Quoting: whizseYou're a bit off, Proton was released in 2018.

Indeed😂 Anyways the point I made becomes more valid with Proton not have been released. I got confused with years because Valve mentioned that development started as early as late 2015, even though it was released to public in 2018.

Quoting: CaldathrasFascinating (and a highly technical read) but that's really the opposite of what I was talking about. My statement was that, these days, it seems like the Linux tools are better than the Windows tools, with features and compatibility you simply don't see in the their Windows counterparts.

It seems only logical for Linux tools to become better. If you take 1000 developers and spread them across three APIs or software projects (Metal, D3D12 and PS5 API) or unite the 1000 on a single one (e.g Vulkan) - it's obvious to me that Vulkan would likely be better if not by alot. Unless of course there is some super genius coders among the ecosystems of each of the three API projects.

Quoting: whizseThat will never happen. I'm not naive enough to think "people that switch will all value free software"

They are probably less likely to if people dont enlighten them about it. As a simple example, many distros have "Welcome to X Distro" program - a part about free spirit of Linux would be nice. Whether it be effective or not is not the point, the point is that 100% users wont understand or/and realize the importance of free software if they aren't informed of it. What will happen is that they may go many years, if they are youngsters, and learn from experience that they care about free software. Where as ideally you would want users to see value in FOSS/free software from first month of using Linux.

Quoting: whizseBut Linux is already "owned" by big tech companies. Google is one of the biggest contributors to kernel, Canonical is also contributing a majority to Debian while the company has the reputation of "Microsoft of the Linux world" (at least what some people write about), but all the community projects as Debian, Arch and so on will not be destroyed, because otherwise the companies lose their own benefits in such a case.

Yes. And that "ownership" can go down a worse path once user base grows. When Linux had 1% Steam market share it was insignificant and not worth paying attention to but at 10%-50% (France is adopting Linux for government), there will be more incentive to get involved and influence Linux ecosystem. Regardless of the actors being greedy and corrupt or benevolent free spirited companies. It may be difficult and take a long time but I am positive with growing popularity there will be (more) attempts at hijacking and controlling Linux projects and ecosystem. And I repeat what I said, forking a project does not bring with it the developers who revolve around the project.

Quoting: whizseBut I am also aware that it is not a "no risk" thing. Let's face the mesa drivers for example and that they start to accept AI-written patches, which is at least an licensing issue in my opinion (if not more). AMD employees pushing AI code for example while other AMD employees assigning the change (looked into the commits myself). I see the potential issues, but I also see that it is not easy to take over a project while all other companies complaining without doing something against.

Yes, but these companies interests sometimes align. Take Entertainment Software Association, games, they all would LOVE TO normalize 70$ pricing. And after 70$ they would love to normalize 80$. So these companies who rely on Linux may all see benefit for them all in something bad, e.g data logging (just as a pure example). They will then be able to use their collective influence to more easily get said thing injected into Linux kernel or whatever major project it is.

Quoting: whizseYou are totally right about teaching people what free software actually is and why it matters. But I also think once they get Linux in their hand, seeing the positive differences and understand that they can communicate with developers just on forums or chats, they start to realize the benefits. Not everyone needs to know it, but as more as better. Personally I do a lot about it, even without Linux in particular, just speaking about free software or supporting it on the one way or another. Same for open hardware. My hope is a little bit: as more restrictive Big-Tech tech becomes and as more shiny free software and open hardware, as more people realize the benefits. It is much more effective than just talking to them (otherwise they understand it partly and do not care much about as long as their things keep running).

I think a friendly prompt of "This is what makes Linux great! - Click here to read", or something similar, can't hurt. I dont think we should annoy anyone but enlightenment and informing others is something I believe will help in making users more resilient and aware of harmful practices and tactics and what it can lead to.

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Quoting: PlayingOnLinuxphone2015 I was trying Linux, but it was not ready then, even with tinkering the troubles where too much. But Linux was otherwise that great, I knew I would come back in 5 years. Okay it was 10 years for desktop (8 considering my switch to mobile Linux, which was a consequence of Corona supply chain issues, otherwise 5 years would be on point). When I saw Linux becomes a thing for more people in 2023, I knew 2025 will be "the year" and the EOL will push it even further. I just never expected it become such a huge thing.

2015 was, correct me if I am wrong, one of the years where DXVK/VKD3D and other Proton fixes and codes were maturing or being improved. It was a great step but that year the usability for normal users was not great. I think people who bring up "Year of Linux", jokingly or seriously dilute the nuances and improvements that Linux has made. Linux gaming has improved so much and while it's not/wasn't viable for most people it is now for many. Those many who primarily play singleplayer games, other factors like (semi) old hardware (RX 580, VEGA, RDNA 2) and Windows repulsive "features" also strengthen the proposition of Linux.

When I watched LTT video on Linux I found it lackluster because if you want to do a scientific or semi scientific/proper look at Linux gaming you would take a OS and software stack (including DXVK and Proton) of 2015-2016 and compare it to 2026. Then you would come to the conclusion - holy shit it has improved so much, and you dont need to do a video to understand "No, Linux is not ready for 90% of users" (it's not rocket science)! But certainly people make lazy joke of "Year of Linux year of Linux!" as if everyone switching to Linux means its a net positive. All Linux needs is enough users to get and sustain 1:1 software support, to not be devalued as a platform. And maybe more than that we also need users and people who have FOSS and free spirit in their veins. Not people who will sell out and cast aside what makes Linux so amazing for short term gains. Otherwise slowly but surely, Linux will become poisoned to a degree or another and look like yet another walled garden/corporate platform like Android and Windows. It may not take a year or two, or even five, but if enough people who dont value free spirit (regardless of platform they come from) Linux will be poisoned. And with all respect but forking a project does not bring with it the ecosystem surrounding it. If you fork a project that has been taken over by a corporation you still dont get the hundreds or thousands of developers who revolve around said software, you have to begin from new. Like leaving behind a homestead and moving far away and rebuilding because your original homestead is overrun by bandits and what not.

Of course I dont mean to imply that we should gatekeep but anyone who values software freedom/FOSS should not be naive in thinking that everyone thinks the same as you and would stand by the free principles of Linux or that fre spirit of Linux will persist as corporate and greed minded individuals come over to the platform. And we should educate new users about the FOSS/free spirit of Linux and why it's worth fighting for. If you read this far thanks for attending my TED talk lol.

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Quoting: CaldathrasVery much so. And it's hard to find Windows equivalents of these tools that work just as well as the Linux-based ones. I'm thinking of Mangohud in particular.

There is someone developing a RadeonChill like feature called MangoChill: https://farnoy.dev/posts/mangochill [External Link]. It seems promising.

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Quoting: PlayingOnLinuxphone

Quoting: LinuxwarperI really dont think W10 EOL had as much to do with this.

Don't you see the graph of the article? It has a lot to do.

You are totally right about all the work, but EOL is the final push many people required. At the end everything works together: software development, W11 sloperating system, hardware support, the increased user base over the last 5 years and finally the media that jumped on board last year to push Linux. Still, without W10 EOL we would be around 3.x% in best case scenario, I am pretty sure (which would also be 300% of 5 years ago, so the trend is present with or without EOL).

That's what I meant, without the heavy lifting EOL wouldnt matter much. Imagine Linux in 2010-2015, people would have switched and had a lackluster user experience and then go back to Windows. Or potentially get new hardware (MAC?).

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I really dont think W10 EOL had as much to do with this. At its core it was WINE and all contributors big and small improving Linux desktop. Devs of software like Mangohud, GoOverlay, vkVasalt, DXVK, Proton GE and the many whose dedication and work (may) have gone unnoticed. Linux simply got better one line of code at a time until it culminated in good usability. Valve was the catalyst and funder who made alot happen. If these things did not, people would still be using Windows, EOL or not.

Other considerations are memory shortage, old hardware (tpm or RX 580), and social media creators promoting Linux. We saw LTT, Jay, GamersNexus among other cover Linux.

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I recall a time period where people endorsed Stadia out of necessity, and the negative implications of Google and their goals (certainly not improve Linux gaming) were sidelined, and I thought "Linux gaming is growing, Google's involvement will do more harm than good". Fast forward to now, I dont believe Stadia games, that had a somewhat functional Linux basis were released as ports. Developers who signed exclusivity did release their games on Steam though. Key point is that endorsing a gaming platform by a company who would introduce (more of) things like drm, ads and data collection is a unfortunate to put it mildly. And if you need more on why Google is untrustworthy, and their platform closing was for the better, here..
https://keepandroidopen.org/ [External Link]

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Wasn't there other emails where Sweeney asked Apple for special treatment in regards to their store and with "hope" it would trickle down to other developers too? And Apple told him to get lost hence the lawsuit?

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Quoting: PenglingI maintain that clear plastic is still 90s-cool, and I'll not hear otherwise. :tongue:

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Though this is cool to see, in a sense it's a pity that there's not also an official option for something like this - I think that a translucent "smoke" colourway would look really smart on the Deck!

It's also practical, you can get a glimpse of the inside and see if the visible parts are intact and in correct positions or a fall from table has lead to damage or parts coming loose or/and bent.

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"Why now?"

It's because prior to Steam Deck there was no inexpensive and amazing PC handheld with major backing. Aya Neo was expensive and Windows handheld experience was not great. With purchases of Windows handhelds causing fragmentation even. But with Steam Deck emulator devs can optimize for one capable device that has a large userbase. Not only that but Valve is right there in trenches looking to how to streamline and improve emulation. This culminates into a greater ease of use for emulating games on Deck i.e it's closer to plug and play.

Already Switch hardware is outdated with emulation giving better experience. People's main argument for Switch is it's ease of use. But if Valve and emudevs make ease of use for Deck almost the same as Switch..why buy Switch and have worse performance and freedom?

Also before Windows handhelds emulation was done on a variety of different PC configs; that kind of fragmentation has a major effect on how optimized and user friendly devs can make emulation. Nintendo didn't need to worry about the threat of emulation as they could just point to their hardware being seamless as to why you should buy their hardware. Dolphin on Steam would be another step towards making emulation on Deck more seamless, maybe even make use of Steam's API for multiplayer too.

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"Anyone can create an alternate store that supports snaps. The API is completely open as is snapd. Having a centralized store is actually one of the strengths of the ecosystem. ISVs want that single trusted source for apps. I think the tremendous success we’ve had with ISVs adopting snap is in no small part due to this concept. And I ask, is it really a problem? Snap is completely open, anyone can see what’s being executed on your system. The internals of the store that handles metadata just isn’t interesting."

This quote is from interview. If having a centralized store is good, why do we need to have a snap and a flatpak store? Why can't we have one (Flatpak)? And why is it not a problem? Wouldn't Flatpak or Snap become better if everyone was focused one one of them, instead of having dev resources and attention to bugfixes and improvements being divided between the two? Developers resource are finite, it's one of the major reasons why Linux developers (WINE and others) couldn't keep up with Microsoft ecosystem changes to the degree that WINE compatibility became stable and less volatile, as it has become with Proton.

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