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X11, XWayland, Wayland, KDE, Debian

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A Debian KDE user examines the shift from X11 to Wayland after learning that KDE Plasma 6.8 is expected to remove its X11 desktop session. The practical issue is restoring a familiar workspace: for years, the user’s windows reopened in their previous positions and often on the same virtual desktops. On Debian Trixie, Plasma 6.3.6 under Wayland did not provide that behavior, so the user switched back to the X11 session. Other possible workarounds include assigning apps to desktops with window rules, launching them automatically on an empty desktop, or tolerating windows piling up.

The change does not mean X11 applications will stop running: XWayland is expected to preserve compatibility, and KDE apps will continue supporting X11 for some time. Wayland’s window restoration is arriving in stages. Plasma 6.7 introduced a session-restore protocol for window size, position, and desktop placement, but applications must opt in; restoring documents or other window contents also depends on application support. The user notes that a KDE bug report says substantial or complete save-and-restore support is available in Plasma 6.7, suggesting the transition may be further along than some release coverage indicates. Debian’s slower uptake of Plasma versions leaves time before the user must decide whether Wayland meets their needs.

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