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Valve have been busy, as the latest Steam Beta Client makes some important improvements to the Linux client. The Steam Controller has also seen some improvements, like supporting configurations for XBox 360, Xbox One, and Generic X-Input controller configurator support.

Linux specific
- Improved interactions between the Steam runtime and host distribution libraries, which should let Steam work out of the box with open-source graphics drivers on modern distributions. If using an older distribution or running into problems, use STEAM_RUNTIME_PREFER_HOST_LIBRARIES=0 to revert to previous behavior.

- Unify close-to-tray behavior with other platforms. If using a distribution that doesn't have proper compatible tray support, use STEAM_FRAME_FORCE_CLOSE=0

That particular bug was one I specifically wrote about, as Valve had let it sit at the bottom of the pile for very close to 4 years. I'm actually amazed they fixed it. Funny that they fix it after I highlight it. I've tested it on Ubuntu, and it perfectly closes to the indicator in the top panel now. The only problem is that the indicator menu is now blank, so you have to have an icon somewhere else to click on to bring Steam back up.

- Added idle detection, friend status will now automatically switch to Away/Snooze

- Fixed Steam not obeying SIGTERM, Steam will now gracefully exit when logging out of a session

- Fixed keyboard input and cursor switching in overlay for Vulkan applications

- Update Vulkan loader in the Steam runtime to enable Xlib support

- Updated libxcb in the runtime with a fix for DRI3-related crashes on open-source graphics drivers Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Beta, Steam
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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.
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Levi Jan 5, 2017
Quote- Fixed Steam not obeying SIGTERM, Steam will now gracefully exit when logging out of a session

THANKFULLY, I've not been hit by this one often but it always puzzled me before finding this steam bug a while back.

(For those who don't know, this caused elementary os and a few others to never shutdown proper. The system just stayed on forever, stuck on the shutdown screen)


All in all looking like a sweet update.
Liam Dawe Jan 5, 2017
@levi, I've come across that issue too many times, so I got into a habit of closing Steam before trying to shutdown. Eventually it seemed to go away for me, but I know for others it was a constant annoyance. It's pleasing to see them fix such things, as it makes the Linux client so much better overall.
staticx27 Jan 5, 2017
Wow.. all the Steam Controller issues (and all the issues in general). They've been busy.
crt0mega Jan 5, 2017
Quoting: liamdawe[...]
- Improved interactions between the Steam runtime and host distribution libraries, which should let Steam work out of the box with open-source graphics drivers on modern distributions
[...]
- Updated libxcb in the runtime with a fix for DRI3-related crashes on open-source graphics drivers
I can finally stop removing files from the Steam Runtime. Thanks, Valve!
jd117 Jan 5, 2017
Quote- Unify close-to-tray behavior with other platforms. If using a distribution that doesn't have proper compatible tray support, use STEAM_FRAME_FORCE_CLOSE=0

i can think of someone whos going to be happy with that ;)
Mountain Man Jan 5, 2017
Close to tray! \o/
pete910 Jan 6, 2017
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Quoting: crt0mega
Quoting: liamdawe[...]
- Improved interactions between the Steam runtime and host distribution libraries, which should let Steam work out of the box with open-source graphics drivers on modern distributions
[...]
- Updated libxcb in the runtime with a fix for DRI3-related crashes on open-source graphics drivers
I can finally stop removing files from the Steam Runtime. Thanks, Valve!

This,Sooooooo much!!!

Quoting: Mountain ManClose to tray! \o/

And this.....


Last edited by pete910 on 6 January 2017 at 12:06 am UTC
Redneck Jan 6, 2017
QuoteAdded XBox 360, Xbox One, and Generic X-Input controller configurator support. This allows all recognized controller types to use the advanced mapping features of the Steam Controller Configurator.

Does that mean we can use Steam to assign keyboard buttons to the 360 controller like antimicro do?
For example on games that do not support controllers...
Mountain Man Jan 6, 2017
[
Quoting: Levi
Quote- Fixed Steam not obeying SIGTERM, Steam will now gracefully exit when logging out of a session

THANKFULLY, I've not been hit by this one often but it always puzzled me before finding this steam bug a while back.

(For those who don't know, this caused elementary os and a few others to never shutdown proper. The system just stayed on forever, stuck on the shutdown screen)
I think I've been hit by that one before since Ubuntu MATE will occasionally hang during shutdown, and I have to physically power-off the computer. Never knew what was causing, but this could be the culprit.
bakgwailo Jan 6, 2017
Doesn't do anything for me on Arch.


Last edited by bakgwailo on 6 January 2017 at 4:46 am UTC
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