All dates given here are subject to revision, but we will try our best to stick to them if possible. Note that "Tagging" that the codebase is closed for this release on the date mentioned. The tarballs and packages are then being prepared and released approximately one week later. The KDE Release Team is acting as the coordinator for the 4.0 release.
Note the release is done in two portions: the KDE Development Platform 4.0 and the KDE Desktop 4.0. The KDE Desktop contains the complete package: all the main modules plus a release of the extragear module. The KDE Development Platform contains all the bits and pieces necessary to develop KDE4 applications. This means kdesupport, kdelibs, kdepimlibs and kdebase/runtime. Note the earlier freeze date for those modules and make sure you don't miss the deadline to get your fixes in.
The first technical preview, a developer release.
The second technical preview, a developer release.
The third technical preview, a developer release.
The kdelibs API will remain as stable as possible after that, so that application developers (in particular those not having their code in the KDE SVN) can start porting towards a stable kdelibs API.
Of course the applications in the KDE SVN will have been ported all along, and it will possible to alpha-test them at this stage.
Milestones help guide us toward a final release, and the dates are subject to change. For more details see our roadmap.
From this date forward, no new KDE subsystem or major changes can be committed to kdelibs.
The buildsystem requirements (i.e. cmake version) are fixed.
The kdelibs API is "soft-frozen", meaning that changes can be made but only with the consent of the core developers.
The Alpha will be source only -- without translations.
Trunk is frozen for new or resurrected applications.
A list of main modules that will be included in the final release will be made.
The Alpha2 will be source only -- without translations.
The core library APIs are frozen solid.
Beta 1 is prepared and released after some initial testing.
Beta 2 is prepared and released after some initial testing.
Trunk is frozen for feature commits. i18n string changes are allowed.
Beta 3 is prepared, initially tested and released on October 2.
The KDE Development Platform is frozen. For the modules that are included in the KDE Development Platform, only patches reviewed on the development lists are permitted. If in doubt, contact the release coordinator. The KDE Development Platform covers kdesupport, kdelibs, kdepimlibs, kdebase/runtime and kdebindings.
This is the very last chance for committing anything that isn't reviewed on the development lists. If in doubt, ask the release coordinator.
Release Candidate 1 of the Desktop is prepared, initially tested and released on October 30. The KDE Development Platform is tagged for final release and released on October 30.
Release Candidate 1 is prepared, initially tested and released on November 20.
Final release candidate is prepared and tested.
KDE TechBase 