The digiKam team has released version 8.8.0, introducing a full Qt 6.10 port, improved color management across platforms, advanced tag handling, and over 100 bug fixes aimed at stability and performance for photographers and enthusiasts.
After four months of active development, digiKam 8.8.0 arrives as a major update to the open-source photo management suite, bringing significant enhancements to performance, workflow efficiency, and cross-platform compatibility.
At the core of this release is the complete porting of digiKam to Qt 6.10.0, ensuring smoother operation and modern OS support. English language strings were refined using codespell for better consistency, and Windows users now benefit from long file path support beyond the traditional 260-character limit when enabled in system settings.
Tag management receives a notable upgrade with the ability to import and export hierarchical tag structures in the Controlled Vocabulary Keyword Catalogue format, streamlining metadata sharing between applications. The preview module adds focus point visualization for FujiFilm and Olympus/OM Systems cameras, providing photographers clearer insights into focus accuracy.
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Color accuracy has also improved, as digiKam now automatically applies the monitor color profile under Windows, macOS, and Wayland, ensuring consistent rendering across platforms. In the Image Editor, a new background blur tool enables users to simulate depth-of-field effects, while the G’MIC-Qt plugin has been updated to version 3.6.0 for expanded image processing options.
Several internal libraries have been refreshed, including OpenCV 4.12, FFmpeg 7.1.1, ExifTool 13.36, and Libraw (20250727) with extended RAW format support. The QtAVPlayer video module has been updated for Qt5 users, and the Progress Manager now integrates native desktop notifications on Linux, macOS, and Windows. Users are encouraged to migrate to Qt6 builds as Qt5 nears end-of-life.
This release fixes more than 100 issues, improving face recognition, DLNA server performance, and database reliability, along with various UI and localization refinements. digiKam now supports 61 interface languages, with Brazilian Portuguese newly added to its documentation.
Looking ahead, the team plans an early 2026 maintenance release focusing on full Qt 6.10 bundle migration for Windows 11 and macOS Tahoe, further optimizations, and AI-powered photo enhancement tools.
Disclosure: This article was written with editorial oversight and verified facts using AI assistance.
