Because restoring your machine is more than just Plasma settings.
I have a complete backup of every document, image, bookmark, custom app setting, terminal alias, blah, blah needed to restore in case of catastrophe. I don’t need to think about and maintain multiple backups.
Plus, with Kopia, I have multiple snapshots so I can go back 6 hours or 6 days or 6 months - and it takes up almost no more space than just zipping up the contents right now. Each snapshot usually takes a second or two - for 64,000 files.
I suspect many people only learn the value of backups after they have lost everything.
My point was that your Plasma settings are included in your backup already, and that’s what I always used for setting up a new install… but rather than JUST backing up Plasma, I backup all of my relevant personal USER data to compliment my system Snapshots…
So then I can install or restore a system, and also install or restore the USER data - or whatever ‘subset’ I care to select… but maybe I’d waste a bit more time if I only wanted a subset of that backup, I am not bothered to work it all out in advance and create another separate subset backup of only Plasma.
Well yes, in that respect it’s a positive thing - to capture an essential set of data to switch at will, that’s more interesting.
To some extent that was the hope of the ability to ‘save’ your own Global Theme, but so far it is proving a little lacking - and there are definitely limits on what settings Activities can keep from each other.
The ultimate goal would be to manage it as if it were a separate home directory with a complete separate bunch of settings - though I suspect there’s a good chance that you’ll have to log out and in again to get them to take effect…
Not trying to be very blunt here but I did not ask for another backup solution.
These kind of reactions are he ones on witch new users don’t ask in discussion groups or fora any more or quit Linux altogether.
As 2026 might me the year of the Linux Desktop (as it is said for years now ), this might also be the year of Linux testers, support and Developers. Without them all Linux software stays as it is now. Lets make it happen .. Let’s change what needs to be changed, lets add what needs to be added.
Thanks all with a constructive answers in this thread. These helped me lot for some insights.
A backup solution is in KDE. It is an official KDE app :kbackup. I think as from KDE 6.7 kbackup is found in settings ( If this is not correct, please tell me). kbackup is not perfect and I know most of the readers of this post has another backup system and that’s fine.
Hopefully a KDE developer reads this post too and can tell me if what i’m about to ask is possible (or wanted)
Lets start with the basics.
I notice some (and i think most) Linux users separates their backup into three sections : basic KDE settings, app settings and Data (documents etc). (I do the same).
I backup my base settings separately so if i reinstall a machine(s), my absolute basic settings are back after a settings-restore. From there on i restore the rest. This way i start clean without any unwanted bloat.
My question at KDE development is
My focus now is the basic KDE settings: The KDE developers knows best where the basic KDE user settings are located so it would be ideal to ship a KDE release with such a list or make it downloadable from invent.kde.org (6.6.x, 6.7.x, etc as they could change in development over time). )
From there a .kdb (or other backup format) can be generated.
Is this an idea? Its it workable? It it wanted?
ps: experienced Linux users knows their ways to do Linux stuff, my focus is at new or inexperienced users.
But you have to configure konsave to work for your use-case, and you have to configure MORE if you want it to have finer options.
There was ‘Plasma Config Saver’ in the past, but that was a gross tool, it made a complete copy of ICONS folders instead of simply saving the setting and offering to back up the referenced icon pack…
I had a fair few things installed at that time, and a single ‘Plasma Config Save’ was hundreds of megs…
So for sure, there’s room for a lot of polish in this area.
You make it sound like it is easy. Yes, Plasma might be easy, if you know the version. But configs change between versions.
Moreover, any further software (KDE apps) has its own settings. Really, just check my Github repo that I posted, study its code, if you want and see for yourself how difficult is to backup everything you want (as opposed to backup everything) without sorting through.
You make it sound like it is easy. Yes, Plasma might be easy, if you know the version. But configs change between versions.
I’m sorry but i don’t talk about settings of ALL other apps except KDE plasma base settings.
IF (and i say it again IFFF) KDE cooperates of this, all plasma users can easily find the BASIC settings of KDE in order to backup. Please read the section “My question at KDE development is” in my previous post. KDE can (and should) ship this info with new KDE versions downloadable via https://nvent.kde.org
Moreover, any further software (KDE apps) has its own settings. Really, just check my Github repo that I posted, study its code, if you want and see for yourself how difficult is to backup everything you want (as opposed to backup everything) without sorting through.
Again, I said earlier : lets start at the basics!!
So for now i don’t talk about all other apps and their settings : just the basic system plasma settings! i
Do you include base apps like Konsole or not? Do you include settings for Dolphin? What about a browser? No many people use Konqueror for daily work. So you are suddenly missing the base, where people spend 80% of their time. Etc.
PS: browsers and other apps are difficult as well - depending on the way the app was installed, the settings might be under /home/[user] or under snap or under flatpak or elsewhere …
Today i posted the question about KDE base plasma settings locations in the developers topic.
Lets see what the developers think about shipping base KDE Plasma config locations or make it downloadable via invent.kde.org . I can’t stress enough : it is the pure basic settings.. no apps involved (yet)
I kind of understand what you mean, but KDE includes some apps in its core. Is KWalletManager part of the backup? What about System Monitor etc. Plasma and multitude of its widgets? Yes, no?
), this might also be the year of Linux testers, support and Developers. Without them all Linux software stays as it is now. Lets make it happen .. Let’s change what needs to be changed, lets add what needs to be added.
