Hello,
I want to edit the file
/usr/share/plasma/desktoptheme/default/plasmarc
So first I want to make a backup of the file
sudo cp plasmarc plasmarc.backup
cp: cannot create regular file ‘plasmarc.backup’: Read-only file system
Neither can I rename the file
sudo mv plasmarc plasmarc.backup
mv: cannot move ‘plasmarc’ to ‘plasmarc.backup’: Read-only file system
Is this because KDE Linux OS is locked down?
And when I try to edit the file plasmarc in either nano or Kate I get the error message: Read-only file system
I’m guessing this is because KDE Linux OS is locked down?
Yes. /usr is read-only.
Depending on your goal here, you may need to look at systemd-sysext, but there also may be other ways, too.
What do you need to do here?
From Plasma desktop menu transparency - Tutorial
File to edit /usr/share/plasma/desktoptheme/default/plasmarc
This is how I like my transparency:
[ContrastEffect]
enabled=true
contrast=2.0
intensity=0.4
saturation=1.7
[BlurBehindEffect]
enabled=false
So you can edit the local user config file, in ~/.config for the plasmarc file. I believe.
The metatada file mentioned in your webpage link would also be in your user configs at ~/.local/share/plasma/desktoptheme/<theme-name>/ if you want to edit something for a specific Plasma Style, instead of Breeze.
For Breeze, you can also clone the Breeze Style to your user config dirs, and edit the file(s) there. This way, whenever there is a Plasma update or upgrade, you don’t lose the customizations.
You definitely don’t need to edit the system files at all, and I am a small bit surprised that the website’s author did not do this the ‘better’ way. He does say it is a hacky thing, though.