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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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33 comments
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Izberion Jan 6, 2017
Quoting: GuestIt closes to tray... but you cant doubleclick it to bring it up again. So that's pretty annoying.
The SIGTERM issue being fixed is *very* nice however.

Looking at the amount of fixes you'd almost think Valve has hired someone to actually work on the Linux client :p
Double click not reopening on Arch either. Luckily I don't close Steam ever.
Leopard Jan 6, 2017
Steam on Linux works normal if system language is set to English.

However,at other languages it has issues

For example:

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/4792

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/4790
wolfyrion Jan 6, 2017
Quoting: LeopardSteam on Linux works normal if system language is set to English.

However,at other languages it has issues

For example:

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/4792

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/4790

Well to me it seems that this is like 99% NOT a steam issue.
This problem exists in most of the programs in Linux and it happens if you are not able to set up your locale correctly to your distro.
I am using Greek Locale in everything I do and all are working fine.
In my noobish Linux era I had problems as well running programs because I had Greek Locale.
by changing only the Language/locale in your distro you are using is not enough, you have to generate your locale.

This is how you do it...
First choose what locale you are using by removing the #

sudo gedit /etc/locale.gen

Example:
#dv_MV UTF-8
#dz_BT UTF-8
el_GR.UTF-8 UTF-8
el_GR ISO-8859-7
el_CY.UTF-8 UTF-8
el_CY ISO-8859-7
#en_AG UTF-8
#en_AU.UTF-8 UTF-8

Then regenerate your locale - reboot and you should be fine

sudo locale-gen


Last edited by wolfyrion on 6 January 2017 at 9:05 am UTC
Leopard Jan 6, 2017
Quoting: wolfyrion
Quoting: LeopardSteam on Linux works normal if system language is set to English.

However,at other languages it has issues

For example:

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/4792

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/4790

Well to me it seems that this is like 99% NOT a steam issue.
This problem exists in most of the programs in Linux and it happens if you are not able to set up your locale correctly to your distro.
I am using Greek Locale in everything I do and all are working fine.
In my noobish Linux era I had problems as well running programs because I had Greek Locale.
by changing only the Language/locale in your distro you are using is not enough, you have to generate your locale.

This is how you do it...
First choose what locale you are using by removing the #

sudo gedit /etc/locale.gen

Example:
#dv_MV UTF-8
#dz_BT UTF-8
el_GR.UTF-8 UTF-8
el_GR ISO-8859-7
el_CY.UTF-8 UTF-8
el_CY ISO-8859-7
#en_AG UTF-8
#en_AU.UTF-8 UTF-8

Then regenerate your locale - reboot and you should be fine

sudo locale-gen

Thanks for the explanation.It's worth giving a try.

But this issue needs to be solved by Valve somehow.

Why are we using Steam?

First of all,just for experiencing out-of-box work.Users must not be forced to try some solutions.It must give everybody same experience.Then why English users don't have these problems,if it's general?

We're running a forum site about Linux and we have a gaming section there.We say "look,there are some good games on Linux with Steam".Because most of the newcomers are thinking there is no gaming on Linux at all.

Issues like this are just chopping user experience.They come for Linux,system works fine.When they install Steam,boom.First minute,first goal.

Windows client works normally on every language.We just need that,that's all.


Last edited by Leopard on 6 January 2017 at 9:34 am UTC
Slipie Jan 6, 2017
I hope that one day they will fix the HiDPI issue:
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/3492

Right now everything on the screen is so tiny by default.
I kinda worked around it with this theme https://github.com/MoriTanosuke/HiDPI-Steam-Skin but it makes steam ugly and inconsistent.
Liam Dawe Jan 6, 2017
Quoting: SlipieI hope that one day they will fix the HiDPI issue:
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/3492

Right now everything on the screen is so tiny by default.
I kinda worked around it with this theme https://github.com/MoriTanosuke/HiDPI-Steam-Skin but it makes steam ugly and inconsistent.
Actually one of the apps in a long list that look terrible in HiDPI, I ended up moving back to a 1080p monitor until things can be improved.
Xpander Jan 6, 2017
finally i can throw away my steam_away script :D

seems this update did something with the fonts also, its now uglier and some letters overlap in places.

client seems a bit faster also.

edit: also getting a steam client crash when going to "System Information"


Last edited by Xpander on 6 January 2017 at 12:10 pm UTC
Ardje Jan 6, 2017
Did anybody here have issues with the steam controller and the steam link?
I've got my issue reported here:
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/4775
To be specific: the current steam beta and steam stable client can only hande on wireless steam controller interface at a time. Be it the dongle in the steam machine, or the steam link.
Before all the x-box controller support work it was working fine with controllers attached to the dongle *and* to the link, but now I have to unplug the dongle, or be sure to have the steamlink disconnected before I go to my room.
Of course there are more problems (like an endless crash/recompile/reboot loop when inserting a 7.1 USB audio device), but this one is rather disturbing.
Ardje Jan 6, 2017
Quoting: ArdjeBefore all the x-box controller support work it was working fine with controllers attached to the dongle *and* to the link, but now I have to unplug the dongle, or be sure to have the steamlink disconnected before I go to my room.
Yay! Just tested it, the 5 Jan release fixed the issue.
Ardje Jan 6, 2017
Quoting: ArdjeYay! Just tested it, the 5 Jan release fixed the issue.
Unfortunately switching back to stable and back to beta again, and the bug reappeared :-(.
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