I think this whole situation is getting some thoughts into gear about distributing for Linux in general, with the Proton saga as a part of it. In general, I think Valve has learned many lessons from Steam Machines in general.

Quoting: LachuMost important thing is to made developing for Linux easier than Windows. Valve should take focus on Steam Runtime (there is many Steam Runtime, such like soldier). Case Linux is Open, creating tools for developers should been simpler. I am developer, but not professional. I use only IDE, compiler, valgrind, build tools, gdb and KVM with Qemu + Libvirt.

I think this demonstrates a lot of ignorance of the Windows development environment. Speaking as someone who does POSIX-platform development professionally, the development experience on Windows is pretty nice (assuming you don't treat it like Linux). I'd much rather use Visual Studio than gdb. For gamedevs in particular, stuff like PIX [External Link] was essential to debugging graphical programs. Of course, Valve realizes that tooling is essential - that's why they've invested in Renderdoc.

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Sometimes I wonder if Win32 becomes the stable Linux userland ABI... (well, for desktop at least)

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I definitely agree with the thrust of the article; the title got people on edge, but the contents are charitable and the title is painfully true; without Steam, I suspect a lot of developers might pull out.

It's getting me thinking about Steam Machines again too. Proton is a game changer (ha, pun) that could have changed the value of Steam Machines when Valve was attempting to actually launch them; but still, better late than never for the GNU/Linux desktop userse.

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Works on OpenBSD [External Link] too!

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I mean, you just reread the article I wrote in 2016 - essentially nothing's changed. They keep improving the backend, but SteamOS as a product is stagnant.

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Yeah. Microsoft takes Valve seriously as a threat, but they don't see SteamOS as one, with little followthrough and usage. Desktop GNU/Linux is improving, but it's still not high on their radar.

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Microsoft might have dropped the walled garden, but they're pushing harder than ever to become the leader of PC gaming. Valve can't just sit on their laurels; they take action and keep their crown, or they idle by, too focused on other tasks, and let Microsoft win, possibly even fairly.

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Really digging the art style. Reminds me of 80s Mac games.

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Quoting: tmtvl

Quoting: calvinMicrosoft can't go walled garden; it would enrage enterprise, and that's a primary market for them - much larger than gaming, despite its status as a growth market.

You're gonna have to explain that one to me.

Apple is very walled garden; and for whatever reason enterprise loves Apple. Microsoft's biggest product is Azure (and patents/licensing). Windows doesn't net them nearly as much, or at least so I've been told.

Enterprise has decrepit VB6 apps and Access 97 databases they lost the source to. Windows' bread and butter is backwards compatibility. Connect the dots.

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Microsoft can't go walled garden; it would enrage enterprise, and that's a primary market for them - much larger than gaming, despite its status as a growth market.

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