4 ms·

So SteamOS is just arch linux? I guess there are important differences?

by jokoon 3mo ago

wetpaws 3mo ago
[dead]
jrepinc 3mo ago
Yup it is Arch Linux, that basically boots into Steam client with Big Picture mode. And if you switch to desktop mode you get a standard Linux with KDE Plasma desktop environment.
d3Xt3r 3mo ago
It is immutable and has versioned image releases (unlike Arch, which is mutable and rolling release).This adds stability, makes the system less prone to breakage, and easy to rollback (factory reset). Ans of course, the biggest visible difference is that this boots directly into Steam big-picture mode, where you operate the UI using a controller (although it does support KB+mouse), which makes it ideal to use connected to a TV, like a regular gaming console.
Gigachad 3mo ago
SteamOS is highly customized and managed by Valve. It doesn't have the Arch repos or pacman. Updates to the OS come from Valve in large releases rather than per package. All apps installed either come through Steam or Flatpak. So it's Arch in the same way Android could be called Linux.
- jokoon 3mo ago
  so the available software is a bit limited then I can still customize and configure things, or not really? does that mean I can't customize the OS, like shortcuts?
  - Gigachad 3mo ago
    The way SteamOS works is a bit weird. By default the OS partition is read only, you can do whatever in your user directory. But they let you unlock it to make whatever changes you want. I’m pretty sure that this OS partition gets completely wiped every update though so your customisations will have to be reapplied.
    - jokoon 3mo ago
      I read many people saying "it's just a PC", but I am a bit skeptical for now. I will probably wait for reviews to see how it goes I still feel very interested, though, but I would need to adapt some workflows that I have with paint.net for now
      - Gigachad 3mo ago
        The hardware is just an x86 pc. You can install windows or any other Linux distro on it. SteamOS itself is designed as a hands off just works forever experience. You can tinker a surprising amount but it’s a very non standard configuration.

So SteamOS is just arch linux? I guess there are important differences?

by jokoon 3mo ago

So SteamOS is just arch linux? I guess there are important differences?

wetpaws 3mo ago

[dead]

jrepinc 3mo ago

Yup it is Arch Linux, that basically boots into Steam client with Big Picture mode. And if you switch to desktop mode you get a standard Linux with KDE Plasma desktop environment.

d3Xt3r 3mo ago

It is immutable and has versioned image releases (unlike Arch, which is mutable and rolling release).This adds stability, makes the system less prone to breakage, and easy to rollback (factory reset). Ans of course, the biggest visible difference is that this boots directly into Steam big-picture mode, where you operate the UI using a controller (although it does support KB+mouse), which makes it ideal to use connected to a TV, like a regular gaming console.

Gigachad 3mo ago

SteamOS is highly customized and managed by Valve. It doesn't have the Arch repos or pacman. Updates to the OS come from Valve in large releases rather than per package. All apps installed either come through Steam or Flatpak. So it's Arch in the same way Android could be called Linux.

jokoon 3mo ago
so the available software is a bit limited then I can still customize and configure things, or not really? does that mean I can't customize the OS, like shortcuts?
- Gigachad 3mo ago
  The way SteamOS works is a bit weird. By default the OS partition is read only, you can do whatever in your user directory. But they let you unlock it to make whatever changes you want. I’m pretty sure that this OS partition gets completely wiped every update though so your customisations will have to be reapplied.
  - jokoon 3mo ago
    I read many people saying "it's just a PC", but I am a bit skeptical for now. I will probably wait for reviews to see how it goes I still feel very interested, though, but I would need to adapt some workflows that I have with paint.net for now
    - Gigachad 3mo ago
      The hardware is just an x86 pc. You can install windows or any other Linux distro on it. SteamOS itself is designed as a hands off just works forever experience. You can tinker a surprising amount but it’s a very non standard configuration.