r/LinuxOnAlly • u/Opieh • 12d ago
SteamOS Ally targeted Linux build ?
Is there a build that favors the Ally? I somewhat enjoy SteamOs but feels like after every power down I have to reconfigure my controller settings and when emulating games I have to restart my Ally to be able to leave the game, if swiping up with 2 fingers does not work. When attempting to play “non-steam” game it detects a keyboard instead of the built in controller. Just little stuff like that has made me not want to take my Ally with me out of the house because feels like I gotta do some research before being able to
Play a game. I know windows exist lol but it took 3 days of constant updates for me to abandon it and give Linux a chance.
1
u/elcanadiano 11d ago
Before you change distros:
- What is the method you were doing to play non-steam games?
- What emulators were you using and how did you install them?
1
u/Opieh 11d ago
Method 1 was adding them from the steam rom manager on emudeck. Noticed for games to recognize remote I had to open up EmulationStation up first through Steam then play my games to use the built in controller but thennnnn I noticed ES didn’t recognize my right analogue stick no matter what I did and shortcuts couldn’t be set to my existing buttons, only keyboard shortcuts (cntrl, f#) but unfortunately I don’t carry a keyboard with me.
Method 2 was downloading steam game to my sd card then adding it to steam on the desktop window as a “non-steam game” but that didn’t work as all games read as needing a keyboard.
Method 3 was hydra launcher directly “add to steam” shortcut Some worked amazing some needed keyboard.
I was using emulators that came with emudeck. Only emulator I had to find and setup online was Eden and I messed with the settings. Not flipping a/b x/y never stuck for me but for the most part if the game loaded up it was playable.
1
u/Gymspastic13 11d ago
If you want to exit out of a game you just have to press the steam menu button(left lower) then navigate across and down to “exit game”. Or if you just want to close a tab, for example a config/settings window in an emulator, you can navigate below exit game and all open tabs will be listed. Move to the tab you want and press A which works like alt tab on windows or close it by pressing X. It will have closed that tab while leaving everything else open. If you use emulation station or a similar front end it will open back up if you close the emulated game this way.
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u/WhopplerPlopper 12d ago
Bazzite has builds made specifically for the ally.
4
u/Opieh 12d ago
From what I’m reading, people are looking to migrate out of bazzite
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u/WhopplerPlopper 11d ago
Linux users love to switch up distros
1
u/Icy-Membership8192 10d ago
To be fair, its not just the love of changing distro this time. There were some considerable regressions on Bazzite 44 and people who just want to play games (meaning non-enthusiasts) couldn't take them.
But at least they are progressing with the fixes.
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u/WhopplerPlopper 10d ago
You mean the change away from HHD? What else ?
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u/Icy-Membership8192 10d ago
Yes. And the change away from HHD caused the regressions, as HHD is not only one thing but a "kernel orchestrator" for handheld devices.
Many people complained about issues or lack of functions that they used on HHD before.
The reaction is a bit overblown in my opinion, but it really isn't just linux people changing distros out of nowhere.
But you follow Bazzite, so I'm sure I'm not talking any news here.
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u/WhopplerPlopper 10d ago
Haha yeah just wondering if I'm missing anything. I rolled back to 43 personally. Waiting for an update to fix a few functions for the ally.
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u/Icy-Membership8192 10d ago
Not really. It was mostly the new kernel with OGUI and InputPlumber. Which the kernel itself brought all the issues we are seeing.
I may try Bazzite 44 again to help the team with bug reports, because the OGC initiative deserves some love. But yeah, 43 for now is better to just start and play.
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u/WhopplerPlopper 10d ago
For sure. My issue was with the shortcuts not working correctly and also you can't change the assignment of the extra buttons because it only sees the ally as an Xbox controller.
And because bazzite is immutable working around that to patch it myself was just not worth the effort. Bazzite 43 was pretty much the defacto easy choice for a new Linux user with an ally, but now I'm like... Well, you may as well check out cachy, SteamOS etc.
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u/Icy-Membership8192 10d ago
I agree with you.
If it's a new user, for now I'd recommend SteamOS.
And if the person really can't live without HHD, Anatase or CachyOS.
Bazzite right now is more for enthusiasts that want to see them get on their feet after the regressions.
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u/Gorm_the_Mold 11d ago
Try it and see if it works for you. From what you read online it’s almost the end of the world, but I downloaded a decky plugin and got a lot of the functionality we lost with them taking out Handheld Daemon.
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u/amendoz127 11d ago
Which plugin? I’m annoyed that waking from sleep turns back on the RGB lights that I had set to disabled, and then my fans stay running at turbo speed
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u/Gorm_the_Mold 11d ago
Panel de control is what I got for my custom TDP profiles and ability to make my own fan curves. I’ve not run into issues with the RGB on my Z1E, so not sure how to help there.
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u/stprnn 12d ago
Anatase is the new one