How to Install KDevelop on Ubuntu

KDevelop is a free, open-source integrated development environment (IDE) built by the KDE community for C, C++, Python, PHP, and other programming languages. It provides intelligent code completion powered by Clang, syntax highlighting, integrated debugging with GDB, and built-in version control integration through a plugin-based architecture. Whether you are building Qt applications, working on kernel modules, developing cross-platform software, or contributing to open-source projects, KDevelop offers a powerful and customizable workspace for your development needs.

This guide walks through installing KDevelop on Ubuntu using APT, Snap, or Flatpak, with an additional section on compiling from source for developers who need the latest features. By the end, you will have a fully functional IDE ready for C++ and multi-language development, including verification steps to confirm your installation works correctly.

Choose Your KDevelop Installation Method

Ubuntu offers multiple ways to install KDevelop, each with different trade-offs between stability, version freshness, and integration with your system. The table below summarizes the options covered in this guide:

Method	Channel	Version	Updates	Best For
APT Package Manager	Ubuntu Repos	Distribution default	Automatic via apt upgrade	Most users who prefer stability and easy maintenance
Snap	Snapcraft	Latest stable	Automatic background updates	Users wanting newer releases with minimal setup
Flatpak	Flathub	Latest stable	Manual via flatpak update	Users preferring sandboxed applications
Source Compilation	KDE Developer Docs	Development/latest	Manual recompilation	Developers needing bleeding-edge features or patches

For most users, the APT method is recommended because it integrates with Ubuntu’s package management, receives security updates automatically, and requires the least maintenance. Choose Snap or Flatpak if you need a newer version than your distribution provides, or compile from source if you are contributing to KDevelop development or need unreleased features.

This guide covers Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS, and 26.04 LTS installations. The APT package versions differ between releases (21.12 on 22.04, 23.08 on 24.04, 25.12 on 26.04), while Snap and Flatpak provide the same latest version regardless of your Ubuntu release. Commands shown work identically across all supported LTS versions.

Method 1: Install KDevelop via APT

The APT package manager provides the most straightforward installation path for KDevelop. This method installs a version tested and maintained by Ubuntu’s package maintainers, ensuring compatibility with your system libraries and receiving security updates through the standard apt upgrade process.

Update Ubuntu Package Index

Before installing new software, refresh your package index to ensure you receive the latest available version and avoid dependency conflicts:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Install KDevelop via APT Command

Once your package index is current, install KDevelop along with its recommended dependencies. The package manager automatically pulls in the KDE libraries and development tools that KDevelop requires:

sudo apt install kdevelop

This command installs KDevelop and its core dependencies, including the KDE Frameworks libraries, Clang integration for C/C++ parsing, and the Kate text editor component. Additionally, the installation recommends development tools like GCC, GDB debugger, Make, and Git, which you should install if you plan to compile and version-control your projects.

Verify APT Installation

Once the installation completes, confirm that KDevelop is properly installed by checking the package status:

dpkg -s kdevelop | grep -E 'Package:|Version:|Status:'

You should see output similar to the following, which confirms successful installation:

Package: kdevelop
Status: install ok installed
Version: 4:23.08.5-0ubuntu3

The version number varies by Ubuntu release. Specifically, Ubuntu 22.04 provides KDevelop 21.12, Ubuntu 24.04 provides 23.08, and Ubuntu 26.04 provides 25.12. However, all versions offer the core IDE functionality with Clang-based code intelligence, integrated debugging, and version control support.

Method 2: Install KDevelop via Snap

Snap packages provide a newer version of KDevelop than the default Ubuntu repositories, with automatic background updates. The KDE community maintains the Snap version, which typically tracks the latest stable release within days of upstream announcements.

Verify Snap Availability

Ubuntu includes Snap by default on standard desktop and server installations. To confirm snapd is available, check its status:

snap version

If the command returns version information, then Snap is ready. However, if snapd is missing (common on minimal or container installations), install it with sudo apt install snapd and restart your session before continuing.

Install KDevelop via Snap Command

Next, install KDevelop from the Snap Store using the following command. The --classic flag is required because KDevelop needs access to your file system, compilers, and build tools outside the Snap sandbox to function as a full-featured IDE:

sudo snap install kdevelop --classic

The download and installation typically complete within a minute, depending on your connection speed. Because Snap handles all dependencies internally, you do not need to install any additional packages.

Verify Snap Installation

Once installation completes, verify that KDevelop is correctly installed and accessible:

snap list kdevelop

You should see output similar to the following, confirming the installed Snap package:

Name       Version  Rev   Tracking       Publisher   Notes
kdevelop   24.08.3  423   latest/stable  kde✓        classic

The checkmark next to “kde” confirms this is an officially published package from the KDE community. The classic note indicates the package has full system access as expected for an IDE that needs to invoke compilers and debuggers.

Method 3: Install KDevelop via Flatpak with Flathub

Flatpak provides another route to the latest KDevelop version, with the added benefit of application sandboxing. The KDE community maintains the Flathub version, which receives updates independently of your Ubuntu release cycle.

Flatpak is not pre-installed on Ubuntu. If you have not set it up yet, install it with sudo apt install flatpak and restart your session before continuing. For detailed setup including the Flathub repository, follow our Flatpak installation guide for Ubuntu.

Add Flathub Repository

First, ensure the Flathub repository is configured as a Flatpak remote. This command adds Flathub if it is not already present, or does nothing if it is already configured:

sudo flatpak remote-add --system --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

Install KDevelop via Flatpak Command

Next, install KDevelop from Flathub. The -y flag automatically confirms the installation prompt:

sudo flatpak install --system flathub org.kde.kdevelop -y

Flatpak downloads the application along with any required KDE runtimes. The initial download may be larger than the Snap or APT versions because Flatpak bundles its own runtime libraries, but subsequent updates are typically smaller delta downloads.

Verify Flatpak Installation

Once the installation finishes, confirm that KDevelop appears in your Flatpak application list:

flatpak list --system --app | grep -i kdevelop

You should see output similar to the following, which confirms the installation:

KDevelop    org.kde.kdevelop    6.4.251200    system

The “system” designation indicates that you installed the application system-wide, making it available to all users on the machine.

Method 4: Compile KDevelop from Source

Building KDevelop from source is appropriate if you need the absolute latest development version, want to contribute patches, or require custom compilation flags. This method involves significantly more setup than the package-based options and requires maintaining your build manually.

Source compilation targets experienced developers. For day-to-day use, the APT, Snap, or Flatpak methods provide a much simpler experience with automatic updates. Therefore, only pursue this method if you have a specific reason to build from source.

The KDE community maintains comprehensive build instructions using kde-builder, the official KDE meta-build tool that handles fetching source code, managing dependencies, and building KDE projects. This tool replaced the older kdesrc-build and is now the recommended approach. For detailed, up-to-date compilation steps, refer to the official KDE development environment setup guide.

Install Build Dependencies

Before compiling, install the essential build dependencies. This list has been tested on Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, and 26.04:

sudo apt install build-essential cmake git extra-cmake-modules libkf5archive-dev libkf5config-dev libkf5coreaddons-dev libkf5guiaddons-dev libkf5i18n-dev libkf5iconthemes-dev libkf5itemmodels-dev libkf5itemviews-dev libkf5jobwidgets-dev libkf5kio-dev libkf5newstuff-dev libkf5parts-dev libkf5service-dev libkf5texteditor-dev libkf5threadweaver-dev libkf5xmlgui-dev libkomparediff2-dev llvm libclang-dev qtbase5-dev

This command provides the KDE Frameworks libraries, CMake build system, LLVM/Clang for C++ parsing, and Qt5 development files that KDevelop requires. Because these package names remain identical across all supported Ubuntu LTS releases, you can use this same command on any version.

Set Up kde-builder

The recommended approach uses kde-builder, which automates the entire KDE build process. First, run the initial setup script to install the tool and configure your environment:

cd ~
curl 'https://invent.kde.org/sdk/kde-builder/-/raw/master/scripts/initial_setup.sh' > initial_setup.sh
bash initial_setup.sh

This script installs git and other required packages, then places the kde-builder executable in ~/.local/bin. After the script completes, generate a configuration file:

kde-builder --generate-config

Enable Source Repositories

Building KDE software requires source repositories enabled so you can install build dependencies. On Ubuntu 24.04 and newer, edit /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu.sources and change Types: deb to Types: deb deb-src. On Ubuntu 22.04, edit /etc/apt/sources.list and uncomment lines starting with deb-src. After editing, run:

sudo apt update

Build KDevelop

Once kde-builder is configured, build KDevelop and its parser generator:

kde-builder kdevelop-pg-qt kdevelop

This command fetches the KDevelop source code and its parser generator (kdevelop-pg-qt), resolves KDE-specific dependencies, compiles the project, and installs it to your local KDE prefix (typically ~/kde/usr). The initial build takes considerable time and disk space (allocate at least 15GB).

Optional Plugin Dependencies

KDevelop uses a plugin architecture, and some features require optional dependencies. You can skip specific plugins during the CMake configuration step if their dependencies are unavailable. For example, to build without Subversion integration:

cmake -DCMAKE_DISABLE_FIND_PACKAGE_SubversionLibrary=ON ..

Replace SubversionLibrary with the name of any optional dependency you wish to exclude. Consult the CMake output during configuration to see which optional features are detected.

Launch KDevelop

With KDevelop installed, you can launch it from either the command line or your desktop environment’s application menu.

Launch KDevelop from Terminal

Use the appropriate command based on your installation method:

APT installation:

kdevelop

Snap installation:

snap run kdevelop

Flatpak installation:

flatpak run org.kde.kdevelop

Source compilation: If you built with kde-builder, source the environment script first:

source ~/kde/build/kdevelop/prefix.sh
kdevelop

Launch KDevelop from Applications Menu

For desktop users, the most convenient way to launch KDevelop is through the graphical application menu. Navigate to:

Activities > Show Applications > KDevelop

Alternatively, search for “KDevelop” in the Activities overview or application launcher. The first launch may take a few seconds while KDevelop initializes its plugin system and indexes any previously opened projects.

Manage KDevelop

Update KDevelop

Regular updates ensure you have the latest bug fixes, security patches, and feature improvements. The update process differs based on your installation method.

APT installation: Updates arrive through the standard system upgrade process. Run the following command periodically to check for and install updates:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Snap installation: Snap packages update automatically in the background. To force an immediate check for updates, run:

sudo snap refresh kdevelop

Flatpak installation: Update all Flatpak applications, including KDevelop, with:

sudo flatpak update --system

Source compilation: Re-run the kde-builder command to fetch the latest source code and rebuild:

kde-builder kdevelop-pg-qt kdevelop

Remove KDevelop

If you no longer need KDevelop, use the appropriate removal command for your installation method. Each command removes KDevelop and cleans up associated files.

APT installation: Remove the package and automatically clean up orphaned dependencies:

sudo apt remove kdevelop && sudo apt autoremove

The autoremove command removes KDE libraries and other packages that APT installed as dependencies but that no other software currently requires. As a result, this typically frees several hundred megabytes of disk space.

Snap installation:

sudo snap remove kdevelop

Flatpak installation: The --delete-data flag removes application data stored in ~/.var/app/org.kde.kdevelop/, including cached files and local configuration:

sudo flatpak uninstall --system --delete-data org.kde.kdevelop -y

Additionally, after removing a Flatpak application, you can also remove unused runtimes to reclaim additional disk space:

sudo flatpak uninstall --system --unused

Source compilation: Remove the build and source directories manually. Verify the paths match your kde-builder configuration before running this command:

rm -rf ~/kde/build/kdevelop ~/kde/build/kdevelop-pg-qt ~/kde/src/kdevelop ~/kde/src/kdevelop-pg-qt

KDevelop stores user configuration and project data in ~/.config/kdeveloprc and ~/.local/share/kdevelop/. The package uninstallation commands do not remove these directories. Therefore, if you want a complete cleanup, back up or delete these directories manually after uninstalling.

Troubleshooting

KDevelop Fails to Start with Qt Platform Errors

If you see errors like “could not connect to display” or “Qt platform plugin could not be initialized,” then the issue typically involves a missing display server connection or X11/Wayland configuration. This problem commonly occurs when you run KDevelop from SSH sessions or containers without display forwarding.

Solution: Ensure you are running KDevelop from a graphical session. For SSH connections, enable X11 forwarding with ssh -X user@host, or use a remote desktop solution. If you need to run KDevelop headlessly for testing, set the platform to offscreen:

QT_QPA_PLATFORM=offscreen kdevelop --help

Missing Compiler or Debugger Integration

KDevelop provides IDE features but does not bundle compilers or debuggers. Therefore, if your projects fail to build or debugging remains unavailable, you need to install the recommended development tools:

sudo apt install build-essential gdb clang

This command installs the GCC compiler, the GDB debugger, and Clang for enhanced code analysis. Once the installation completes, restart KDevelop so it can detect the new tools automatically.

Slow Code Completion or Indexing

KDevelop uses Clang to parse C++ code, which can become resource-intensive for large projects. If code completion runs slowly or the IDE feels unresponsive, then consider these optimizations:

• Increase the number of background parser threads in Settings → Configure KDevelop → Language Support → Background Parser
• Exclude large generated directories (like build folders) from parsing via the project configuration
• Ensure your system has sufficient RAM; C++ parsing benefits from 8GB or more for large codebases
• Close unused projects to reduce the parsing workload

Flatpak Version Cannot Access System Compilers

Flatpak applications run in a sandbox with limited access to system tools. As a result, if the Flatpak version of KDevelop cannot locate your system compilers, you have two options:

• Install the Flatpak SDK extensions that include development tools: sudo flatpak install --system flathub org.kde.Sdk
• Switch to the APT or Snap installation, which have full system access

For serious C++ development work, the APT or Snap installations typically provide better integration with system-installed toolchains.

Conclusion

You now have KDevelop installed and configured on Ubuntu, which provides a full-featured IDE for C++, Python, and other languages. The APT installation offers the simplest maintenance path with automatic security updates, whereas Snap and Flatpak provide access to newer releases. For developers working on KDevelop itself or needing unreleased features, source compilation via kde-builder remains an option; however, this approach requires more disk space and ongoing maintenance. With integrated debugging, intelligent Clang-powered code completion, and version control support, KDevelop provides a capable environment for projects ranging from small utilities to large-scale software development.