkcddb1 libkdepim1a libkexiv2-0 libkipi0 libkleopatra1 libkmime2 libkpimexchange1 libkpimidentities1 libkscan1 libksieve0 libktnef1 liblockdev1 libmagick9 libmeanwhile1 libmimelib1c2a libmodplug0c2 libmpcdec3 libmtp5 libmusicbrainz4c2a libmysqlclient15off libneon25 libnjb5 libnl1-pre6 libnm-util0 libnss-mdns libofa0 liboggflac3 libopenobex1 liborbit2 libpango1.0-0 libpango1.0-common libperl5.8 libpoppler1 libpoppler1-qt libportaudio0 libpq5 libpulse0 libpythonize0 libqt-perl libqt4-core libqt4-gui libqt4-qt3support libqt4-sql librecode0 librsync1 libruby1.8 libsamplerate0 libsane libscim8c2a libsdl1.2debian libsdl1.2debian-alsa libskim0 libslp1 libsmokeqt1 libsndfile1 libsnmp-base libsnmp9 libspeex1 libsqlite0 libstartup-notification0 libstlport5.1 libtag1c2a libtdb1 libthai-data libthai0 libtheora0 libtunepimp5 libungif4g libuniconf4.2 libusplash0 libvisual-0.4-0 libwpd8c2a libwps-0.1-1 libwrap0 libwvstreams4.2-base libwvstreams4.2-extras libx86-1 libxalan2-java libxerces2-java libxine1 libxp6 libxplc0.3.13 libxvmc1 linux-headers-2.6.20-15 linux-headers-2.6.20-15-generic linux-headers-generic make min12xxw mscompress mysql-common network-manager networkstatus openoffice.org-calc openoffice.org-common openoffice.org-core openoffice.org-draw openoffice.org-hyphenation openoffice.org-impress openoffice.org-java-common openoffice.org-kde openoffice.org-math openoffice.org-style-crystal openoffice.org-style-human openoffice.org-writer openprinting-ppds openssl patch perl-suid pnm2ppa poppler-utils powermanagement-interface powermgmt-base powernowd pykdeextensions python-apport python-dbus python-kde3 python-launchpad-bugs python-problem-report python-qt3 python-qt4 python-sip4 python-software-properties python-uno python-xdg python2.5-dev qca-tls qobex radeontool rdiff-backup readahead ruby ruby1.8 samba-common scim-qtimm screen sgml-base skim slocate smartdimmer smbclient software-properties-kde speedcrunch ssl-cert toshset ttf-arabeyes ttf-arphic-ukai ttf-arphic-uming ttf-baekmuk ttf-bengali-fonts ttf-bitstream-vera ttf-devanagari-fonts ttf-freefont ttf-gentium ttf-gujarati-fonts ttf-indic-fonts ttf-kannada-fonts ttf-kochi-gothic ttf-kochi-mincho ttf-lao ttf-malayalam-fonts ttf-mgopen ttf-opensymbol ttf-oriya-fonts ttf-punjabi-fonts ttf-tamil-fonts ttf-telugu-fonts ttf-thai-tlwg unattended-upgrades unzip usplash vbetool vorbis-tools wodim wvdial x-ttcidfont-conf xbitmaps xcursor-themes xml-core xterm zip && sudo apt-get install kde-core

If you're using Kubuntu 6.10 (Edgy), paste this command into the terminal:

sudo apt-get remove adept adept-batch adept-common adept-installer adept-manager adept-notifier adept-updater akregator apt-index-watcher bogofilter bogofilter-bdb bogofilter-common dcraw debtags digikam digikamimageplugins flac gtk2-engines-gtk-qt gwenview hwdb-client-kde imagemagick kaddressbook kaffeine kaffeine-xine karm katapult kaudiocreator kbstate kcron kde-guidance-powermanager kde-icons-mono kde-systemsettings kdeadmin-kfile-plugins kdebluetooth kdegraphics-kfile-plugins kdemultimedia-kfile-plugins kdenetwork-filesharing kdenetwork-kfile-plugins kdepim-kio-plugins kdepim-kresources kdepim-wizards kdnssd keep kghostview kio-apt kio-locate kipi-plugins kitchensync kmag kmail kmailcvt kmilo kmix kmousetool kmplayer-base kmplayer-konq-plugins knetworkconf knode knotes koffice-data koffice-libs konq-plugins kontact konversation kooka kopete korganizer kpdf kpf kppp krdc krfb krita krita-data kscd kscreensaver kscreensaver-xsavers ksnapshot ksplash-engine-moodin ksvg ksystemlog ktorrent kubuntu-artwork-usplash kubuntu-default-settings kubuntu-desktop kubuntu-docs kubuntu-konqueror-shortcuts kwalletmanager kwin-style-crystal language-selector-qt latex-xft-fonts libc6-dev libexif-dev libgmp3c2 libgpgme11 libgphoto2-2-dev libgsl0 libifp4 libimlib2 libjasper-runtime libjpeg-progs libk3b2 libkcal2b libkdepim1a libkexif1 libkipi0 libkleopatra1 libkmime2 libkpimexchange1 libkpimidentities1 libkscan1 libksieve0 libktnef1 liblockdev1 libmagick++9c2a libmimelib1c2a libmysqlclient15off libnjb5 libpoppler1-qt libpq4 libpythonize0 libqt-perl libqt4-core libqt4-gui libqt4-qt3support libqt4-sql librsync1 libruby1.8 libskim0 libsmokeqt1 libsqlite0 libtdb1 libtunepimp3 libxine-extracodecs libxine1 linux-libc-dev mysql-common ncompress ocrad openoffice.org-kde openoffice.org-style-crystal p7zip p7zip-full postfix procmail pykdeextensions python-elementtree python-kde3 python-qt3 python-qt4 python-sip4 python2.4-dev qca-tls qobex qt4-qtconfig rdiff-backup ruby ruby1.8 sane-utils scim-qtimm skim speedcrunch vcdimager wlassistant zoo && sudo aptitude update && sudo aptitude install kde-core

If you're using Kubuntu 6.06 (Dapper), paste this command into the terminal:

sudo apt-get remove acpi-support adept akregator amarok amarok-xine apmd app-install-data arj ark artsbuilder avahi-daemon bc bicyclerepair blt bluez-cups bluez-pcmcia-support bluez-utils brltty bsh cdparanoia cdrdao cdrecord cupsys-driver-gutenprint dc dcraw debtags diveintopython doc-base doc-debian docbook-xml dvd+rw-tools example-content fastjar finger flac foo2zjs foomatic-db-gutenprint foomatic-db-hpijs foomatic-filters-ppds fortune-mod fortunes-min gcc-3.3-base gcj-4.1 gcj-4.1-base gettext gij-4.1 gtk2-engines-gtk-qt gwenview hotkey-setup hpijs hplip hplip-data hplip-ppds ijsgutenprint imagemagick intltool-debian irssi java-common java-gcj-compat k3b kaffeine kaffeine-xine karm katapult kaudiocreator kcron kde-guidance kde-style-lipstik kde-systemsettings kdeadmin-kfile-plugins kdebluetooth kdegraphics-kfile-plugins kdemultimedia-kfile-plugins kdenetwork-filesharing kdenetwork-kfile-plugins kdepim-kresources kdepim-wizards kdnssd keep kio-apt kio-locate kipi-plugins kitchensync klaptopdaemon kmailcvt kmilo kmix kmplayer-base kmplayer-konq-plugins knetworkconf knode knotes koffice-data koffice-libs konq-plugins kontact konversation kooka kopete korganizer kpdf kpf kppp krdc krfb krita krita-data kscd kscreensaver kscreensaver-xsavers ksplash-engine-moodin ksvg ksystemlog ktorrent kubuntu-artwork-usplash kubuntu-default-settings kubuntu-desktop kubuntu-docs kubuntu-konqueror-shortcuts kwalletmanager kwin-style-crystal landscape-client language-selector-common language-selector-qt laptop-mode-tools latex-xft-fonts lftp libadns1 libadns1-bin libakode2 libao2 libapm1 libarts1-akode libavahi-core4 libbluetooth1 libbrlapi1 libcdio6 libcurl3 libcurl3-gnutls libdaemon0 libflac++5c2 libgcj-common libgcj7 libgcj7-awt libgcj7-dev libgcj7-jar libgcj7-src libgd2-noxpm libgeoip1 libgmp3c2 libgnucrypto-java libgpod-common libgpod0 libgstreamer-plugins-base0.10-0 libgstreamer0.10-0 libgutenprint2 libhsqldb-java libicu34 libid3-3.8.3c2a libieee1284-3 libifp4 libijs-0.35 libimlib2 libiso9660-4 libjasper-runtime libjaxp1.2-java libjessie-java libjline-java libjpeg-progs libk3b2 libkexif1 libkipi0 libkpimexchange1 libkscan1 liblockdev1 libmagick9 libmail-sendmail-perl libmdbtools libmodplug0c2 libmpcdec3 libmusicbrainz4c2a libmysqlclient15off libneon25 libnetcdf3 libnss-mdns liboggflac3 libopenobex-1.0-0 libpoppler1-qt libportaudio0 libpq4 libpythonize0 libqt-perl libraptor1 librasqal0 librdf0 librecode0 librsync1 libruby1.8 libsamplerate0 libsane libscim8c2a libscrollkeeper0 libsdl1.2debian libsdl1.2debian-alsa libservlet2.3-java libskim0 libsmokeqt1 libsndfile1 libsnmp-base libsnmp9 libspeex1 libsqlite0 libsqlite3-0 libstdc++5 libstlport4.6c2 libt1-5 libtdb1 libtheora0 libtunepimp3 libunicode-string-perl libuniconf4.2 libvcdinfo0 libvisual-0.4-0 libvisual-0.4-plugins libwpd8c2a libwvstreams4.2-base libwvstreams4.2-extras libxalan2-java libxerces2-java libxine-main1 libxml-parser-perl libxmlsec1 libxmlsec1-nss libxmlsec1-openssl libxp6 libxplc0.3.13 libxt-java libxvmc1 min12xxw miscfiles mkisofs mysql-common ncompress ocrad openoffice.org openoffice.org-base openoffice.org-calc openoffice.org-common openoffice.org-core openoffice.org-draw openoffice.org-impress openoffice.org-java-common openoffice.org-kde openoffice.org-l10n-en-us openoffice.org-math openoffice.org-writer pcmcia-cs perl-tk pnm2ppa po-debconf powermanagement-interface powermgmt-base powernowd pykdeextensions python-adns python-apt python-cddb python-clientcookie python-crypto python-egenix-mxdatetime python-egenix-mxproxy python-egenix-mxstack python-egenix-mxtexttools python-egenix-mxtools python-epydoc python-eunuchs python-examples python-gadfly python-gd python-gdbm python-genetic python-geoip python-gnupginterface python-htmlgen python-htmltmpl python-id3lib python-imaging python-imaging-sane python-jabber python-kde3 python-kjbuckets python-ldap python-mysqldb python-netcdf python-newt python-numeric python-pam python-parted python-pexpect python-pgsql python-pisock python-pqueue python-pyao python-pylibacl python-pyogg python-pyopenssl python-pyorbit python-pyvorbis python-pyxattr python-qt3 python-reportlab python-simpletal python-soappy python-sqlite python-stats python-syck python-tk python-unit python-uno python-xdg python-xml python-xmpp python2.4-adns python2.4-apt python2.4-clientcookie python2.4-crypto python2.4-dbus python2.4-dev python2.4-dictclient python2.4-egenix-mxdatetime python2.4-egenix-mxproxy python2.4-egenix-mxstack python2.4-egenix-mxtexttools python2.4-egenix-mxtools python2.4-epydoc python2.4-eunuchs python2.4-examples python2.4-gadfly python2.4-gd python2.4-gdbm python2.4-geoip python2.4-htmlgen python2.4-htmltmpl python2.4-id3lib python2.4-imaging python2.4-imaging-sane python2.4-jabber python2.4-kde3 python2.4-kjbuckets python2.4-ldap python2.4-librdf python2.4-libxml2 python2.4-libxslt1 python2.4-mysqldb python2.4-numeric python2.4-pam python2.4-pexpect python2.4-pgsql python2.4-pycurl python2.4-pylibacl python2.4-pyopenssl python2.4-pyorbit python2.4-pyxattr python2.4-qt3 python2.4-reportlab python2.4-reportlab-accel python2.4-simpletal python2.4-sip4-qt3 python2.4-soappy python2.4-sqlite python2.4-syck python2.4-tk python2.4-unit python2.4-xml python2.4-xmpp qca-tls qobex radeontool raptor-utils rdesktop rdiff-backup readahead redland-utils ruby ruby1.8 sane-utils scim-qtimm screen scrollkeeper sgml-data skim slocate smartdimmer speedcrunch tcl8.4 tetex-base tetex-bin tetex-doc tetex-extra tex-common tk8.4 toshset ttf-arabeyes ttf-arphic-uming ttf-baekmuk ttf-bengali-fonts ttf-devanagari-fonts ttf-gentium ttf-gujarati-fonts ttf-indic-fonts ttf-kannada-fonts ttf-kochi-gothic ttf-kochi-mincho ttf-lao ttf-malayalam-fonts ttf-mgopen ttf-opensymbol ttf-oriya-fonts ttf-punjabi-fonts ttf-tamil-fonts ttf-telugu-fonts ttf-thai-tlwg unzip usplash vbetool vcdimager vorbis-tools wlassistant wvdial xcursor-themes xli xscreensaver xscreensaver-data xscreensaver-gl xserver-xorg-input-synaptics xterm zip zlib1g-dev zoo && sudo aptitude update && sudo aptitude install kde-core