From: Joann Mõndresku Date: Sun, 18 Dec 2022 15:29:02 +0000 (+0200) Subject: DeckPC - Christmas 2022 Update X-Git-Url: https://git.based.quest/index.html?a=commitdiff_plain;h=354782f55227ee5495f36ae98e25fab56eb261e1;p=web-hugo.git DeckPC - Christmas 2022 Update --- diff --git a/content/posts/deckpc-christmas-2022-update.md b/content/posts/deckpc-christmas-2022-update.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3077858 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/posts/deckpc-christmas-2022-update.md @@ -0,0 +1,68 @@ +--- +title: "DeckPC - Christmas 2022 Update" +date: 2022-12-18T17:20:00+02:00 +description: "The long awaited sequel to my DeckPC experiment. I will attempt to give a conclusive rating to 'is it a de-facto PC replacement?'" +tags: ['steam', 'steamdeck', 'handheld', 'linux', 'deckpc'] +type: blog +--- + +It has been *a while* since the last word on my DeckPC experiment, I originally set myself the goal to see +if using Valve's Steam Deck as a regular Linux desktop with its preinstalled SteamOS environment is enough +to replace the need to use my otherwise power-hungry PC. I even left an "unresolved" case in the last blog +that never got a proper answer. + +## The resolved "unresolved" +Last time I noted that you are unable to use the offline password manager KeePassXC with any browsers in +SteamOS out of the gate without it staying persistent throughout updates. I am glad to say that just today, +before writing this article, I managed to get it working thanks to a suggestion by BieHDC to try out a project +called [distroboxes](https://github.com/89luca89/distrobox). I simply created a new Arch Linux container with +`distrobox create -i archlinux -n sneed` and installed Firefox and KeePassXC in them with pacman. After installation +I created new desktop entries as such: `distrobox-export --app firefox` and `distrobox-export --app keepassxc`. + +## On topic of distroboxes +I only have high praise for this solution - this has opened a huge window of customizability on otherwise +immutable filesystem. You are able to create rootless mutable environments where you can setup full build +toolchains or applications that otherwise would be wiped by a system update. It is genius in the approach +it takes and integrates with desktop itself. There are limitations to doing this rootless, but it is far +more elegant than struggling to resetup everything each update. For one, I was unable to get postmarketOS +pmbootstrap to work in a container due to it being unable to remount /proc and /dev. + +## The practicality +I wouldn't suggest going down this route for a non-technical person, but if you have the technical aptitude +on Linux and willingness, you can easily extend your capabilities on the Steam Deck without resorting to +the only available virtualization software Gnome Boxes (read: rebranded QEMU frontend). +I understand average Joe's unwillingness to step into this territory, but these kind of issues are more likely +to affect a poweruser than Joe. + +## Have you seriously used the Steam Deck for all this time? +Yes. A lot of the issues I would have brought up here have already been fixed by Valve. To give an example +of an issue that is fixed - you may recall me talking about flatpaks being unable to open any browser links +at all in the last post - that has been resolved about a month ago. + +## So, what's your take? +I absolutely love it, there are obvious hurdles for a beginner to look out for, but once you get the hang of +it, Steam Deck can absolutely be a replacement for your PC if you can find a match for everything you use +on the regular. My experience so far has shown that if you are creative enough, you will find a solution. +There is inevitable tinkering ahead to get the best experience possible, but you absolutely can make it your own. +I conclude this experiment a huge success - I would recommend this to my technical friends and maybe less +demanding non-technical friends. I would be cautious about recommending it to absolutely everyone, though. +Every recommendation would have to be circumstancial - you most definitely can give your grandparents a laptop +with Linux mint if all they do is browse the web, similar logic can be used with Steam Deck. You can't however +claim this to be a PC replacement for someone who is stuck with Windows or Mac without any FOSS equilevant or +option to run their programs (e.g. broken in wine) and has no interest in ever tinkering with their system. +I will dare to say, however, Valve and KDE have done a spectacular job in bringing Linux closer to the layman +while also not completely offending the more experienced user. Flatpak solution while not the best, is the most +elegant bridge we have for time being. + +## tech tips pls +Sure, we have a few people already daily driving Steam Deck as a PC replacement at based.quest Matrix chat. Be +sure to drop by and we will give you the training wheels to get started and help you even ride the bike over time. + +## TL;DR +Amazing for me, definitely a PC replacement for me, bunch of things fixed, recommend for technical folk, +cautious for less-technical. + +Hope you enjoyed a quick status update on the DeckPC project, I accidentally burnt my dinner making this post :( + +Thanks for reading and Merry Christmas, +- Cernodile