aerothemeplasma/README.md

# AeroThemePlasma

## Microsoft® Windows™ is a registered trademark of Microsoft® Corporation. This name is used for referential use only, and does not aim to usurp copyrights from Microsoft. Microsoft Ⓒ 2026 All rights reserved. All resources belong to Microsoft Corporation.

## Introduction

This is a project which aims to recreate the look and feel of Windows 7 as much as possible on KDE Plasma, whilst adapting the design to fit in with modern features provided by KDE Plasma and Linux.

ATP is in constant development and testing, it has been tested on:

- Arch Linux x64 and other Arch derivatives
- Plasma 6.8.0, KDE Frameworks 6.30.0, Qt 6.11.2
- 96 DPI scaling, multi monitor
- Wayland, X11 (Before Plasma 6.8)

## This software comes "as is" without warranty of any kind. It's always recommended to make backups of your system just in case. I am not responsible for broken systems, please proceed with caution.

The Plasma 5 version of ATP is available as a tag in this repository, however it is unmaintained and no longer supported.

If you find my work valuable consider donating:

<a href='https://ko-fi.com/M4M2NJ9PJ' target='_blank'><img height='42' style='border:0px;height:42px;' src='https://storage.ko-fi.com/cdn/kofi2.png?v=3' border='0' alt='Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com' /></a>

[AeroThemePlasma](https://github.com/aeroshell-desktop/aerothemeplasma) and all of its AeroShell components are available as read-only [GitHub mirrors](https://github.com/aeroshell-desktop/).

## Installation

See [INSTALL.md](./INSTALL.md) for a detailed installation guide.

## Credits 

Huge thanks to everyone who helped out along the way by contributing, testing, providing suggestions and generally making ATP possible:

### Forked code

- Intika's [Digital Clock Lite](https://store.kde.org/p/1225135/) plasmoid
- [Adhe](https://store.kde.org/p/1386465/), [oKcerG](https://github.com/oKcerG/QuickBehaviors) and [SnoutBug](https://store.kde.org/p/1720532) for making SevenStart possible
- Zren's [Win7 Show Desktop](https://store.kde.org/p/2151247) plasmoid
- [Mirko Gennari](https://store.kde.org/p/998614), DrGordBord and [bionegative](https://www.pling.com/p/998823) for making SevenBlack possible
- DrGordBord's [Windows 7 Kvantum](https://store.kde.org/p/1679903) theme
- [taj-ny](https://github.com/taj-ny)'s [kwin-effects-forceblur](https://github.com/taj-ny/kwin-effects-forceblur)

### Contributors
- [Souris-2d07](https://gitgud.io/souris) for making the following: 
    - Cursor theme
    - Plymouth theme (old)
    - SDDM theme
    - KWin decoration theme
    - Most KWin C++ effects
    - Other minor KWin features and scripts
- [That Linux Dude Dominic Hayes](https://github.com/dominichayesferen) for making the following: 
    - Lock screen UI 
    - Icon theme
- [catpswin56](https://gitgud.io/catpswin56/) for help with SevenTasks, Sound Mixer plasmoid, Gadgets menu, Polkit UAC skin, as well as many more contributions
- [QuinceTart10](https://github.com/QuinceTart10) and [Gamer95875](https://github.com/Gamer95875) for making the sound themes
- (In collaboration with) [kfh83](https://github.com/kfh83), [TorutheRedFox](https://github.com/TorutheRedFox) and [ALTaleX](https://github.com/ALTaleX531/dwm_colorization_calculator/blob/main/main.py) for figuring out accurate Aero glass blur and colorization effects
- [AngelBruni](https://github.com/angelbruni) for contributing several SVG textures, most notably the clock in DigitalClockLite Seven
- [ricewind012](https://github.com/ricewind012/) for .bashrc Microsoft Windows header
- [furkrn](https://gitgud.io/furkrn) for creating and maintaining the [Plymouth theme](https://github.com/furkrn/PlymouthVista)
- [IcyGuidance](https://gitgud.io/IcyGuidance) for designing the notification badges in SevenTasks

### Special Thanks 

- [MondySpartan](https://www.deviantart.com/mondyspartan/art/Windows-10-Year-2010-Edition-1016859431) for inspiring the notification design

### Contributing 

If you with to contribute in any way, please read [CONTRIBUTING](./CONTRIBUTING.md) for more details.

### Cool projects you should really check out

- [Geckium](https://github.com/angelbruni/Geckium) by AngelBruni
- [Aero UserChrome](https://gitgud.io/souris/aero-userchrome) by Souris (Geckium in combination with Aero UserChrome works well with AeroThemePlasma)
- [VistaThemePlasma](https://gitgud.io/aeroshell/vtp/vistathemeplasma/) by catpswin56
- [LonghornThemePlasma](https://gitgud.io/catpswin56/longhornthemeplasma) by catpswin56
- [VB1ThemePlasma](https://gitgud.io/catpswin56/vista-beta-plasma) by catpswin56
- [Harmony](https://gitgud.io/catpswin56/harmony) by catpswin56
- [SMOD Themes](https://gitgud.io/catpswin56/smod-themes) by catpswin56, a collection of themes that can be used with the SMOD window decoration theme
- [X6Shell](https://gitgud.io/x6shell) by catpswin56
- [Ice2K.sys](https://toiletflusher.neocities.org/ice2k/) by 0penrc
- [AeroThemePlasma-Nix](https://github.com/nyakase/aerothemeplasma-nix/) by [nyakase](https://github.com/nyakase)

## Vista variant

Initially I wanted to make a Vista variant of AeroThemePlasma but [catpswin56](https://gitgud.io/catpswin56) beat me to it, use [VistaThemePlasma](https://gitgud.io/aeroshell/vtp/vistathemeplasma) if you want a Vista theme.

## Aero apps for AeroThemePlasma
To install most of these, the commands to run after cloning are: 

```
cmake -DCMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX=/usr -B build . 
cmake --build build
sudo cmake --install build
```

### Complete re-creations
- [Linux Explorer](https://github.com/actuallyaridan/linux-explorer) by ActuallyAridan
- [Control Panel](https://github.com/actuallyaridan/linux-control) by ActuallyAridan
- [Device Manager](https://github.com/actuallyaridan/linux-devmgmt) by ActuallyAridan
- [Windows 7 Minesweeper](https://github.com/actuallyaridan/linux-minesweeper) by ActuallyAridan
- [TuxManager](https://github.com/benapetr/TuxManager) (task manager) by benapetr
- [Gadgets](https://gitgud.io/catpswin56/win-gadgets) by catpswin56
- [execbin](https://gitgud.io/catpswin56/execbin) (run dialog) by catpswin56
- [LinVer](https://gitgud.io/wackyideas/linver) (version dialog)

### KDE app forks
- [Aero Dolphin](https://gitgud.io/atmk/dolphin-aero) by Albert Tomanek
- [Aero GwenView](https://gitgud.io/atmk/gwenview-aero) by Albert Tomanek
- [Aero KolourPaint](https://invent.kde.org/albert-tomanek/kolourpaint/-/tree/saribbon-aero) by Albert Tomanek

### Other Aero Apps
- [Aero App Store](https://gitgud.io/atmk/app-store/-/tree/flatpak?ref_type=heads) by Albert Tomanek

### Development Libraries
- [libAeroQt](https://gitgud.io/atmk/libaero-qt) -- Re-usable QtWidgets and QML components for writing Aero apps. Also contains function to make glassy window headers.
- [SARibbon](https://github.com/czyt1988/SARibbon) -- Ribbon control for Qt. Gets styled by libAeroQt.

## Screenshots

### Desktop

![desktop](screenshots/desktop.png)

### Start Menu

![start_menu](screenshots/start_menu.png)
![start_menu_search](screenshots/start_menu_search.png)
![start_menu_apps](screenshots/start_menu_apps.png)
![start_menu_openshell](screenshots/start_menu_openshell.png)

### Clock

![clock](screenshots/clock.png)

### System Tray

![battery](screenshots/battery.png)
![systray](screenshots/system_tray.png)

### Sound Mixer 

![mixer](screenshots/mixer.png)
![mixer_expanded](screenshots/mixer_expanded.png)

### Notifications 

![notification](screenshots/notification.png)
![notification-progress](screenshots/notification-progress.png)

### Desktop Icons 

![desktop-icons](screenshots/icons.png)

### Lockscreen 

![lockscreen](screenshots/lockscreen.png)

### Aero Peek

![aero-peek](screenshots/peek.png)

### Alt-Tab Switcher

![alt-tab](screenshots/alt-tab.png)

### Colorization 

![colorization](screenshots/colorization.png)
Regular colorization:
![regular-colorization](screenshots/aeroblur.png)
Basic colorization:
![basic-colorization](screenshots/aeroblursimple.png)
Maximized opaque colorization:
![maximized-colorization](screenshots/aeroblur_opaque.png)

### Decorations

![decorations](screenshots/decorations.png)

Decoration themes:

![decoration-themes](screenshots/smod_theme.png)

### Gadgets 

![gadgets](screenshots/gadgets.png)

### Network details

![network-details](screenshots/network-details.png)

### Librewolf

![librewolf](screenshots/geckium.png)

### User Account Control (Polkit)

![uac](screenshots/uac.png)
![uac-trusted](screenshots/uac-trusted.png)

### Taskbar

![taskbar](screenshots/jumplist.png)
![taskbar_tooltips](screenshots/seventasks_media.png)
![taskbar_inactive](screenshots/seventasks_inactive.png)
![taskbar_compact](screenshots/seventasks_compact.png)