Remember that article I wrote about KDEmod team protesting some new German laws. Now, politics aside, KDEmod must be one of the primary reasons why people would want to switch to Arch Linux. Well, maybe not primary, but once you start using Arch, you will most likely appreciate KDEmod as well.

KDEmod is also known as KDE on steroids for Arch Linux. Indeed, it is on steroids, to a point where one can call it abuse. :) Two maintainers from the Arch Linux camp have applied quite a few patches to the stock KDE to create an impressive list of features made available to Arch Linux users. Another feature that's not on the list is the fact that the whole of KDE is split into individual applications in KDEmod. The list of packages is listed just beneath the features.

Many people consider KDE a heavyweight when it comes to system resource usage. However, KDEmod is very fast and responsive, and it has been said many times on IRC (#archlinux at irc.freenode.net) that KDEmod is lightweight compared to stock KDE. Personally, I find this quite accurate, although I can't really be sure because I haven't used stock KDE in months.

The KDEmod's default visual theme is quite nice. In fact, I still haven't changed it since the last time I've installed it a month or two ago... It features the Domino widgets style with Polyester window deco, both in gray, which gives you a very professional, slick look, and it's also great for graphics artists like me. The icon theme is a Tango-compliant custom set with an impressive array of icons.

KDEmod's Arch Linux Daemon Manager Tool (ALDM)

Apart from standard KDE tools and apps, KDEmod adds some very handy packages which can be installed optionally. Those include the openSUSE's Kickoff KDE menu (kdemod-kdebase-kickoff), and some extra tools like ALDM (Arch Linux Daemons Manager), a handy tool for starting and stopping daemons, and KPacUpdate, a tool for system updates that sits in the system tray. There is also a package for Kerry, a desktop search tool (Beagle frontend), which also integrates into the Kickoff menu.

It may not be a reason to switch to Arch Linux, but if you are already on Arch, give KDEmod a spin. You won't regret it.