SteamOS, Valve's Linux distribution aimed at a more console-like big TV experience actually saw some small updates recently.
Firstly, the 2.166 beta that was released way back in August of 2018 was finally promoted to the stable channel so you don't need to mess about with opting into the SteamOS beta. This is important, since it brings with it an updated NVIDIA driver, an updated Mesa driver, security fixes and a bug fix for an unresponsive login button.
The extra importance of those driver updates, is that they're the absolute minimum required for Steam Play use. Still, they're obviously quite outdated now since there's been a number of big updates since August last year.
It seems to have gone a little unnoticed, with a new 2.170 SteamOS beta that went live earlier this week too. Although, it's nothing fancy with only security fixes being noted. Even so, it's good to see some work being done on it.
Hopefully later this year we will finally see SteamOS 3.0 codenamed Clockwerk, with it being based on Debian 9. Their repository list doesn't show it seeing any updates since last summer though, so hopefully it will be picked up again.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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15 comments
Would be nice to see some bigger changes/updates to steamos. Hopefully Valve has some good stuff for us in 2019.
2 Likes, Who?
shelloflight Jan 28, 2019
My steam machine is perpetually stuck with the "Restart to upgrade SteamOS" prompt :/.
0 Likes
My steam machine is perpetually stuck with the "Restart to upgrade SteamOS" prompt :/.Have you tried doing a recovery?
You shouldn't have to re download your games.
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8470-QSKM-0491
Last edited by Tuxgamer on 28 January 2019 at 12:53 am UTC
0 Likes
mindplague Jan 28, 2019
Yay. Some Proton dependent games are working out-of-the-box without enabling the Proton in desktop mode; Jamestown, Doom..
1 Likes, Who?
Comandante Ñoñardo Jan 28, 2019
Yay. Some Proton dependent games are working out-of-the-box without enabling the Proton in desktop mode; Jamestown, Doom..Whitelisted games?
0 Likes
shelloflight Jan 28, 2019
My steam machine is perpetually stuck with the "Restart to upgrade SteamOS" prompt :/.Have you tried doing a recovery?
You shouldn't have to re download your games.
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8470-QSKM-0491
I have not! I'll try this soon.
0 Likes
When I tested SteamOS a couple years ago the Debian part of it was very stripped down and non usable for daily computing. Debian derivatives are a waste of human resources and point release software too.
But you know that SteamOS is not meant for daily computing, don't you? It's like complaining you cannot fit your family and luggage in a golf cart and drive for holidays. Maintaining a full-blown Debian installation just for gaming is a waste of time.
My three years old Steam Machine sits in a living room. I connected a keyboard to it like 10-15 times over these three years, just to tinker with it, but it would be just as usable only with a Steam Controller. And I have a dedicated PC running Debian for general computing.
2 Likes, Who?
Debian derivatives are a waste of human resources and point release software too.What?
0 Likes
[quote=Guest]
What's the problem here? Can't you imagine that there are different use cases for different distributions?
My guess is you are not the target audience of SteamOS just like my brother could never configure debianxfce to fit his needs. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(especially not using his steam controller ^^)
Maintaining a full-blown Debian installation just for gaming is a waste of time.
Debian testing xfce is far less full blown than SteamOS, Debian testing Xfce fits to a cd-rom disk and it is a stable and compatible rolling release OS.
What's the problem here? Can't you imagine that there are different use cases for different distributions?
My guess is you are not the target audience of SteamOS just like my brother could never configure debianxfce to fit his needs. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
(especially not using his steam controller ^^)
0 Likes
I wouldn't pay much attention to debianxfce, they don't make sense at the best of times ;)
3 Likes, Who?
Mohandevir Jan 28, 2019
Personnally, I really do like SteamOS but, imo, the "lowest denominator" they are offering is just way too low (outdated drivers). I prefer tweaking an Ubuntu minimal install and add the nvidia gpu drivers or mesa repo.
Stumbled upon this project that quite does that with a nice automated script:
https://github.com/ShadowApex/steamos-ubuntu
I guess it might change when SteamPlay will be out of beta...
Stumbled upon this project that quite does that with a nice automated script:
https://github.com/ShadowApex/steamos-ubuntu
I guess it might change when SteamPlay will be out of beta...
0 Likes
Personnally, I really do like SteamOS but, imo, the "lowest denominator" they are offering is just way too low (outdated drivers). I prefer tweaking an Ubuntu minimal install and add the nvidia gpu drivers or mesa repo.
Stumbled upon this project that quite does that with a nice automated script:
https://github.com/ShadowApex/steamos-ubuntu
I guess it might change when SteamPlay will be out of beta...
I agree with you there, that's why I'm using the brewmaster beta.
On that topic, we need more people to put the steamos box in there living room and this is where valve really need to do more polishing on. They need to keep it as simple and streamlined as possible and steamos is moving way to slow, that's why it's loosing steam. (pun not intended :) They need to keep issuing bug fixes and introduce a lot more features to it so that people can't wait to get home to play on there steambox. It's just not happening. FYI if valve is reading these posts, a lot of us I think still love it but you really need to kick it into a higher gear to attract and keep and grow the user base.
1 Likes, Who?
Debian testing xfce is far less full blown than SteamOS, Debian testing Xfce fits to a cd-rom disk and it is a stable and compatible rolling release OS.
You're missing the point. It's not about the installed size. It's about tweaks to make it a keyboard-free experience: steamcompmgr, unattended upgrades, restore scripts, sane Pulseaudio configuration.
A part of it is a rock-solid foundation. The expectation is that if something went wrong, restore scripts should be able to fix it, without users assistance, and that issues basically don't happen. Testing is ok for regular computing, but not for console-like experience.
0 Likes
shelloflight Feb 2, 2019
My steam machine is perpetually stuck with the "Restart to upgrade SteamOS" prompt :/.Have you tried doing a recovery?
You shouldn't have to re download your games.
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8470-QSKM-0491
This didn't work at first, but after three tries the update went through. Bizarre.
Last edited by shelloflight on 2 February 2019 at 5:53 am UTC
0 Likes
Very strange indeed, but at least it worked!My steam machine is perpetually stuck with the "Restart to upgrade SteamOS" prompt :/.Have you tried doing a recovery?
You shouldn't have to re download your games.
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=8470-QSKM-0491
This didn't work at first, but after three tries the update went through. Bizarre.
0 Likes
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