Valve Seeks Beta Testers for Steam for Linux

[btarunr]

You can now sign up to test Steam for Linux, with Valve announcing an open Beta of the client. Valve is looking for users with generally high experience with Linux, so don't expect the Beta to be click-and-run. Interested users with Ubuntu 12.04 (and above) can sign up here. Steam for Linux targets Ubuntu, and the company plans to launch the platform with Left 4 Dead 2 with SteamPlay enabled, porting other Valve titles later.



View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[dj-electric]

Anybody knows something about how it will work on other less shity distribution of Linux? (OpenSuse, mandriva, arch)
Also, will it work on KDE enviorment?

 

[3870x2]

Anybody knows something about how it will work on other less shity distribution of Linux? (OpenSuse, mandriva, arch)
Also, will it work on KDE enviorment?

Ubuntu is very solid for Linux, thus its popularity. I am not very fond of the new interface.

If I used linux for more than work and web servers, I would happily join the beta.

 

[brandonwh64]

I am a mint linux fan but as 3870 mentioned, ubuntu is the most popular version.

 

[No_Asylum]

Anybody knows something about how it will work on other less shity distribution of Linux? (OpenSuse, mandriva, arch)
Also, will it work on KDE enviorment?

If you knew anything about Linux, you would know that the Desktop Environment/Window Manager does not matter at all.

 

[dj-electric]

I know some stuff about Linux, not all of course (people like dissin others over the internets cuz it makes em feel better)
But just wanna know if it will work on other distributions

 

[TheLaughingMan]

I know some stuff about Linux, not all of course (people like dissin others over the internets cuz it makes em feel better)
But just wanna know if it will work on other distributions

The answer depends on the bases of the software architecture. Ubuntu is Debian based so any other distro based on Debian should work just find. Switching to anything else could cause a lot of issues. Everything you mentioned I think is Arch based so you may be spending a lot of time recompiling Steam to get it to work on what you want.

 

[Pehla]

yes but not at the moment!! ubuntu will be first distro to have beta steam!!
curently im using windows...and that is only becouse of the gaming!!
if i dont use games wouldnt use windows!! i think ppl who first make linux didnt count on gaming crowd...,that is why linux is not that popular!! i belive so much that with valve there will be beter days for ubuntu and all other distros!!! right now im downloading ubuntu and make dual bot!!
gooo linux!!!
---(sto je dzaba i bogu je drago)/even god loves what is free....!!!!

 

[Nordic]

In probably 3 years I guess half my games will be playable on steam on linux.

 

[zAAm]

yes but not at the moment!! ubuntu will be first distro to have beta steam!!
curently im using windows...and that is only becouse of the gaming!!
if i dont use games wouldnt use windows!! i think ppl who first make linux didnt count on gaming crowd...,that is why linux is not that popular!! i belive so much that with valve there will be beter days for ubuntu and all other distros!!! right now im downloading ubuntu and make dual bot!!
gooo linux!!!
---(sto je dzaba i bogu je drago)/even god loves what is free....!!!!

Easy on the exclamation marks there tiger

I do however like the fact that the game industry is taking some notice of the home linux users (ubuntu, mint etc). Will be very interesting to see this play out.

 

[3870x2]

If you knew anything about Linux, you would know that the Desktop Environment/Window Manager does not matter at all.

It depends on how much you know. It does matter because some distros make changes to the UI.

 

[theubersmurf]

I am a mint linux fan but as 3870 mentioned, ubuntu is the most popular version.

If it runs on ubuntu, it will likely run on mint. Are you using 13 or twelve?

 

[[H]@RD5TUFF]

Anybody knows something about how it will work on other less shity distribution of Linux? (OpenSuse, mandriva, arch)
Also, will it work on KDE enviorment?

I have been running it in KDE for months now with next to no issues, as for known working distros, many seem to have the same question, as Debian lover I am willing to try other Debian based distros if you like, but that really doesn't give any indication as to how it will work on the non Debian derivatives in question. But in short yes it works fine on KDE, and XFCE, as well as Gnome and Unity.

I am a mint linux fan but as 3870 mentioned, ubuntu is the most popular version.

Yes it works on Cinammon (13) I tried just now it even handled the fact it was a VM.

 

[GenPen]

Multiple distributions

The answer depends on the bases of the software architecture. Ubuntu is Debian based so any other distro based on Debian should work just find. Switching to anything else could cause a lot of issues. Everything you mentioned I think is Arch based so you may be spending a lot of time recompiling Steam to get it to work on what you want.

It acually depends on what libraries Steam uses. In short it is whether or not you are using libaries that are compatible with the libaries used to develop Steam. Assuming they are using widely used and unpatched libaries, running steam across distributions should be a breeze. If valve is doing things right they will release a distro independent bin file to be ran by the user.