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.
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
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.
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
Mountain Man Mar 25, 2020
Last edited by Shmerl on 25 March 2020 at 3:49 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
[email protected] Mar 25, 2020
..certainly yours iVAN...
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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