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Here's someone from Collabra doing a talk on it [0]. The idea is pretty straightforward, but actually will fill an important niche in the compatibility and even

by Zhyl 6y ago

Here's someone from Collabra doing a talk on it [0]. The idea is pretty straightforward, but actually will fill an important niche in the compatibility and eventual archival space. On a higher level note, this shows that Valve is pretty committed to Linux as a concept. I feel that while a second wave of Steam Machines or Steam OS may be a while away, they're certainly making it much easier for gamers to Switch to Linux if they were so inclined. [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrbWbBYAolo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrbWbBYAolo

bryanlarsen 6y ago
I think most important to Valve is the threat of Steam OS / Steam Machines rather than their actuality. Work such as this keeps up the threat and helps to keep Microsoft honest.
- rektide 6y ago
  walking in to your late 1980's IBM sales meeting carrying a coffee-mug from a "Gang of Nine" company (NEC, HP, Compaq).... personally i think we'd see much much much more console-ification of gaming, already, if Steam wasn't around, and to a lesser degree if Linux wasn't an option. keeping game dev alive outside of the narrow walled gardens is very much a real challenge, a real problem, and Steam keeping a free & libre OS in a good state for gaming, & a flexible OS that they can be creative & take new risks & ventures on, unlike the fixed, closed operating systems, is more than a threat to keep the giant honest, it's a way to keep the ecosystem healthy, and a way to insure Valve can adapt & create & try new things. Linux, for Valve as for many others, is freedom, and it matters, here & now, & especially, ongoingly.
dleslie 6y ago
IIRC, Steam still does not allow a developer to release a Linux-only title. It may seem like a minor or fair limitation, but the ability to release Windows-only titles is a key component in maintaining the dominance of Windows as a gaming platform. Letting developers release on Linux first might go a long way to increasing adoption. I can imagine releasing on Linux a few months early, dealing with the issues not caught during development, then launching on Windows.
- faho 6y ago
  They do, there already was one! At the time it was called "Don't Be Patchman", apparently it changed its name and was ported to Windows and macOS. https://store.steampowered.com/app/378410/Patchman_vs_Red_Circles/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/378410/Patchman_vs_Red_Ci...
  - dleslie 6y ago
    That's excellent news.
sgnnseven 6y ago
I also did a talk on Flatpak (part of what's being used under the covers for Pressure Vessel) and OSTree a while back if you want to know how the underlying tech works for it: https://youtu.be/KFwBu-_k3rM?t=705 https://youtu.be/KFwBu-_k3rM?t=705. Flatpak-specific things start at 26:51.

by Zhyl 6y ago

bryanlarsen 6y ago

I think most important to Valve is the threat of Steam OS / Steam Machines rather than their actuality. Work such as this keeps up the threat and helps to keep Microsoft honest.

rektide 6y ago
walking in to your late 1980's IBM sales meeting carrying a coffee-mug from a "Gang of Nine" company (NEC, HP, Compaq).... personally i think we'd see much much much more console-ification of gaming, already, if Steam wasn't around, and to a lesser degree if Linux wasn't an option. keeping game dev alive outside of the narrow walled gardens is very much a real challenge, a real problem, and Steam keeping a free & libre OS in a good state for gaming, & a flexible OS that they can be creative & take new risks & ventures on, unlike the fixed, closed operating systems, is more than a threat to keep the giant honest, it's a way to keep the ecosystem healthy, and a way to insure Valve can adapt & create & try new things. Linux, for Valve as for many others, is freedom, and it matters, here & now, & especially, ongoingly.

dleslie 6y ago

IIRC, Steam still does not allow a developer to release a Linux-only title. It may seem like a minor or fair limitation, but the ability to release Windows-only titles is a key component in maintaining the dominance of Windows as a gaming platform. Letting developers release on Linux first might go a long way to increasing adoption. I can imagine releasing on Linux a few months early, dealing with the issues not caught during development, then launching on Windows.

faho 6y ago
They do, there already was one! At the time it was called "Don't Be Patchman", apparently it changed its name and was ported to Windows and macOS. https://store.steampowered.com/app/378410/Patchman_vs_Red_Circles/ https://store.steampowered.com/app/378410/Patchman_vs_Red_Ci...
- dleslie 6y ago
  That's excellent news.

sgnnseven 6y ago

I also did a talk on Flatpak (part of what's being used under the covers for Pressure Vessel) and OSTree a while back if you want to know how the underlying tech works for it: https://youtu.be/KFwBu-_k3rM?t=705 https://youtu.be/KFwBu-_k3rM?t=705. Flatpak-specific things start at 26:51.