Essential apps for Steam Deck

[PXL]

Hey Linux peeps. I’ve hardly done anything with Linux and need advice on what essential apps to install on the Steam Deck.

I’m aiming to use the Steam Deck during holidays mainly. Will be hooking up to the TVs in the rooms and tethering to my phone.

[Zyro]

Do you want to do stuff besides gaming?

[Bloo Alien]

I would definitely suggest Installing Discord on the Steam Deck as one "essential" app …

Also, on Steam itself are several worthwhile (and conveniently free) apps, depending on your hobbies.

If you're into "Retro-gaming" (emulation of various older gaming systems), you might want to search "RetroArch" on Steam and install it.

If you're into 3D graphics (modeling, texturing, animation, VFX, general video production, etc.), Blender 3D is freakin' fantastic, it's free, open source, available on Steam, imports/exports a kajillion related file formats, and there's a ton of great videos on YouTube about it.

If you're a budding game developer, you might think about searching "Godot Engine" on Steam and installing it. Again, it's also free, open source, available on Steam, plays nicely with Blender 3D, and YouTube has tons of really great tutorials and showcases.

(Those last two suggestions are probably best used with a mouse and keyboard, and plugged into a monitor just for the screen space, but otherwise, Steam Deck itself should be able to handle all those apps, and many more.)

That's my 2¢. Hope it helps.

[PXL]

Thank you Bloo Alien!

Originally posted by Zyro:

Do you want to do stuff besides gaming?

Yes. So I’m thinking I’ll be tethering to my phone using VPN to home to access the internet. I’ve never used VPN before but I’m assuming doing it this way is safer than accessing my emails etc through public wifi.

Emails, Twitter and Facebook. Doing some pixel art. eEmulation like Mame and ZX Spectrum and Amiga games. Using a notes app for thoughts and bits. Maybe even something similar to Ableton to create music.

[Zyro]

Originally posted by leveller:

I’ve never used VPN before but I’m assuming doing it this way is safer than accessing my emails etc through public wifi.

In my humble opinion, having mail transported via TLS/SSL (and maybe HTTPS) is all fine.

Originally posted by leveller:

Emails, Twitter and Facebook.

The usual non-MS bunch of browsers should be available, including Firefox, Chrome and the stripped-down Chromium.
For mail, I use a dedicated client, like KMail, thunderbird, evolution ...

Originally posted by leveller:

Doing some pixel art.

Gimp is well known, I guess, but seems to be more used for photos than drawing. I heard good things about Krita for drawing.

Originally posted by leveller:

eEmulation like Mame and ZX Spectrum and Amiga games.

Emulation scene should be active on Linux. Probably you'll find the same emulators as on Windows. I'm sure for Mame. Personally, I had an MSX back in the days (good emulators available!), but I'm sure Amiga is well supported. (Debian has this one: https://fs-uae.net )

Originally posted by leveller:

Using a notes app for thoughts and bits.

Can't recommend a special application. Maybe QOwnNotes is up your alley?

Originally posted by leveller:

Maybe even something similar to Ableton to create music.

That might be a tougher one. Audacity is known for editing, but I don't know for creation. This is what Google gave me:
https://www.tecmint.com/free-music-creation-or-audio-editing-softwares-for-linux/

You maybe want a different than the default audio system for low latency if you're recording stuff. This might be jack or pipewire.

[Der tüddelige Fußgänger]

The SteamDeck seems and is very likely completely out of the box usable as it is
Just if you want to switch to linux on your main machine, it's when you want to find some apps and alternatives.
But the SteamDeck is just turn on, log in, have fun. At least from what I've seen so far

[Zyro]

Originally posted by The Nintendo guy:

The SteamDeck seems and is very likely completely out of the box usable as it is
Just if you want to switch to linux on your main machine, it's when you want to find some apps and alternatives.
But the SteamDeck is just turn on, log in, have fun. At least from what I've seen so far

Yes...

... but you can also attach it to a monitor and use it as your "desktop" PC.

[Der tüddelige Fußgänger]

Originally posted by Zyro:

Originally posted by The Nintendo guy:

The SteamDeck seems and is very likely completely out of the box usable as it is
Just if you want to switch to linux on your main machine, it's when you want to find some apps and alternatives.
But the SteamDeck is just turn on, log in, have fun. At least from what I've seen so far

Yes...

... but you can also attach it to a monitor and use it as your "desktop" PC.

Sure, but i think everyone interested in a SteamDeck already has a desktop pc to begin with. And you can also easily dualboot with windows at the beginning

[Zyro]

Originally posted by The Nintendo guy:

Sure, but i think everyone interested in a SteamDeck already has a desktop pc to begin with. And you can also easily dualboot with windows at the beginning

You did read the postings...?

Originally posted by leveller:

Originally posted by Zyro:

Do you want to do stuff besides gaming?

Emails, Twitter and Facebook. Doing some pixel art. eEmulation like Mame and ZX Spectrum and Amiga games. Using a notes app for thoughts and bits. Maybe even something similar to Ableton to create music.

[HighBall]

On Pop!OS I use the brave-browser instead of chrome. Brave will block ads from youtube. Normally I use brave to install the PWA of youtube and then I have a youtube app that has all the ads blocked. I wonder how well that will work for the SteamDeck but worth it if it works the same.

[Der tüddelige Fußgänger]

Originally posted by HighBall:

On Pop!OS I use the brave-browser instead of chrome. Brave will block ads from youtube. Normally I use brave to install the PWA of youtube and then I have a youtube app that has all the ads blocked. I wonder how well that will work for the SteamDeck but worth it if it works the same.

Sure you can do that
But there is also a foss app called "freetube"
It's on open source youtube client, where you can watch, subscribe and download videos and channels just as you want, but without a youtube account.
You can also set invidious as the youtube api, which acts like a vpn for youtube (but also 100% open source)
Just as a side note, surely the pwa also works, but with invidious, google can't even collect which videos you watch

[PXL]

To explain a bit more why I’m so keen on using the Steam Deck on holidays …

Last time I went on holiday I took my iPad, Switch and laptop.

This time round I will be taking my iPad because the screen is best for movies. But I can replace both the Switch and laptop with the Steam Deck. Although I’ll add small form keyboard and probably trackball mouse.

(Incidentally Nintendo - release your games on Steam Deck!!)

So without the laptop, I would still use Steam Deck for work and other bits.

[Zyro]

Originally posted by leveller:

So without the laptop, I would still use Steam Deck for work and other bits.

I'm not hearing this for the first time. Some people consider using it as a laptop replacement. Most probably at a place though where a "real" monitor waits for them, I'd guess.

[PXL]

Originally posted by Zyro:

Originally posted by leveller:

So without the laptop, I would still use Steam Deck for work and other bits.

I'm not hearing this for the first time. Some people consider using it as a laptop replacement. Most probably at a place though where a "real" monitor waits for them, I'd guess.

TV in a hotel room

[[GNU/LINUX] Norbert]

ableton = bitwig

[Marlock]

https://alternativeto.net/

look for the name of your current software, filter alternatives by OS (linux) and licensing (opensource)