With the Steam Deck delayed until February 2022, Valve has produced new developer documentation giving a helping hand to devs interested in testing ready for it using Linux.
They're not quite ready to put out SteamOS 3 Linux just yet (which is what the Steam Deck uses), or even an official developer image to install but "soon" something should be available in that way. Until then, they've come up with a way for developers to test everything on Linux a little easier.
It starts by going over the already expected essential things like gamepad input and resolution support but this time there's more detail on actually testing it on a Linux system. Specifically, Valve are now suggesting developers go for Manjaro KDE, as it's also based on Arch Linux and has the same Plasma desktop as you will find in the desktop mode with SteamOS 3 on the Steam Deck.
On top of that, Valve has created two new tools to help developers test their builds (either a native Linux build or a Windows build with Steam Play Proton) with the SteamOS Devkit Client Tool and the SteamOS Devkit Service. These tools allow developers to deploy game builds from a development machine to either a Steam Deck or another Linux machine for full testing. Valve also said to ensure developers use Proton Experimental when testing Windows builds.
Valve even gave a hint for developers wishing to buy a mini-PC with somewhat similar specifications to the Steam Deck, with their pictured suggestion being the MINISFORUM UM700 Ryzen NUC available on Amazon (US / UK) along with a picture using the banana scale:
This includes:
- AMD Ryzen 7 3750H
- Radeon RX Vega 10 Graphics
- 16GB of DDR4 RAM
While it has a stronger CPU, weaker GPU and less memory bandwidth they say "it will definitely run well on Steam Deck" if it runs well on something similar to that.
Nice to see some more clear documentation go up, although it's a little crazy to think this has only just gone live considering the Steam Deck was supposed to launch next month.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Nice to see some more clear documentation go up, although it's a little crazy to think this has only just gone live considering the Steam Deck was supposed to launch next month.
The information about the dev tools has been up for quite a while already, and they previously had instructions for setting up a Linux test environment it's just that it was based on Ubuntu rather than Manjaro. The performance-equivalent hardware information should be pretty handy, though.
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rustybroomhandle Nov 12, 2021
That NUC is frickin' adorable tho.
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The information about the dev tools has been up for quite a while already, and they previously had instructions for setting up a Linux test environment it's just that it was based on Ubuntu rather than Manjaro. The performance-equivalent hardware information should be pretty handy, though.I'm aware they had some stuff available but nothing laid out as clear as this as a guide.
Last edited by Liam Dawe on 12 November 2021 at 8:06 am UTC
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I'm aware they had some stuff available but nothing laid out as clear as this as a guide.It's a definite upgrade. It's just that it's not like they had nothing before.
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Well I did say "more clear documentation", I didn't say no documentation.
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Isn't "NUC" an Intel-specific marketing name (Next Unit of Computing), nothing to apply to AMD-based hardware? So it's now a proprietary eponym like Band-Aid, Kleenex, Hoover etc.! 🤔
Intel must be proud, especially since they didn't even pioneer the concept 😛
Intel must be proud, especially since they didn't even pioneer the concept 😛
1 Likes, Who?
That NUC is frickin' adorable tho.There are some others that come with Linux pre-installed that GOL has reported on before, if you're interested in that kind of thing.
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/05/slimbook-think-they-have-the-one-for-you-with-their-new-compact-mini-pc
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2021/11/the-tuxedo-nano-pro-is-a-powerhouse-in-a-tiny-box
2 Likes, Who?
rustybroomhandle Nov 12, 2021
Still not complete though. They don't say which kernel to test against and which branch of Proton Experimental.
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rustybroomhandle Nov 12, 2021
That NUC is frickin' adorable tho.There are some others that come with Linux pre-installed that GOL has reported on before, if you're interested in that kind of thing.
Alas, I have 9 cats to support, I cannot spend 600 bucks on electronics. :P
6 Likes, Who?
Still not complete though. They don't say which kernel to test against and which branch of Proton Experimental.
I don’t know you, but demanding much?
In any case, like any of that matters for devs who will be using linux for the first time in their lives.
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That NUC is frickin' adorable tho.There are some others that come with Linux pre-installed that GOL has reported on before, if you're interested in that kind of thing.
Alas, I have 9 cats to support, I cannot spend 600 bucks on electronics. :P
I feel you. My last i5 notebook is a victim of me neglecting them, that they pour their liquids into it. now im stuck in my old pemtium with only nvidia 610m. sorry for the rants :D
2 Likes, Who?
Still not complete though. They don't say which kernel to test against and which branch of Proton Experimental.
They did specify selecting "Proton Experimental" in Steam. It is a specific "branch".
And they also specified to use Manjaro, which is Arch based distro. It is a rolling release distro, meaning it always has the latest stable Linux kernel (at this point in time Arch is on 5.14.16).
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rustybroomhandle Nov 12, 2021
Still not complete though. They don't say which kernel to test against and which branch of Proton Experimental.
They did specify selecting "Proton Experimental" in Steam. It is a specific "branch".
And they also specified to use Manjaro, which is Arch based distro. It is a rolling release distro, meaning it always has the latest stable Linux kernel (at this point in time Arch is on 5.14.16).
Steam Deck won't ship with 5.14, it will likely be 5.15. Manjaro does currently have a 5.15rc selectable in kernels, but will likely get 5.15 soon. This is all relevant because 5.15 contains things that will affect how proton games run.
Also, Proton Experimental has several branches:
none
bleeding-edge
debug
touchtest
In github, proton experimental is a branch, but in Steam it is set up as a separate application with its own branches.
Last edited by rustybroomhandle on 12 November 2021 at 9:59 am UTC
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Steam Deck won't ship with 5.14, it will likely be 5.15. Manjaro does currently have a 5.15rc selectable in kernels, but will likely get 5.15 soon. This is all relevant because 5.15 contains things that will affect how proton games run.
It's delayed until February, so 5.16 is more likely. (with even more Valve goodies in the kernel)
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Mohandevir Nov 12, 2021
I don't know what you think about that, but something is telling me that the screen on this setup doesn't run in 4k. Might be wrong... 
Edit1:
Just found a similar screen from the same company:
https://eyoyomall.com/products/eyoyo-small-touchscreen-monitor-10-inch
Nope! Doesn't run in 4K. Nice touch screen though, good price.
Edit2:
Mmmm... Connecting that kind of screen to my GTX 1660 Super rig, to be used as a in-home streaming server, for my futur Steam Deck, in native 1280x800... Wow! It would make it a powerhouse!
Edit3:
Judging by the banana scale, it might be the 7" version of the one I linked to.
https://eyoyomall.com/collections/small-lcd-monitor/products/eyoyo-7-inch-monitor-em07h
Last edited by Mohandevir on 12 November 2021 at 6:38 pm UTC
Edit1:
Just found a similar screen from the same company:
https://eyoyomall.com/products/eyoyo-small-touchscreen-monitor-10-inch
Nope! Doesn't run in 4K. Nice touch screen though, good price.
Edit2:
Mmmm... Connecting that kind of screen to my GTX 1660 Super rig, to be used as a in-home streaming server, for my futur Steam Deck, in native 1280x800... Wow! It would make it a powerhouse!
Edit3:
Judging by the banana scale, it might be the 7" version of the one I linked to.
https://eyoyomall.com/collections/small-lcd-monitor/products/eyoyo-7-inch-monitor-em07h
Last edited by Mohandevir on 12 November 2021 at 6:38 pm UTC
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Brandonmccoub2 Nov 12, 2021
Gabe has been training for the last 9 years for this! Hopefully he's got what it takes...
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Manjaro KDE you say.... That is exactly what I run. Great to see that valve.
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TheRiddick Nov 12, 2021
Provided you don't fiddle with custom arch drivers or -git builds and stick to Manjaro driver and kernel system, then for the most part its a decent noob friendly choice.
There are some Manjaro supported Kernel/Driver(I think) builds on the AUR but its sort of a user-beware situation.
Plasma5 is pretty good, I've been using it the most. However I've settled with Latte Dock for my panels etc since it has more customization (sometimes confusing to get perfectly right).
Last edited by TheRiddick on 12 November 2021 at 4:09 pm UTC
There are some Manjaro supported Kernel/Driver(I think) builds on the AUR but its sort of a user-beware situation.
Plasma5 is pretty good, I've been using it the most. However I've settled with Latte Dock for my panels etc since it has more customization (sometimes confusing to get perfectly right).
Last edited by TheRiddick on 12 November 2021 at 4:09 pm UTC
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Philadelphus Nov 12, 2021
I don't know what you think about that, but something is telling me that the screen on this setup doesn't run in 4k. Might be wrong...I was just going to ask what that tiny adorable monitor was.
Edit1:
Just found the exact same screen:
https://eyoyomall.com/products/eyoyo-small-touchscreen-monitor-10-inch
Nope! Doesn't run in 4K. Nice touch screen though, good price.
Edit2:
Mmmm... Connecting that kind of screen to my GTX 1660 Super rig, to be used as a in-home streaming server, for my futur Steam Deck, in native 1280x800... Wow! It would make it a powerhouse!
2 Likes, Who?
Wait, wait . . . 9?!That NUC is frickin' adorable tho.There are some others that come with Linux pre-installed that GOL has reported on before, if you're interested in that kind of thing.
Alas, I have 9 cats to support, I cannot spend 600 bucks on electronics. :P
Do you ever manage to take more than a couple of steps at a time in your home before you trip over someone or have to pat someone or feed or clean up after someone?
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