> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://itsfoss.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # KDE Linux is Coming Along Nicely, Ditching the AUR and Tightening Up Security - URL: https://itsfoss.com/news/kde-linux-may-2026-update/ - Published: 2026-06-02T04:38:36.000Z - Updated: 2026-06-02T04:38:36.000Z - Description: The project's May update also brings a better build system and replaces KWalletManager with the new KeepSecret app. - Author: Sourav Rudra - Tags: News, Development Updates You might remember that the KDE folks have been busy working on [KDE Linux](https://linux.kde.org/?ref=itsfoss.com), their own Linux distribution that is still very much in active development. I tried its Alpha build [last year](https://itsfoss.com/news/kde-linux-alpha/) and found the experience surprisingly smooth for something so early. Fast forward to today, and [Nate Graham](https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanielgraham/?ref=itsfoss.com), a well-known KDE name, has put out [a progress report](https://pointieststick.com/2026/05/31/this-month-in-kde-linux-may-2026/?ref=itsfoss.com) covering a pretty busy May for the project, with security fixes, build system changes, and a notable app swap all making the cut. ## A lot of work The most significant infrastructure work this month came from contributor [Hadi Chokr](https://invent.kde.org/kde-linux/kde-linux-packages/-/merge%5Frequests/94?ref=itsfoss.com), who reworked how KDE software gets built. The old process churned out Arch packages and handed them off to [mkosi](https://mkosi.systemd.io/?ref=itsfoss.com) for installation. That is now gone, replaced by KDE's own [kde-builder](https://kde-builder.kde.org/en/introduction/brief-intro.html?ref=itsfoss.com) tool compiling everything directly. As a result, there are **three major improvements**. The build process now works the same way KDE developers build software on their own machines, the project is now more distro-agnostic, and builds are faster because the new setup uses caching more effectively. Reacting to the many Linux vulnerabilities of last month (*e.g., Dirty Frag and Copy Fail*), the devs went through KDE Linux's package list looking for anything insecure or unnecessary. The end result was **a slew of cuts** that included dropping the Zen kernel, axing several insecure kernel modules, removing a bunch of unused packages, and finally killing off the project's AUR dependency. **It's not all removals though**. Nate also [added a service](https://invent.kde.org/kde-linux/kde-linux/-/merge%5Frequests/493?ref=itsfoss.com) that installs newly added pre-installed Flatpak apps on existing KDE Linux systems automatically, while leaving untouched anything the user has already removed on purpose. There's a swap too; [KWalletManager](https://itsfoss.com/disable-kde-wallet/) is being retired in favor of [KeepSecret](https://apps.kde.org/keepsecret/?ref=itsfoss.com), a new, more modern KDE app for managing passwords and credentials. Another thing to note is that [Ark](https://flathub.org/en/apps/org.kde.ark?ref=itsfoss.com), the graphical file compression/decompression utility, now has `.7z` file support in its [KDE Linux Flatpak packaging](https://invent.kde.org/kde-linux/kde-linux/-/work%5Fitems/617?ref=itsfoss.com), bringing it in line with what the [Flathub](https://flathub.org/en/apps/org.kde.ark?ref=itsfoss.com) version already offers. And, lastly, **testing is being improved**. Right now, KDE Linux only checks that each build boots to the desktop, which is not saying much. Work is underway to change that though, with [an OpenQA-based testing system](https://invent.kde.org/kde-linux/os-autoinst-distri-kdelinux?ref=itsfoss.com) in the works that should catch a lot more before a broken build goes out. --- **Suggested Read 📖:** [*A New Tool to Integrate Windows Apps in Linux*](https://itsfoss.com/winpodx/) [Reverse WSL? I Tried This New Tool to Integrate Windows Apps in LinuxNot that I am a fan of Windows or need Windows-only application. But I appreciate the innovation of open source developers.![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/icon/android-chrome-512x512-1aa7ab64dc35165bb92fe0ec683780e84b27cd37df02b7bf66a6d1c19edbe254.png)It's FOSSSreenath![](https://itsfoss.com/content/images/thumbnail/integrate-windows-app-in-linux-windpodx-17f0be316def836faa4e8a0fa7e691f3785e5e3d4609f18dc25ade7234b69fa7.webp)](https://itsfoss.com/winpodx/)