Sadly, I don't have the technical know-how to help with this, but based on user feedback and discussions I've seen, I can tell you people are going to LOVE it. So with my Promo hat on, I fully support this idea! :)

I think we should also create a task to add the option to only change the layout without changing the theme.

In T11743#201866, @GB_2 wrote:

I think we should also create a task to add the option to only change the layout without changing the theme.

T11746

Strongly support this goal, I think the users will love it.

In T11743#201866, @GB_2 wrote:

I think we should also create a task to add the option to only change the layout without changing the theme.

This would be the ideal solution.

From the point of users' love, this indeed is a very popular request, plus it's a good way to showcase Plasma's customizability.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX5HwumKPP8

One outstanding questions is whether we should use Global Themes for this, or create a new KCM that allows the user to change only the desktop layout. The reasoning for this proposed new KCM would be that the desktop layout is a discrete thing that can be changed independent of other visual settings.

Alternatively, we could implement the Global Theme component chooser proposed in T11746: Make it possible to see what a Global Theme will change and only apply certain parts of it.

I would be very against a yet another new kcm that is in fact a kindof a "dumbed down" global themes kcm.
among proposals like that and the new recent systemsettings reordering the whole "simple by default" efforts are pretty much gone...

In T11743#202164, @IlyaBizyaev wrote:

From the point of users' love, this indeed is a very popular request, plus it's a good way to showcase Plasma's customizability.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX5HwumKPP8

It's a popular request, but my fear is that would end just providing things that look like cheap imitations (and can only be like that, neither we should spend more resources in changing our stuff in a way that looks more like imitations of other stuff) being potentially detrimental to our quality

I'm not against shipping different layouts in the global theme as default (i'm strongly against a new kcm tough) but i just fear that may damage the perception of quality so the message should be very clear that is *not* an attempt to provide the very same user experience

+1 for this idea :)

It personally think that a new "layout" kcm would still make sense. Themes and layouts are for most people completely separate things. A UI that combines theming and layout would IMO mostly be confusing - a global theme having a layout you can optionally apply is fine I guess but having a global theme that is only a layout just seems wrong.
Additionally, an easy way to save the current layout for later would also warrant it being its own kcm a bit more.
Saving the layout would useful be for making a backup just in case Plasma manages to lose the settings for a monitor, testing a new setup with an easy way back or for easily replicating of the same layout on a different machine (say, copy the layout from the desktop to a new laptop).

In T11743#222629, @zamundaaa wrote:

+1 for this idea :)

It personally think that a new "layout" kcm would still make sense. Themes and layouts are for most people completely separate things. A UI that combines theming and layout would IMO mostly be confusing - a global theme having a layout you can optionally apply is fine I guess but having a global theme that is only a layout just seems wrong.
Additionally, an easy way to save the current layout for later would also warrant it being its own kcm a bit more.
Saving the layout would useful be for making a backup just in case Plasma manages to lose the settings for a monitor, testing a new setup with an easy way back or for easily replicating of the same layout on a different machine (say, copy the layout from the desktop to a new laptop).

Big time agree. I would love to have a 'layouts' section that allowed you to choose styles quickly, as well as backing up your own style.

Bonus points if this section could backup your widget placements as well, maybe download additional/user layouts from KDE Store.

I am confident this would help new users who simply wanted to get closer to a familiar workflow.

Strong +1 to layout KCM

In T11743#203516, @mart wrote:

In T11743#202164, @IlyaBizyaev wrote:

From the point of users' love, this indeed is a very popular request, plus it's a good way to showcase Plasma's customizability.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RX5HwumKPP8

It's a popular request, but my fear is that would end just providing things that look like cheap imitations (and can only be like that, neither we should spend more resources in changing our stuff in a way that looks more like imitations of other stuff) being potentially detrimental to our quality

I'm not against shipping different layouts in the global theme as default (i'm strongly against a new kcm tough) but i just fear that may damage the perception of quality so the message should be very clear that is *not* an attempt to provide the very same user experience

I agree with this point of view. Most elements are currently designed to work best with the current layout, so changing the layout would probably result in a worse UX. However, if it can be ensured that the UX will still be great then I think this might be beneficial. Just note that this will probably cause some more maintenance overhead and complicate visual changes to components a bit since they need to be considered in all layouts.

Also, ideally there would be one default KDE layout that is not just mimicking but actually doing what is considered best (might result in mimicking, though).

I agree with this point of view. Most elements are currently designed to work best with the current layout, so changing the layout would probably result in a worse UX. However, if it can be ensured that the UX will still be great then I think this might be beneficial. Just note that this will probably cause some more maintenance overhead and complicate visual changes to components a bit since they need to be considered in all layouts.

I'd actually even argue that's a good thing. A pretty big chunk of users are not using the default layout and they should always be considered.

Also, ideally there would be one default KDE layout that is not just mimicking but actually doing what is considered best (might result in mimicking, though).

Completely agree.

Switching to alternate decent layouts can be interesting even for users that have never used the operating systems the layout is based on. It might simply be better suited for their individual computer usage. There is a reason there are a lot of popular tutorials on how to accomplish such changes.

Closing this because of worries that we are arousing wrong expectations feels to me like we rather avoid being misunderstood than serving legitimate user interest in finding the best setup for individuals. Especially if this feature was just something to be selected in settings and not something we would market as a clone of some popular product, I don't believe the concern of invoking wrong user expectations is that valid. I feel like abandoning a nice feature to avoid angering users in "nitpicky conservative mode" isn't the right way. I think designing for people in "nitpicky conservative mode" is setting us up for failure to begin with.

There is also the argument that there are users that would like to switch but are worried they won't be able to adapt. They might be scared of even being able to handle "open-minded exploration mode". Especially users that don't come to us to complain might be more appreciative of KDE's efforts than picky that there are other things they do still have to adapt to.

I don't think having this feature will be as troublesome as it might seem while looking at it from the point of view of where KDE fits into the desktop ecosystem.

I don't think this is a good idea everyone. First, I feel this is basically surrendering our design to the belief that others do better than us. I don't believe that falling into the idea of "the grass is greener on the other side" plays well for an open source project. If there are people who feel inspired by proprietary systems, they have the choice of being able to create their own styles. That's what Plasma enables, but we are not a system copycat. We believe in the power of ingenuity, that means, we believe we propose different ideas for the desktop than others.

Another thing I fear is that we get the wrong eyes on our product and we end up with some kind of letter asking us to remove controversial packages.