*Like how much optimization did they do in SteamOS vs Linux in general?
Is SteamOS minimal changes just so it boots directly into the store and run everything full screen by default, or did they make deeper changes?
SteamOS runs a special system called “gamescope” that gives it some advantages over normal desktop Linux on low powered systems like the Steam Deck.
Other than that it is pretty much the same.
You can install gamescope on any distro, Arch has it in its repos, plus the git version and the plus version in the aur!
Yes, altough they have some additional settings on SteamOS that aren’t integrated by default on other distros. And using it while running an regular desktop increases the input latency, so you’d have to log out to take full advantage of it’s features (vrr, tearing).
In arch’s AUR there is also a neat package i’ve been using that I think is worth mentioning called gamescope-session that’s from chimeraOS. It skips loading a DE and just runs gamescope and launches steam in the steamdeck UI.
Can you select it on the login screen like any other DE?
I use SDDM and it does appear in the drop down menu next to the Wayland option. Also can be set in it’s config file. So ive been thinking about using a script that uses systemd’s soft-reboot and edits that config for quick swapping. Apparently the “Switch to Desktop” in the steamdeck ui is scriptable aswell to go back.
You should be fine regardless. However, I have at least read from one developer that works on one of the SteamOS clones that there is still some merit in running it on Arch due to how Valve targets that specifically for its SteamOS. One might even get better performances on Arch as the user is able to tweak it beyond what SteamOS offers. But this requires proper know-how, so this route is not recommended for those that are still very novel to Linux.
I’m running it on NixOS. The Steam Deck experience is significantly more rich in terms of features like overlays etc. but the games play just as well on my NixOS desktop. In fact Proton etc. is so good atm there’s no point in having Windows. Only game I know that doesn’t work is Fortnite, and luckily that’s not a genre I enjoy.
I’ve found for whatever reason cuphead won’t run on my NixOS pc but runs perfectly on deck
Otherwise just as flawless
I mean, it seems to work fine for me, but this is something you only notice when it’s broken.
I haven’t run SteamOS but it seems to run just as well on Pop as it did on Windows, if that means anything.
Why shouldn’t it?
Depends how much optimization they did in SteamOS specifically vs Linux in general. I’m not sure how things work on that level.
That’s fair. Though usually optimization process includes some specific device too, for SteamOS it’s Steam Deck. However if I don’t remember it wrong they were planning to release it for PC as well, in that case I’m not sure. Also someone already explained it with gamescope thing, I have no idea what that is though, gotta check.
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