Over the last few weeks, KDE ISO Image Writer—a cross-platform utility known for turning raw Linux ISO files into bootable USB drives—has been working through a ground-up user-interface rewrite.
App’s lead contributor reports that much of the classic QtWidgets codebase is now being ported to QML, bringing the application in line with the current KDE design language.
Why the switch to QML? According to the devs, it offers a more flexible declarative toolkit than traditional QtWidgets. The team has ditched gradients, swapped in Kirigami components wherever feasible, and opted to iterate on the previous layout rather than introduce a jarring visual overhaul.
To make things even clearer, here’s a quick look at how the current version of the app compares to the updated one.
In the revised version, one of the headline new additions is an ISO Selection window. Early brainstorming considered listing all 100-plus images available through Quickemu’s “quickget” repository. However, KDE veteran Nate Graham flagged the risk of information overload.
Consequently, the roadmap now favors a curated shortlist of popular distributions, with final choices to be hashed out in upcoming team discussions. This smaller catalog should steer newcomers toward well-supported options while still giving enthusiasts room to explore.
Lastly, with the visual layer stabilizing, devs stated that attention now shifts to back-end wiring—specifically, connecting the new QML front end to ISO download logic and USB-writing routines. Once that plumbing is in place, testers will get their hands on a fully functional prototype, and feedback can flow in earnest.
For more information, see the announcement.
Image credits: KDE Project
