You can sign up to get a daily email of our articles, see the Mailing List page.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

Valve open sources SteamOS Devkit Client for Steam Deck

By - | Views: 39,864

Want to develop for the Steam Deck / SteamOS and get testing? Now it's a whole lot easier, as Valve has now put up the tools needed under open source licenses.

There's two projects included with the SteamOS Devkit Client and the SteamOS Devkit Service, both of which are available on their GitLab page. Setting it up, at least on Linux, was pretty painless thanks to the clear instructions so even someone like me can give it a try and see what it's like.

With this, developers can easily upload builds from one device to a Steam Deck to easily begin testing. Available to developers anyway but now they don't have to be approved by Valve, as anyone can just grab it. It has a number of other interesting tools to control a Steam Deck remotely too, like forcing it to drop into Desktop Mode or back to Deck UI mode ("Gaming Mode").

Nice to see Valve continue putting more out in the open. This means others can test, report issues and perhaps even contribute code back to improve it further or even hack away at it to use it for other things.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
38 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
See more from me
The comments on this article are closed.
9 comments

ObsidianBlk Mar 4, 2022
Has a hobbiest game developer... GAH! Why is my Steam Deck still months away! I would love to try some of my janky game prototypes on the Steam Deck!!

Ah well... just another reasons to sit and count down the (non-specific) days until mine arrives.
BielFPs Mar 4, 2022
Quotehas now put up the tools needed under open source licenses.
Music to developer's ears
slembcke Mar 4, 2022
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Huh... that's kinda neat, and written using Dear ImGUI too. Looking forward to using mine for some gamedev.
slaapliedje Mar 4, 2022
Just throwing this thought out there... but what about tool/application dev? Also wonder how usable the VTT type software could be on the Deck...
elmapul Mar 4, 2022
jupiter OS...
gradyvuckovic Mar 5, 2022
Quoting: slembckeHuh... that's kinda neat, and written using Dear ImGUI too. Looking forward to using mine for some gamedev.

My exact same reaction. "I recognise that! That's dear imgui!"

I love it. This allows devs to work on the PC they're comfortable with and push builds to their Decks quickly and easily to test changes. Which is what you need if you want devs to seriously support something.

Edit: Another advantage of this approach, for big studios with a lot of internal tools, they could even pull apart the code of these projects and integrate the code into their own internal dev tools if they want.

See industry? Open sourcing stuff makes sense when you're trying to work with your customers not work against them.


Last edited by gradyvuckovic on 5 March 2022 at 12:57 am UTC
sub Mar 5, 2022
From @rokups (Twitter)

From @rokups (Twitter)


Last edited by sub on 5 March 2022 at 9:50 am UTC
slembcke Mar 7, 2022
View PC info
  • Supporter Plus
Quoting: gradyvuckovicSee industry? Open sourcing stuff makes sense when you're trying to work with your customers not work against them.

Yeah, kinda-sorta-mostly. On the other end of the spectrum you have something like console dev kits which are still quite expensive, but have first class tooling (especially in terms of profiling and debugging tools). Linux has a ways to go to catch up in that respect. The Steam Deck tools will probably appeal more to the little studios than the big shops which often have their own dedicated internal tooling developers. Linux has advanced leaps and bounds in the last decade as a target for gamedev though. I've quite happy to make it my dev environment.
Leeo97one Mar 9, 2022
oof
https://gitlab.steamos.cloud/devkit/steamos-devkit-service/-/blob/main/src/utils.c#L35-36
QuoteWindows command-line parsing makes even Unix /bin/sh look well-documented and consistent.
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
The comments on this article are closed.