Valve Helping Arch Linux With Build Service Infrastructure & Secure Signing Enclave

[Errinwright]

The build infrastructure and process needs changes to scale and enable x86-64-v3 and v4-repos. This process wasn't automated before. It also came down to costs for the build server. If I remember correctly, Allen McRae had a post somewhere talking about these shortcomings, but couldn't find it any longer.

Much obliged. v4 repos would be huge, given the wide front- and backend architecture of Zen 5

[ms178]

Out of curiosity: what exactly needs fixing on a macroscale?

The build infrastructure and process needs changes to scale and enable x86-64-v3 and v4-repos. This process wasn't automated before. It also came down to costs for the build server. If I remember correctly, Allen McRae had a post somewhere talking about these shortcomings, but couldn't find it any longer.

[cypx]

Maybe that's a hint for running Arch with Steam on Macs - those are powerful enough to run games.

There il also rumours about a Quest like VR headset from Valve, the Deckard, which could use an ARM processor.

[drakonas777]

Maybe that's a hint for running Arch with Steam on Macs - those are powerful enough to run games.

I'd say that ARM branch is for Valve upcoming AR/VR solution more likely.

On the other hand Windows games compatibility layer for MacOS would be welcome feature indeed, but I believe Apple GPU and graphic stack may be a bit tricky to support for reliably and stable translation.

Also someone mentioned potentially ARM based Steam Deck 2. I really don't think that is going to be the case. At least not until consoles and gaming PCs are X86 based. x86 emulation and some esoteric GPU from ARM/QCOM/etc. is extra complexity, which frankly is absolutely unneeded for Valve to care about.

[Errinwright]

While I cheer for Valve for their Arch support, I honestly expected such support to arrive sooner when they first chose Arch. Issues with the Arch build infrastructure that needed money and fixing were already known back then and Valve build their Steam business around it regardless. From a strategic point of view it also makes sense for Valve to assure that the foundation of their distro is in good shape.

Out of curiosity: what exactly needs fixing on a macroscale?

[NeoMorpheus]

Praise Lord GabeN!

[ms178]

While I cheer for Valve for their Arch support, I honestly expected such support to arrive sooner when they first chose Arch. Issues with the Arch build infrastructure that needed money and fixing were already known back then and Valve build their Steam business around it regardless. From a strategic point of view it also makes sense for Valve to assure that the foundation of their distro is in good shape.

[V1tol]

It wouldn't really make sense for the Steam Deck 2 to use an ARM-based chip. The only arm chips powerful enough are M-series chips. Both Intel and AMD have mobile chips out that dominate the Qualcomm PC line of chips, while still being x86 and so keeping perfect compatibility.

Maybe that's a hint for running Arch with Steam on Macs - those are powerful enough to run games.

[Daktyl198]

If the fabled Steam Deck 2 ends up being ARM-based, it'd only make sense for Valve to get upstream supporting the same architecture.

It wouldn't really make sense for the Steam Deck 2 to use an ARM-based chip. The only arm chips powerful enough are M-series chips. Both Intel and AMD have mobile chips out that dominate the Qualcomm PC line of chips, while still being x86 and so keeping perfect compatibility.

[skeevy420]

That's what happens when you aren't publicly traded. I firmly believe the stock market is the main driver to why so many companies are so terrible to deal with.

Read about Ford v. Dodge. That's the reason so many publicly traded companies are terrible to deal with. The gist is that the Dodge Brothers sued Henry Ford when Ford tried to pay his workers more. The Dodge Brothers, being Ford shareholders, took offense that they'd be getting less money on their investments when the workers got a raise so they sued and won.

That's ruling started the shareholder-first economy around publicly traded companies and why private companies like Valve can take more risks. Private companies don't have to worry about being sued by their shareholders when it comes to risky investments like Linux or doing things like paying workers above market rate. That same ruling is why using higher quality materials can be seen as a negative if a lower grade and cost material is good enough to make the product. A century of lower grade materials has turned into having a science around planned obsolescence.