kinfocenter

Open the GUI

$ kinfocenter

$ kinfocenter --list

$ kinfocenter [[-h|--help]]

kinfocenter [KDE-options] [options]

--module <name>
    Starts KInfoCenter with the specified information module active. Common module names include cpu, memory, network, opengl, and kde.

--category <name>
    Starts KInfoCenter with the specified category selected in the sidebar. Examples include hardware, software, and plasma.

--systeminfo
    Directly displays general system information, often a default or prominent module within the application.

--version
    Displays the version information of the kinfocenter application.

--help
    Shows a brief help message with available command-line options.

The kinfocenter command launches the KDE Plasma Information Center, a comprehensive graphical application designed to provide users with detailed insights into their system's hardware, software, and KDE Plasma environment configuration. It serves as a central hub where users can access information ranging from CPU and memory statistics, network interface details, and display settings, to specific versions of KDE components and installed applications.

Beyond simple information display, kinfocenter often includes modules that allow for basic diagnostics and management of certain system aspects. Its user-friendly interface organizes vast amounts of system data into categorized modules, making it easier for users to understand their system's setup, troubleshoot issues, or simply explore the capabilities of their KDE Plasma desktop. It's an indispensable tool for both casual users and system administrators operating within the KDE Plasma ecosystem.

kinfocenter is a graphical application and requires an active X server or Wayland compositor to run. While it might technically launch on other desktop environments, its full functionality and relevance are primarily within a KDE Plasma desktop environment. Its accuracy in reporting system information relies heavily on the underlying operating system's ability to provide data (e.g., kernel modules, udev, D-Bus services).

kinfocenter is built with a modular architecture, meaning its various information sections (e.g., CPU, memory, network) are provided by individual modules. This design allows for flexibility, extensibility, and easy updates. Third-party applications or system components can integrate their own information modules into KInfoCenter, making it a truly centralized information hub.

In many KDE Plasma installations, kinfocenter can be accessed directly from the System Settings application, often found under a 'Hardware Information' or 'About This System' section. This integration ensures that users have a seamless path to detailed system information alongside their system configuration options.

The kinfocenter application has been a foundational component of the KDE desktop environment since its early versions. It evolved from and alongside the KDE Control Center (kcontrol or kcontrolcenter), which historically combined both system information and configuration settings. With the maturation of KDE Plasma, the functionality was split: System Settings became the primary configuration tool, and kinfocenter was solidified as the dedicated application for displaying comprehensive system information. This specialization allows kinfocenter to focus purely on presenting hardware and software details in a clear, organized, and user-friendly manner, reflecting KDE's commitment to providing intuitive system management tools.

lshw(1), lspci(8), lsusb(8), dmidecode(8), uname(1), free(1), htop(1), inxi(1)