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KDE deployed a new mirror network this weekend. The mirror network is used to spread released software to users. In the old system, users had to select a mirror server manually. The new system selects a mirror automatically, based on the country where the user is located. If there is no mirror for that country, a mirror is selected based on continent. In either case, mirrors that are geographically closer are preferred. If there is an even better mirror—such as one in the same network as the user, it is preferred over all others. Here is the current list of the official KDE mirrors.

Information about files

For each available file, the KDE mirror network has a special information page. For example, here is the page for analitza, which holds a list of mirrors. But it is not just a simple list; it will only show the mirrors that are up and running, and the ones that can actually serve the file. It will look different to each user, listing the best mirrors depending on the user's location.

The information page also shows checksums, PGP signature (if available) and Metalinks. Clicking on a Metalink launches a download manager like KGet that starts downloading the file from several mirrors at the same time, by file section. The Metalink metadata holds information about checksum for each section to ensure that the complete file was downloaded correctly.

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Last weekend a group of developers gathered in Berlin at the KDAB office for an Akonadi sprint. The goal was simple, getting Akonadi in shape for the first public release of Akonadi when KDE 4.1 is released. In the couple of days they met, they made an amazing amount of 270 modifications to the KDE repository, and worked on average from 10am to 3am to make a big step into reaching that goal. Read on for details. Read More

Curious about the man responsible for the application behind CTRL-Esc? This postgrad student will make sure his application in KDE4 will 'flash up in a ball of fire and lightning, flames of fire torching random apps on the screen. It will settle down into a mind blowing beautiful interface, with only flickers of flames around the edges.' Want to see a Sneak Preview of KDE4? Or read all about FIFO and LIFO, Saki err Sake, heart attacks and the man responsible for breaking Konversation for five months? People Behind KDE presents John Tapsell. Read More