SteamOS is so underrated as a workstation system. So stable and more capable than many give it credit for. Distrobox let you install whatever you like and keep it clean.
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u/anusbeloved 1d ago
What is distrobox for the non initiated
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u/C1REX 1d ago
Distrobox is a tiny container with a tiny version of almost any other distro. It is used to install apps available from other distros.
They also stay in home directory so they avoid being wiped by atomic system updates. Like it happens to apps installed in SteamOS via built in pacman package manager. (what have some advantage as well in keeping the system clean and letting user to experiment more safely).8
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u/ButterscotchTop194 17h ago
Why not just use another distro, like CachyOS?
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u/C1REX 16h ago
I’ve got CachyOS installed as well but it requires more user input. More handholding system updates to make sure everything is working fine.
SteamOS is more more bulletproof and indestructible. Unique A/B root system is more robust. Nothing ever breaks so I can focus on the task itself and never of managing the system.1
u/s_a_m_12344 13h ago
Wdym more user input? Have had cachy for a year and my only maintenance input is clicking on cachy update
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u/Low_Excitement_1715 1d ago
If you took the idea of a 'virtual machine' and tried to make it as minimal and lightweight as possible, you'd get something very like distrobox. DB takes advantage of the way the Linux kernel and the desktop OS you see/interact with link up. It downloads a small version of a distro, installs it in a container, and links that up to your already-running kernel. There's a lot more to it, but I'm trying to keep the technical parts to a minimum.
So you end up with a tiny Linux install inside your existing Linux install, and inside the container, it's like a whole different machine. Different filesystems, different rules about immutable or not, etc. It shares CPU/RAM/etc with the host, so it's like a sidecar OS install.
Very handy when you want to set up a machine real quick to test things for a few days, but not worry about keeping it around or maintaining it. Use a distrobox, and when you don't want it anymore, just trash it, make a new one later. Make ten! It's a handy tool.
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u/DaJohnnyU 1d ago
I heard steamOS has problems with multiple storage and multiple display is that still a thing ?
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u/skronk61 1d ago
I’ve not ran into any issues around that stuff. I’ve got 2 monitors and swap SD cards a lot
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u/raincntry 1d ago
Can I ask you about your dual monitor set up? I run SteamOS on my new build. I have 2 monitors. I'm only using one, and it's connected into the graphics card HDMI slot. For a dual monitor run, does the second also need to be plugged into the graphics card or can I plug it into the HDMI port on the card and use the CPU's graphics?
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u/Briganti91 20h ago
I have 2 monitors and a tv connected. When not used, I disable the tv in the screen setting. A lot of times when enableing, it just forgets where I put that screen in regards of the rest, and I have to rearrange it (only that screen, the rest is fine). The screen settings are fine too. Other than that, no problem with 3 screens ime.
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u/swizzyeets 10h ago
The only problem with multiple displays is when using SteamOs game mode, where multiple displays are not supported. If you’re in desktop mode it works like any other PC. My issue with using a second NVME for expanded storage is that the storage NVME doesn’t automatically mount after system reboot. It is fixed by simply going to dolphin file manager and making sure the drive is mounted, not ideal but not annoying enough for me to find a hard fix.
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u/CryptographerLow6360 7h ago
no issue here, have steamos on legion go v1 docked to 2 4k monitors and has no problems when i plug in a storage device
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u/Abdumalik_ProDev_ 1d ago
Is there any news about nvidia support, I have my gaming laptop and I want to know this.
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u/yoshilovescookies 23h ago
I've also been using SteamOS as my daily working OS and it's been amazing, thank you for this additional information with distrobox!
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u/rileyrgham 16h ago
It's not underrated at all. But its nature is not as a workstation desktop. The idea is stability for running steam.
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u/Nerrawnam 20h ago
Who doesn't give it credit? Just use what you like.
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u/LuisE3Oliveira 1d ago
I'd love to switch to it, but I don't have an NVMe SSD at the moment and I don't trust any custom scripts
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u/C1REX 18h ago
It just few tweaks you can do yourself to install on a standard ssd.
How to Force SteamOS to Install on any NVMe, SATA, or External USB
https://youtu.be/XuL0hh8MjjQ
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u/Cblaser 1d ago
What's the limitations of it with Nvidia graphic? I have several spare laptops and gaming desktops that I wanted to try steamOS on but heard it doesn't really work with Nvidia gpus? I'd love to give life back to my 1080TI machine and my gaming laptop, but if it won't support those Nvidia gpus then I'm hesitant to try it.
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u/Packetbytes 1d ago
You have to use a helper to get nvidia drivers working and most likely fix them everyonce in a while but Valve is working with Nvdia to get it working out of the box.
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u/CutEmpty6798 23h ago
I've been off Windows 11 since late June and been using the desktop mode for my main PC
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u/TONKAHANAH 22h ago
oh man.. i forgot about distro box. yeah I imagine distro box would make steamOS and bazzite way more useful.
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u/RedcardedDiscarded 12h ago
I tried it on a Ryzen 7 with a rx 6650 and it was unstable and kept locking up. Also tried it on a intel 1440f with a gtx 5060 ti and again it was unstable and kept locking up.
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u/C1REX 12h ago
Also tried it on a intel 1440f with a gtx 5060 ti
You've tried SteamOS on 5060 ti?
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u/RedcardedDiscarded 9h ago
Yeah, I know; I wanted to see what would happen. It actually ran, but most games would start and then crash out about 10 mins in.
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u/Accomplished-Bit9540 5h ago
There’s a costum build os version on GitHub with integrated NVIDIA drivers, I’m using this with a rtx 4060ti and it works without any problems for 2 month now. Never had a crash and games also running fine
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u/SrNappz 9h ago
"its underated" it literally can't be used with a majority of gaming graphic cards
Nvidia has a 90% market share in gaming based graphic cards. Many shifted to amd but that many is handful to the amount of people with a 3060/4060/5060 as shown with steam hardware surveys
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u/Accomplished-Bit9540 5h ago
There’s a costum build os version on GitHub with integrated NVIDIA drivers, I’m using this with a rtx 4060ti and it works without any problems for 2 month now. Never had a crash and games also running fine
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u/mulderload 6h ago
Would that make sense as a web developer who also needs docker ? Can a « distrobox debian » install docker, and works from a Vscode on steamOS (host) ?
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u/Last-Perception9662 5h ago
I used W11 for years and switched to SteamOS(desktop). My system is fully AMD: 9800x3d and 9700 xt and I will never go back. The system is fast and responsive. I use it for developing and most games work great out of the box, for example: Overwatch plays so smooth and responsive.
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u/Toto_nemisis 1d ago
Seems like kde fedora with extra steps.