Confused on Steam Play and Proton? Be sure to check out our guide.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

This latest Steam Client Beta will likely be rather nice for some of you, as it fixes an issue I've seen repeatedly complained about.

The Linux-specific bug where Steam wouldn't create desktop shortcuts and application menu shortcuts has been fixed. While I don't use either, it's nice to see little nuisances like that fixed for those that do use them. That bug has been open on their GitHub since June, so people have been waiting a while on it.

They've also now implemented support for automatically downloading pre-compiled GPU shaders for Vulkan games and applications on Steam. This can help first-load times and stuttering, so hopefully this is another step that can help Linux game performance in future.

There's also a bunch of changes to Steam Input which includes: a section to easily see exported gamepad configurations from your friends, they've added support for "several dozen Xbox controllers" using data from users which should enable them to work better on Linux & Mac, support for more PS4 gamepads and more.

One bug I hope they sort sooner rather than later, is the broken Steam Screenshot tool. Sometimes it works, sometimes it completely fails. This bug has been around since at least April on their GitHub and it's really quite annoying.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Beta, Steam
18 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
34 comments
Page: 1/2»
  Go to:

elmapul Nov 8, 2017
now they need to fix the:
"add the fucking smoth scrooling" bug.
and the "i cant chose where the audio go if i'm streaming" bug.
i mean, i have an nice setup that i want to stream the image but keep the audio on the other device...
mahagr Nov 8, 2017
They need to fix 4K support for the shop -- especially full screen videos only taking 1/4 of the screen space.
Jau Nov 8, 2017
The screenshot bug is really anoying. Fortunately, we have build-in screenshot softwares on our Distributions !
DasCapschen 9 years Nov 8, 2017
Can we have them fix Steam cancelling System shudown?
Super annoying to have to click shutdown twice, beause clicking the first time only closes Steam >_>
cprn Nov 8, 2017
Quoting: Psychojau[...] Fortunately, we have build-in screenshot softwares on our Distributions !

Maybe but those don't register screenshots in Steam's gallery. :(
Pependos Nov 8, 2017
QuoteCan we have them fix Steam cancelling System shudown?
Super annoying to have to click shutdown twice, beause clicking the first time only closes Steam >_>

Yeah, that's really annoying. To avoid it I often use "shutdown" command in Konsole.
tmtvl Nov 8, 2017
Quoting: elmapulnow they need to fix the:
"add the fucking smoth scrooling" bug.

Smooth scrolling? Eww, what is this, 2005?
Guest Nov 8, 2017
Quoting: mahagrfull screen videos only taking 1/4 of the screen space.

i was told that was only my setup in the steam forums ( not surprising lol ).The video is squeezed into the lower half of the screen. The work around is to use Bigpicture mode or the browser version of steam
Also yea, even at 1440p the font is too small and at 4k it's just ridiculous. The thing feels clunky, often I have urls floating on the screen that I can't get rid of without moving back a page and it locks the client up. If I want to click on a game via steam broadcasts to go to the store page that doesn't work etc..
Still it's great that these bugs eventually get worked on. Without Steam, linux gaming would probably be a fraction of the size. It is odd though how the browser client is super smooth and the desktop client feels bolted on.


Last edited by on 8 November 2017 at 2:27 pm UTC
logge Nov 8, 2017
The most annoying thing I find is that you cannot start a "user defined" steam app via command line. I use "roommates" and kicked the bin out, and a link to kodi in... so I am playing "roommates" thousands of hours a year.

By user defined, I mean the "Add program to library" click.
Creak Nov 8, 2017
Fix fullscreen video? It absolutely does not work here, I got the video in 720p in the corner of the screen and the rest is memory garbage.
Faalagorn Nov 8, 2017
Quoting: CAPTNCAPSCan we have them fix Steam cancelling System shutdown?
Super annoying to have to click shutdown twice, because clicking the first time only closes Steam >_>
And I was wondering what was wrong with my wife's OS that we had to click the XFCE's shutdown button twice to shut the system down while I didn't had this issue (I'm typing "shutdown now" to close or "reboot" to reboot the system, as Pependos does. Thanks for letting us know the culprit!

Now, one can probably only dream about a 64-bit client as well, I guess? Today steam-native stopped working for my wife after update due to lack of another 32-bit library (lib32-libvdpau) missing – I guess the package wouldn't be needed if the client were 64-bit as it wasn't installed lol. That and obvious other 64-bit advantages such as not needing multilib for non-wine users and some potential performance benefits.

Also, it would be nice if they finally change the skinning engine to use native skin – while acceptable for normal desktop environment, on my i3 tiling manager, Steam is the only application that still have the minimize/maximize/close buttons that are out of reach if Steam screen is only taking half the space and it doesn't have a keybinding to close either, making me need to maximize it before closing lol.


Last edited by Faalagorn on 8 November 2017 at 3:26 pm UTC
Toric Nov 8, 2017
Quoting: Pependos
QuoteCan we have them fix Steam cancelling System shudown?
Super annoying to have to click shutdown twice, beause clicking the first time only closes Steam >_>

Yeah, that's really annoying. To avoid it I often use "shutdown" command in Konsole.

I dont think ive ever used anything but... shift+alt+t shutdown now is so much quicker than finding the button...
TheRiddick Nov 8, 2017
Hehe, didn't know about the steam shutdown twice issue. I knew it was a problem for me but didn't realize steam was at fault. Nice to know.
Aimela Nov 8, 2017
Quoting: meggerman
Quoting: mahagrfull screen videos only taking 1/4 of the screen space.

i was told that was only my setup in the steam forums ( not surprising lol ).

That's pretty much because the issue doesn't affect everyone, and seems to vary by DE; I encountered the issue while using Cinnamon(and judging by other comments, this will also occur with GNOME), but everything is fine in KDE Plasma. Regardless, I'm pretty sure this is something that Valve needs to fix.


Last edited by Aimela on 8 November 2017 at 4:52 pm UTC
ikey Nov 8, 2017
Quoting: CreakFix fullscreen video? It absolutely does not work here, I got the video in 720p in the corner of the screen and the rest is memory garbage.

Use your distribution SDL2 with the client to resolve the issue (LSI does this automatically.)
You can copy the file over, abuse LD_PRELOAD/LD_LIBRARY_PATH to do this manually. You'll need a very recent
SDL for this to work properly.
Creak Nov 8, 2017
Quoting: AimelaThat's pretty much because the issue doesn't affect everyone, and seems to vary by DE; I encountered the issue while using Cinnamon(and judging by other comments, this will also occur with GNOME), but everything is fine in KDE Plasma. Regardless, I'm pretty sure this is something that Valve needs to fix.
If it's a bug for GNOME and every GNOME related DE, that's pretty much the majority I think.
There's around 50/50 GNOME vs KDE, and the others DEs are mostly derived from GNOME/GTK.

Edit: you can look at the GoL statistics: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/users/statistics


Last edited by Creak on 8 November 2017 at 5:59 pm UTC
linuxjacques Nov 8, 2017
Have the fixed the "remember password" bug yet?

It's been like six months and I've stopped checking.
Cybolic Nov 8, 2017
Quoting: loggeThe most annoying thing I find is that you cannot start a "user defined" steam app via command line. I use "roommates" and kicked the bin out, and a link to kodi in... so I am playing "roommates" thousands of hours a year.

By user defined, I mean the "Add program to library" click.

Doesn't "ADD A GAME..."->"Add a Non-Steam Game" do exactly what you want?
cprn Nov 8, 2017
Quoting: Cybolic
Quoting: loggeThe most annoying thing I find is that you cannot start a "user defined" steam app via command line. I use "roommates" and kicked the bin out, and a link to kodi in... so I am playing "roommates" thousands of hours a year.

By user defined, I mean the "Add program to library" click.

Doesn't "ADD A GAME..."->"Add a Non-Steam Game" do exactly what you want?

It adds the game but there's no command line to tell Steam client to run it. You need GUI.
cprn Nov 8, 2017
Personally I always run Steam in Big Picture, therefore avoid all the fuzz with lack of scaling, but I have to run it in window mode - otherwise it stays on top and full screen games start in the background. I don't run any DE, though, just i3wm.


Last edited by cprn on 8 November 2017 at 8:25 pm UTC
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.