KDE is now available via both Fink and MacPorts, which simplifies the compilation/installation procedure considerably. You can now have KDE in just a few easy steps.

Installing through Fink (Currently: KDE 4.2.4)

  1. Install Fink
  2. Open a Terminal
  3. Enable Unstable: fink configure
  4. Update Fink
  5. fink install $package(s)_you_want

The Fink packages allow you to install KDE4 as either Qt/X11 or Qt/Mac (native) packages. Your choices in packages include "kdebase4-mac," "kdebase4-x11," "kdegames4-mac," and so on, as well as "digikam-mac" and "digikam-x11," and "amarok2-mac" and "amarok2-x11."

Additionally, the Fink packages allow the running of the Plasma desktop in X11 mode. Just install "kdebase4-workspace-x11" to install it.

The Fink KDE packages will be installed in /sw/opt/kde4/mac or /sw/opt/kde4/x11 respectively. They also are able to start D-Bus for you as long as you run "/sw/bin/init.sh" normally, or when you open a terminal, if you have run the path setup script in the Fink installer.

Installing through MacPorts (Currently: KDE 4.2.4)

  1. Install MacPorts
  2. Open a Terminal then do 'sudo port sync'
  3. sudo port install $package(s)_you_want

Package choices include, kdebase4, kdemultimedia4, kdegraphics4, kdeedu4, kdesdk4, kdegames4, kdenetwork4, kdeutils4, and kdetoys4.

Once you've installed your package pay attention the to message on the Terminal, which may look something like this: 

   ##########################################################
   # Don't forget that dbus needs to be started as the local 
   # user (not with sudo) before any KDE programs will launch
   # To start it run the following command:                  
   # launchctl load /Library/LaunchAgents/org.freedesktop.dbus-session.plist
   ##########################################################

   ######################################################
   #  Programs will not start until you run the command #
   #  'sudo chown -R $USER ~/Library/Preferences/KDE'   #
   #  replacing $USER with your username, followed by   #
   #  'open /Applications/Macports/KDE4/kdeinit4.app'   #
   #  in a Terminal.                                    #
   ######################################################

If you are still running OS 10.4 you will need to install Apple's gcc 4.2. Preliminary instructions can be found on the Macbook Manifesto techbase page. And yes, I do fancy myself being rather clever for coming up with that title.
If you have problems please don't hesitate to contact us for help.