Version: 4.5.8 (using KDE KDE 3.5.8) Installed from: Fedora RPMs OS: Linux kwrite has a bug that can make crazy beginners See also: https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=397101 kwrite /etc/this-does-not-exist.txt Says nothing, opens an empty editor an may save the file But if you have misstyped the filename you dont know this kwrite /boot/grub/grub.conf Opens as normal user an empty editor instead to say there are no permissions Do not know if this is a kde bug or only in kde of fedora, but sometimes its a pain - In the first case the apllication should make a request to create the non existing file or cancel. In the second case it should tell the user that the file exists but he has no permissions
The second part (trying to open a file with no read permissions) is fixed in KDE 4 (see bug #142856). Regarding the first part (non-existent file specified on command line), I guess we could show an information dialog (with a "don't show again" box) in this case, to make life easier for the unexpecting newbie. But that will require new strings, so it's not before KDE 4.1. Also it's a (valid) wish, not a bug.
KWrite/Kate now show a "new file" message inside the view.