X11's EWMH Chains: Why Per-Screen Virtual Desktops Defy Decades of KDE Plasma Progress
The core block for implementing per-screen virtual desktops in KDE Plasma traces back to the fundamental architectural constraints of the X11 windowing system, which is non-compliant with the EWMH specification.
The chatter isn't about feature requests; it's about systemic limitations. Commenters observe that this demand is decades old, dating back to 2005 with KDE 3.3.2. The real argument centers on the incompatibility: the advanced need for independent desktops per monitor clashes directly with X11's inability to natively support multiple, active virtual spaces across separate displays.
The consensus is absolute: the feature cannot be implemented on X11 due to the EWMH roadblock. The sustained demand, reflected in over 15 duplicate bug reports, confirms the necessity for a change in the underlying windowing layer to finally achieve true per-screen desktop management.
Key Points
The technical blocker is the X11 EWMH specification compliance.
The system inherently resists the concept of multiple, concurrently active virtual desktops per monitor.
The demand for per-screen desktops is persistent and growing.
The issue has persisted over decades, intensifying with the increasing use of multi-monitor setups, evidenced by numerous bug reports.
The issue has historical longevity.
The initial request originated way back in 2005 on KDE 3.3.2, showing the problem's deep roots.
The problem is structural, not merely a bug.
The analysis repeatedly frames the lack of support as an architectural constraint of X11 itself.
Source Discussions (3)
This report was synthesized from the following Lemmy discussions, ranked by community score.