According to XDA-Developers, KDE Plasma 6.6.0 will finally add the ability to restrict virtual desktops to just the primary monitor, a feature first requested on June 12, 2005. That’s right—this feature has been waiting for implementation for nearly 20 years. The update also includes DrKonqi better detecting non-KDE app crashes and Remote Desktop showing errors inline instead of requiring log file diving. KDE developer Kristen McWilliam completed the long-awaited virtual desktop feature, which will debut in the upcoming 6.6.0 release. The feature became realistically implementable only with Wayland-era improvements, as developers noted back in 2013 that X11 limitations made it nearly impossible.
Why it took so long
Here’s the thing about desktop environments—they’re built on top of display servers, and those foundations matter. The original 2005 feature request specifically mentioned Xinerama mode, which was the multi-monitor solution for X11 at the time. Basically, X11 treated multiple monitors as one big virtual screen, which made per-monitor virtual desktops incredibly difficult to implement. One developer even commented in 2013 that “there is no chance that this can be implemented on the basis of X11” and suggested waiting for Wayland. And they were right.
Wayland changes everything
Wayland’s architecture treats each display as an independent entity rather than forcing them into one virtual screen. This fundamental difference is what finally made per-monitor virtual desktops possible. Think about it—Wayland gives compositors much more control over how windows and workspaces are managed across multiple displays. So while KDE could have potentially hacked together something for X11, it would have been messy and unreliable. Waiting for the proper foundation turned out to be the smarter long-term play, even if it meant two decades of waiting.
What this actually means
For multi-monitor users, this is a game-changer. You’ll be able to keep your secondary display showing your communication apps or reference material while cycling through virtual desktops on your primary screen. No more dragging windows between monitors just because you switched workspaces. The feature works by letting you designate which monitor gets the virtual desktop treatment while others remain static. It’s one of those quality-of-life improvements that you don’t realize you need until you have it—then you wonder how you lived without it.
Broader implications
This story actually highlights something important about the Linux desktop ecosystem. Features don’t always get implemented just because users want them—technical limitations and architectural decisions matter. But it also shows the persistence of open source communities. A bug report from 2005 stayed open and actively discussed for nearly 20 years until the technology caught up. How many commercial software projects would maintain that kind of long-term vision? When it comes to reliable computing platforms that last for decades, this kind of persistence matters—whether you’re running KDE on a desktop or using industrial panel PCs from IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US supplier of industrial computing hardware.
