Here's something awesome to see, the Valve demo of the HTC Vive on Linux was using Kubuntu, and we have some pictures.
Thanks to Daniel Blair for the pics.
As mentioned before, SteamVR on Linux will use Vulkan and not OpenGL. This is probably one of the main things that held up SteamVR/HTC Vive support on Linux.
I'm really pleased it was shown off, as it now means Linux will stop missing out on this new hardware. It's one less barrier for people wanting to game on Linux.
What's interesting is that they didn't use SteamOS for the demo, what are your thoughts as to why they used Kubuntu?
I imagine it's due to Kubuntu being a more desktop-friendly OS just to "get it done" until support is properly ready in SteamOS. As for Kubuntu itself, probably just developer-choice.
No word yet on when the VR support for Linux will be officially released. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Thanks to Daniel Blair for the pics.
As mentioned before, SteamVR on Linux will use Vulkan and not OpenGL. This is probably one of the main things that held up SteamVR/HTC Vive support on Linux.
I'm really pleased it was shown off, as it now means Linux will stop missing out on this new hardware. It's one less barrier for people wanting to game on Linux.
What's interesting is that they didn't use SteamOS for the demo, what are your thoughts as to why they used Kubuntu?
I imagine it's due to Kubuntu being a more desktop-friendly OS just to "get it done" until support is properly ready in SteamOS. As for Kubuntu itself, probably just developer-choice.
No word yet on when the VR support for Linux will be officially released. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Obviously it is developer machine, so he just demoed tech. It would be cool to prepare Steam Machine, but it is unnecessary bling and PR when all you want to show is working VR on Linux.
So in nutshell SteamVR on Linux will support games supporting both SteamVR and Vulkan. I think it is fair decision to move forward considering performance requirements.
So in nutshell SteamVR on Linux will support games supporting both SteamVR and Vulkan. I think it is fair decision to move forward considering performance requirements.
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I imagine it's due to Kubuntu being a more desktop-friendly OS just to "get it done" until support is properly ready in SteamOS. As for Kubuntu itself, probably just developer-choice.I imagine it's due to Kubuntu being a more desktop-friendly OS just to "get it done" until support is properly ready in SteamOS. As for Kubuntu itself, probably just developer-choice.My thought exactly. Not too much to read into this: SteamOS isn't for the desktop, Ubuntu and Debian are, and then Kubuntu is probably just the personal preference of the dev that owns this machine/made the demo work.
On the whole, I'm not terribly excited about VR, it doesn't do much for me. But hey, if it's out there and people want it, it's a good thing to have it available on our favourite open/free platform!
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I imagine it's due to Kubuntu being a more desktop-friendly OS just to "get it done" until support is properly ready in SteamOS. As for Kubuntu itself, probably just developer-choice.I imagine it's due to Kubuntu being a more desktop-friendly OS just to "get it done" until support is properly ready in SteamOS. As for Kubuntu itself, probably just developer-choice.My thought exactly. Not too much to read into this: SteamOS isn't for the desktop, Ubuntu and Debian are, and then Kubuntu is probably just the personal preference of the dev that owns this machine/made the demo work.
On the whole, I'm not terribly excited about VR, it doesn't do much for me. But hey, if it's out there and people want it, it's a good thing to have it available on our favourite open/free platform!
Not excited yet about VR too, it should have broader support (Valve seems to really want to work on that), but I like that implies push for Vulkan API on SteamOS and Linux from Valve part - which I fully support. So if we are wondering why Vulkan API has been actually that quickly and well supported on Linux (Nvidia binary driver, AMD binary driver, AMD open source community driver, Intel open source driver)...now we know that Valve is banking hard on Vulkan API.
If this means more games ported with good or even performance comparing to Windows...it will be very welcome side effect from me.
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Why isn't it up to the developers if they want to use opengl or vulkan in their games?
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Why isn't it up to the developers if they want to use opengl or vulkan in their games?
It still is. Just to support VR developers will have to port to Vulkan. As 99% games use engine who has Vulkan support planned - along with VR support - I doubt that will be big problem.
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GoLBuzzkill 14 Oct 2016
What's interesting is that they didn't use SteamOS for the demo, what are your thoughts as to why they used Kubuntu?
I imagine it's due to Kubuntu being a more desktop-friendly OS just to "get it done" until support is properly ready in SteamOS. As for Kubuntu itself, probably just developer-choice.
NOPE! Its easy, SteamOS is piece of shit even its own creator, Valve, wont use it; lets just be honest.
Why isn't it up to the developers if they want to use opengl or vulkan in their games?
First, if it is up to developers they will always pick D3D and PSGL/GNM/GNMX. Second, state of OGL performance and support on Linux is terrible (in Mesa and AMD drivers), for VR you need performance, so they are hoping that forcing Vulkan will save them.
Last edited by GoLBuzzkill on 14 Oct 2016 at 10:39 am UTC
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help-up SteamVR/HTC Vive support on Linux.Do you mean held up?
Last edited by BOYSSSSS on 14 Oct 2016 at 10:39 am UTC
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It still is. Just to support VR developers will have to port to Vulkan. As 99% games use engine who has Vulkan support planned - along with VR support - I doubt that will be big problem.
Still that's kinda a bummer. While I love Vulkan, OpenGL works with VR on Windows...someone that wants to port that over to Linux shouldn't need to convert it to Vulkan in my opinion. What is it that makes VR only work with Vulkan on Linux?
First, if it is up to developers they will always pick D3D and PSGL/GNM/GNMX. Second, state of OGL performance and support on Linux is terrible (in Mesa and AMD drivers), for VR you need performance, so they are hoping that forcing Vulkan will save them.
Terrible? It's more or less the same state as OGL on Windows.
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Valve actually embraces the usage of linux desktops, SteamOS is just their solution for people who want to be always on the couch and have plug and play experience... It's no surprise that they used a normal distro :)
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Tyrell Wellick use KDE. Just sayin'.
And now he is the most wanted man in the world. Look what using KDE did to him.
Stay clear of it folks.
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Well, to be fair, we don't even know if it's kubuntu (the tweets aren't from the computer's owner, AFAIK). It could even be that they decided to switch to KDE for their next SteamOS release, who knows?
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Well, to be fair, we don't even know if it's kubuntu (the tweets aren't from the computer's owner, AFAIK). It could even be that they decided to switch to KDE for their next SteamOS release, who knows?
Kubuntu is one of the few distros that delivers a pure KDE, without any customization, as showed in the images. And as Valve uses Debian as platform for SteamOS and Ubuntu as a target distro, I think is safe to say it is Kubuntu.
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Terrible? It's more or less the same state as OGL on Windows.
Sure, but on Windows developers have a choice: OGL or DX. On Linux it's just OGL - or was, until Vulkan.
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What's interesting is that they didn't use SteamOS for the demo, what are your thoughts as to why they used Kubuntu?
maybe they want to show that:
it will work on other linux distributions too, such as ubuntu, not only SteamOS.
and it will work on other DE too, not only Unity, so they show'd KDE instead of Unity.
or maybe the Steam Machines arent powerfull enough, so if they used the SteamOS, it could imply that it would run on any steam machine...
maybe they want to show that:
it will work on other linux distributions too, such as ubuntu, not only SteamOS.
and it will work on other DE too, not only Unity, so they show'd KDE instead of Unity.
or maybe the Steam Machines arent powerfull enough, so if they used the SteamOS, it could imply that it would run on any steam machine...
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slaapliedje 14 Oct 2016
Why Kubuntu? Could have as easily been Debian Sid with KDE? Which also installs a stock KDE.
Regardless of that, my guess on the real reason they didn't use SteamOS is because it probably has older drivers that don't have full Vulkan support.
Though I have to say, now VR on Linux is even more Niche... Only the games that support VR + have Linux native + Vulkan support. How many games is that? Maybe the upcoming Serious Sam VR? I think that's pretty much it...
Granted I'm sure they'll come!
I would just be happy at this point with Linux not thinking the Vive is an extra display and the primary one at that!
Regardless of that, my guess on the real reason they didn't use SteamOS is because it probably has older drivers that don't have full Vulkan support.
Though I have to say, now VR on Linux is even more Niche... Only the games that support VR + have Linux native + Vulkan support. How many games is that? Maybe the upcoming Serious Sam VR? I think that's pretty much it...
Granted I'm sure they'll come!
I would just be happy at this point with Linux not thinking the Vive is an extra display and the primary one at that!
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Kubuntu is one of the few distros that delivers a pure KDE, without any customization, as showed in the images.
Yes, it even comes with a Qt browser: Firefox... wait...
Anyway, it probably is Kubuntu, because the *buntus are still considered to be the golden standard, unfortunately.
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Anyway, it probably is Kubuntu, because the *buntus are still considered to be the golden standard, unfortunately.
It's still better to have *a* golden standard than no at all. At least game devs have a fixed system to test against. Otherwise they may have been scared off by the excessive amount of choice.
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Because it's super easy to toggle the system compositor in current KWin, Alt-Shift F12. Could have been any non-composited desktop at this point in time, that won't be an issue when the HMD display can be removed from the desktop with display acquisition Vulkan WSI in-progress extensions.
From Plagman on the phoronix forums https://www.phoronix.com/forums/forum/phoronix/latest-phoronix-articles/904511-valve-uses-kubuntu-for-demonstrating-linux-vr-with-the-htc-vive?p=904533#post904533
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Anyway, it probably is Kubuntu, because the *buntus are still considered to be the golden standard, unfortunately.
It's still better to have *a* golden standard than no at all. At least game devs have a fixed system to test against. Otherwise they may have been scared off by the excessive amount of choice.
Yup, Ubuntu and Valve are doing that. And these days all those arguments "We don't want to write a game or an app for 1000 distros", well just do it for Ubuntu and it will eventually get everywhere around the Linux, we all know that the core of OS is the same and that it all works everywhere :D It's great to have a standard to avoid excuses like that...
Last edited by MaCroX95 on 14 Oct 2016 at 3:33 pm UTC
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