digiKam: Version 9.0.0 with modern interface and more supported cameras

The open-source photo management software digiKam has been released in version 9.0.0. This is a comprehensive update with some new features and improvements. Particularly striking are the revamped interface and the numerous newly supported RAW formats from various digital cameras.

In the release announcement, the digiKam developers write that version 9.0.0 is a significant milestone, with the core code in the AppImage and macOS versions completely ported to the Qt 6.10.1 library -- however, the Windows port uses Qt 6.9.1. Additionally, the programmers have improved performance, security, and compatibility with more modern operating systems.

digiKam: New Features

New on board is the “Survey” tool, which allows images to be quickly viewed and rated. This is done using a second window, which can also be displayed on a second monitor if needed -- in full-screen mode if desired. It supports all functions available in preview mode. The internal LibRaw library is up to date as of 20260215 and thus supports a lot of new cameras -- interested parties can find the extensive list in the release announcement.

For images, digiKam 9.0.0 offers extended search functions and sorting options. For example, empty file properties or recently changed entries can be tracked down. The Creator and Author fields can now be searched using drop-down menus pre-filled from the database. Sorting can be done by orientation, GPS position, or filename in the album icon view. The GPS data of multiple selected images can be edited simultaneously.

The programmers have generally achieved stability improvements for Windows 11 background processes and Wayland sessions. They have optimized database operations and improved the performance of face recognition. They have also expanded the creation and display of thumbnails, especially for high-resolution displays. The release announcement lists a host of other minor improvements and countless bug fixes.

Various ports of digiKam 9.0.0 can be found on the KDE website for download. These include the source code tarball, AppImage bundles for 64-bit Linux, for Windows 10 and newer, as well as packages for macOS, Silicon, and Intel Mac packages. In November 2024, digiKam 8.5.0 brought the porting to Apple Silicon and bug fixes.

(dmk)