SteamOS, the Valve-made Linux distribution that was originally for the failed Steam Machine initiative has gradually vanished into the sidelines but it seems it won't be forever.
A while ago, we did see indications that Valve would work on SteamOS 3.0 "Clockwerk" back in 2018 but they've still been very quiet on it since apart from a few minor package updates to SteamOS 2 "Brewmaster".
Valve have been extremely active on other fronts though of course. As a quick bit of history: for Linux they put out Steam Play Proton, the ACO shader compiler for AMD, this new Steam Linux Runtime container system, the micro-compositor Gamescope and there's more with people working on all sorts under contract for Valve to improve Linux.
Still, SteamOS though, what are Valve going to do with it? Sounds like when they go back to it eventually, it might not be Debian-based. In a GitHub issue on the SteamOS page about it "languishing", another user replied with an email from Valve developer Pierre-Loup A. Griffais:
Yes, definitely lots of work still going on. Right now the focus is on core technology itself rather than distributing it, but we intend to get back to that in the future. I wouldn't expect much more movement on Debian-based Brewmaster at this point, however.
"Debian-based Brewmaster"—huh? Speculation here, but that sounds like they might be looking at a different base for whatever SteamOS 3.0 turns into.
One day then, we can clearly expect to see some movement on SteamOS once Valve get all the pieces of the Linux gaming puzzle into a state where they're truly happy with properly pushing it again. Perhaps, this will be after we finally find out what the heck Steam Cloud Gaming(#1, #2) turns out to be? Whenever we find out, we will of course let you know.
Thanks for the tag, mdeguzis.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Not so sure about this, man, they should stick to Debian, not only would that be better for all other Distros since it will make it a LOT easier to optimize anything from valve to all other distros in the linux world, also Debian is way more stable then anything else, if it works on Debian it will most likely work everywhere else!
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Mohandevir Mar 25, 2020
GamerOS is a good exemple of what an arch based SteamOS 3.0 could be. Something similar to Recalbox or RetroArch too... But not being debian based doesn't, imo, prevent an Ubuntu based spin of SteamOS. Like it or not, Canonical is still a big player, on the Linux scene and could be an asset to SteamOS, as much as Redhat or even Intel, to name a few. But as Scaine said, the typical console user to whom it is targeted doesn't care about what's under the hood, as long as it works, updates automatically and has a large library of recent, playable and bug free AAA games.
But, and there is a big BUT... Please... Please... Please... Valve, stop advertising games on SteamOS, that are only playable on Windows. It doesn't make any sense.
Last edited by Mohandevir on 25 March 2020 at 1:08 pm UTC
But, and there is a big BUT... Please... Please... Please... Valve, stop advertising games on SteamOS, that are only playable on Windows. It doesn't make any sense.
Last edited by Mohandevir on 25 March 2020 at 1:08 pm UTC
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Dunno, I dropped using Manjaro (which is arch based) due to regular breakage. It's just one user on one os, but I was distinctly unimpressed at how unstable it was for me. I need to use my computer for work too.
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Quoting: GuestWhats all that talk about Debian vs Arch? We all know Valve will base the next SteamOS on Gentoo :PMwahaha!
Honestly, not the worst idea, as they can then generate the exact binaries they want to. Gentoo makes it easy to generate a slimlined OS.
But probably not.
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rustybroomhandle Mar 25, 2020
That's the joy of Linux. You can use whatever distro you like and then go online to have religious battles about it. :)
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Quoting: grigiAll in all, they could still base it on Arch and provide their own repos for "sensitive" stuff for which they want to have more control over.Exactly. They might even use their own repos for everything. Nobody's suggesting they'll just ship stock Arch with Valve branding. We're talking about basing it on Arch (or Gentoo, or something else): either taking a snapshot of the repos every so often and thoroughly testing it, like Canonical do with Debian, or using the Arch tools - ABS, pacman, etc. - to build their own distro from scratch.
Of course, we don't even know if they are dropping Debian. Maybe Pierre-Loup misspoke. Or maybe they're moving to Ubuntu, to bring it in line with the runtime (that always seemed strange to me; why use an Ubuntu-based runtime environment, but “standard” Debian for your distro?). But basing it on Arch wouldn't be the craziest thing in the world.
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Quoting: scaineIt could a rolling release under the hood, but it'll still be controlled by Valve, assuming they do it "the console way".I think something like CoreOS or RancherOS is more likely. Just download a minimal OS image as a single blob and overwrite the whole thing. No dependencies, no update breakage. Just like flashing firmware. They are already working on containerizing the games, so they can ship all the dependencies alongside the game, and not have to worry about system dependencies.
Another possibility is using Steam itself for downloading system files. They already have a way to quickly and reliably download large chunks of data, and Proton downloads are "system" files in a way already. There is nothing preventing them from writing data to /usr instead of your home directory. Well, you'd have to tweak the security model, but there are solutions for that like SELinux.
This is all speculation. A semi-educated one.
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Quoting: GuestWhats all that talk about Debian vs Arch? We all know Valve will base the next SteamOS on Gentoo :P
Agreed :)
ChromeOS uses Gentoo, so maybe Valve is looking at a similar approach (Steam Cloud and all).
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Mohandevir Mar 25, 2020
Quoting: scratchiQuoting: GuestWhats all that talk about Debian vs Arch? We all know Valve will base the next SteamOS on Gentoo :P
Agreed :)
ChromeOS uses Gentoo, so maybe Valve is looking at a similar approach (Steam Cloud and all).
Which comes to this... Again:
https://www.pcgamer.com/steam-is-coming-to-googles-chrome-os/
Why not?! :)
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Well, they did said at one point that Debian tools gave them too much headache, so they might search for something else.
(that's how I remember it, so don't quote me on that)
They also said about future SteamOS being possibly image-based (not apt/etc) for better control and consistency, so whatever distro will be based on won't likely be a plain Arch/Debian/whatever with an "SteamOS" sticker slapped on it.
(that's how I remember it, so don't quote me on that)
They also said about future SteamOS being possibly image-based (not apt/etc) for better control and consistency, so whatever distro will be based on won't likely be a plain Arch/Debian/whatever with an "SteamOS" sticker slapped on it.
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Mohandevir Mar 25, 2020
Quoting: dubigrasuWell, they did said at one point that Debian tools gave them too much headache, so they might search for something else.
(that's how I remember it, so don't quote me on that)
P-L Griffais effectively said something along those lines; I remember reading the same too.
Quoting: dubigrasuThey also said about future SteamOS being possibly image-basedThat's exactly GamerOS' model.
Last edited by Mohandevir on 25 March 2020 at 3:35 pm UTC
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Quoting: MohandevirIndeed, and for those missing on SteamOS, it is a good alternative.Quoting: dubigrasuThey also said about future SteamOS being possibly image-basedThat's exactly GamerOS' model.
I also like what its dev said a couple of times about GamerOS (probably not an exact quote, but close):
"If you'll ever have to use the mouse and keyboard on GamerOS, then I failed in my mission"
For mouse and keyboard warriors out there, that doesn't mean you can't use them on GamerOS, but just that it strives to provide a flawless console-like experience.
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Mohandevir Mar 25, 2020
Quoting: dubigrasuQuoting: MohandevirIndeed, and for those missing on SteamOS, it is a good alternative.Quoting: dubigrasuThey also said about future SteamOS being possibly image-basedThat's exactly GamerOS' model.
I also like what its dev said a couple of times about GamerOS (probably not an exact quote, but close):
"If you'll ever have to use the mouse and keyboard on GamerOS, then I failed in my mission"
For mouse and keyboard warriors out there, that doesn't mean you can't use them on GamerOS, but just that it strives to provide a flawless console-like experience.
It might just be a foolish and uneducated tought of my own, but at some point, I began to think/hope that Valve would/could make GamerOS it's own, just like they did with DXVK, and work with Alkazar for the maintenance/development of the thing. Imo, GamerOS is probably the closest thing to what SteamOS strives to be.
Last edited by Mohandevir on 25 March 2020 at 3:54 pm UTC
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Mountain Man Mar 25, 2020
I just hope they make a proper Half-Life sequel at some point.
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Not sure what problem they are having with the Debian base. It's pretty solid and allows easy customization.
Last edited by Shmerl on 25 March 2020 at 3:49 pm UTC
Last edited by Shmerl on 25 March 2020 at 3:49 pm UTC
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@Mohandevir
Could be...who knows.
GamerOS two main devs (Alkazar and Shark) are practically on fire and keep adding features that I would've loved back then to see added to SteamOS proper.
Steam-buddy for example: https://github.com/gamer-os/steam-buddy
Actually...now that I think about it SteamOS had something similar at one point, but it was removed eventually.
Last edited by dubigrasu on 25 March 2020 at 4:16 pm UTC
Could be...who knows.
GamerOS two main devs (Alkazar and Shark) are practically on fire and keep adding features that I would've loved back then to see added to SteamOS proper.
Steam-buddy for example: https://github.com/gamer-os/steam-buddy
Actually...now that I think about it SteamOS had something similar at one point, but it was removed eventually.
Last edited by dubigrasu on 25 March 2020 at 4:16 pm UTC
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I'm willing to give up ubuntu for steamOs if an economic vr comes along with titles. It's time!
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Ok, I'm going to go a different route. I think SteamOS should be based on Pop!_OS. Based on Ubuntu, installers for nVidia and AMD graphics, modern desktop, highly configurable, stable, backed by System76.
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[email protected] Mar 25, 2020
Something like Porteus Linux, with a little invest of Money and very hard System work could do the Trick....
..certainly yours iVAN...
..certainly yours iVAN...
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Nevertheless Mar 25, 2020
Quoting: rustybroomhandleQuoting: Wernersorry but i really must rant now, i can't hear that crap anymore about Manjaro or Arch based distributions, i get a lot of support requests because many sites now make articles that Manjaro is great for beginners or First Time Users :><:, sorry but WTF, no it is not great for beginners. Normal users don't need f**king bleeding edge the only thing they need is a updated hw stack and a stable base thats it.
If we're going to throw around generalisations, then I'll go with: Users want to be able to run the software they want to run. When it come to running non-standard type stuff, it's way easier to point a user to the AUR than to explain PPAs or Flatpak or such things. Same with drivers. "Bleeding edge" has its downsides, but Linux gaming is currently a teenager undergoing a huge growth spurt... you kind-of want the most up to date vulkan/gpu driver/ etc.
Also, Manjaro is hardly bleeding edge. It's just the right amount of conservative. imo.
Alone deciding if you can or can't trust an AUR package is not a thing for beginners! Installing Flatpaks is very easy, and Flatpaks are sandboxed.
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