KDE Plasma Wayland Protocols 1.14 is Released, Prepare for KDE 6.2

The Plasma Wayland Protocols are a vital component of the Plasma desktop, providing the set of Wayland protocol XML files for currently non-standard protocols relied upon by the Plasma desktop with its KWin compositor. Today marks the release of version 1.14, bringing exciting new features and improvements to enhance the user experience.

Taking Control of Brightness: kde_external_brightness_v1

A significant addition in this release is the introduction of the kde_external_brightness_v1 protocol. This protocol offers a new method for externally controlling the brightness of display devices.

In modern displays, especially those capable of handling High Dynamic Range (HDR) content, the Wayland compositor often needs to dynamically adjust the brightness of the backlight for optimal viewing. This could be for content-adaptive brightness, where the display adapts to the content's brightness levels, or for other reasons.

The kde_external_brightness_v1 protocol enables this brightness control to be handled by a separate process outside the compositor, such as KDE's PowerDevil. This separation offers several advantages:

• Improved Flexibility: It allows for more sophisticated brightness control logic, potentially incorporating features like automatic night mode or ambient light sensing.

• Enhanced Performance: Offloading brightness control from the compositor can improve overall performance and responsiveness, particularly when dealing with complex brightness adjustments.

• Modular Design: By separating brightness control from the compositor, the protocol promotes modularity, allowing different brightness management solutions to be seamlessly integrated.

Enhancing Display Flexibility: kde_output_device_v2

Alongside the new kde_external_brightness_v1, the kde_output_device_v2 protocol receives an update as well. It now includes support for setting the brightness in Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) display mode. This enhancement further empowers users to fine-tune their display settings and achieve optimal viewing comfort.

Refining Client Geometry Management: org_kde_plasma_window_management

The org_kde_plasma_window_management protocol also sees improvements in this release. It now adds support for setting the client geometry of windows without decorations. This feature aims to improve coordinate-based click support within the Selenium-AT-SPI code.

This enhancement is particularly important for developers working on automated testing tools that rely on precise coordinate-based interactions. By providing better control over window geometry, the protocol contributes to more reliable and accurate automated testing procedures.

What's Next: Preparing for Plasma 6.2

Plasma Wayland Protocols 1.14 plays a crucial role in the development of the upcoming Plasma 6.2 release. It is a required component for ensuring seamless integration and optimal performance within the latest Plasma desktop environment.

With its focus on improving brightness control, enhancing display flexibility, and refining client geometry management, Plasma Wayland Protocols 1.14 represents another step forward in delivering a robust and user-friendly desktop experience. These improvements, along with the ongoing development of Plasma Wayland Protocols, will continue to shape the future of the Plasma desktop, empowering users with greater control, flexibility, and ease of use.