Installing Steam on Batocera Linux

[Trashbus99]

I'm trying to install Steam on Batocera linux (x64 build) . The problem is it's a an embedded/buildroot build and has no gcc tools/make installed. The developers are currently not really interested in porting steam over even though they have Kodi running on it. Does anyone have any suggestions/instructions to install steam binaries on this version of linux? or at least a way to get make installed so could run the install script?

Thanks.

[Omega]

Do you know what this distro is based on? Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, Raspbian etc.. A quick search didn't give me any answers.

This distro isn't really meant as a "home use" distro, it's an emulation and media center hub.

It will probably require quite a lot of efford to get it running. And you will also have to get all dependencies running.

[Trashbus99]

It's not based on a distro as it's buildroot based. (and a fork of recalbox) Compiled from source to run off an image so it acts like an embeded OS, https://github.com/batocera-linux/batocera.linux

[_I_]

steam has a linux based steamos and a app for linux

iirc use command
sudo apt install steam-installer

there is no x64 client app, just x86

if the op wants to use that custom build, he could dual boot that ver of inux and steamos

[Omega]

Originally posted by _I_:

steam has a linux based steamos and a app for linux

iirc use command
sudo apt install steam-installer

there is no x64 client app, just x86

apt is a Debian and Ubuntu thing. Different distributions can use a different package manager such as pacman, dnf, yum, eopkg etc.. The package name and installation steps can differ per distribution.

-- LINUX USER RAGE --
It's called i386 and AMD64! REEEE

Originally posted by _I_:

if the op wants to use that custom build, he could dual boot that ver of inux and steamos

SteamOS in it's current state is a horrible gaming OS.

[Snow]

Originally posted by Omega:

-- LINUX USER RAGE --
It's called i386 and AMD64! REEEE

Wait, what's wrong with calling it x64 and x86 like for convenience? Afaik x is just a shortage so x86 means i386 as well. Or is being too specific important in such cases?

[xSOSxHawkens]

Originally posted by _I_:

Originally posted by _I_:

if the op wants to use that custom build, he could dual boot that ver of inux and steamos

SteamOS in it's current state is a horrible gaming OS.

then use a supported linux distro that is good enough per your standards, and dual boot it along with your custom linux distro for daily use...

[Omega]

Originally posted by xSOSxHawkens:

Originally posted by _I_:

SteamOS in it's current state is a horrible gaming OS.

then use a supported linux distro that is good enough per your standards, and dual boot it along with your custom linux distro for daily use...

You will need to be running the SteamOS Beta to have drivers capable of using Steam Play/Proton. Proton is quite a huge feature, and Valve is only now starting to drop drivers which are supported by DXVK and VKD3D. Cards like the AMD Vega and Nvidia 16/20 series won't work on it unless you install and update it to the Beta version on different hardware etc.. Basics which you need for gaming on Steam for Linux currently aren't available on SteamOS.

There is also zero reason to boot SteamOS next to something like Ubuntu. If you want the pretty Steam interface for couch gaming you can use Steam Big Picture mode.

Originally posted by Snow:

Originally posted by Omega:

-- LINUX USER RAGE --
It's called i386 and AMD64! REEEE

Wait, what's wrong with calling it x64 and x86 like for convenience? Afaik x is just a shortage so x86 means i386 as well. Or is being too specific important in such cases?

These are Linux things, 32-bit x86 is always called i386 and 64-bit x86-64 is called AMD64.

First time Linux user be like: I don't have an AMD CPU! Where is the Intel download!

[Cathulhu]

Yeah, confused me the first time as well. Although i do have an AMD CPU.
I then looked it up and saw that Microsoft said they'll only support one 64Bit command set and AMD had theirs ready while Intel was still developing theirs. So AMD won the race and Intel was forced to adopt the AMD command set.

[TheRandomGuy]

Based on what information you've given, it seems like it's not a distro intended for home use. If you're intending to use it as a Home-Theater-PC, then SteamOS is a better option. SteamOS's beta, as mentioned above, does now have Proton Support and therefore can play some Windows titles, with varying degrees of success (Check ProtonDB for game-specific reports).

Alternatively if you want less-of-a-hassle you could just install distributions like Ubuntu, or Pop!_OS if you want current GPU Drivers out-of-the-box, and use Steam's "Big-Picture-Mode" like an HTPC, or just set it to start Steam on Boot and Start Big-Picture-Mode automatically.

Also, Manjaro Linux comes with current drivers too, but it's Arch-Based, not Debian-based, and not as Stable as Ubuntu and it's derivatives like Pop!_OS.

[xSOSxHawkens]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Co6FePZoNgE

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

I think you will have to compile your gcc and make tools from source code, then compile team from source

[Tyrant]

why dont you start with a different linux distro ? install steam and retropie ?
have it boot into retropie/emulationstation and do your emulation stuff there.
when you want to play steam games go for it.

I have this setup on an old celeron machine. it boots into lubuntu (no password on boot because I want it to act like a console) it boots into emulation station with controller support right away.
I prefer it this way as I can play my emulation stuff and have the option of steam right there if I want it. set steam to launch into big picture mode to keep the controller support there.
add kodi for media stuff and you are good to go.

I suppose you could boot into steam big picture mode then choose to connect to emulation station if you prefer.

dont bother with batocera if you can foresee all of these obstacles. make it easy on yourself.
batocera is great and makes things very easy but this way works too.

[franchise2099]

I have used Batocera for the last 9 months and absolutely love it for the nostalgia that is dead simple to use. That being said, anyone on here who keeps suggesting to use a different OS....... please stop. I'm fairly certain everyone on here knows they can use Ubuntu.
The beauty of Batocera is using your computers horsepower to emulate higher grade emulators out of the box. It would be waaaaay easier to setup steam through Batocera linux then it would be to install recallbox on steamos/ubuntu and configuring all the emulators and setting up the controls. IMHO.
I would really love to know if it is possible. I built a micro itx system and would love to play some hollow knight side by side link to the past and super metroid.

[Omega]

Originally posted by franchise2099:

I have used Batocera for the last 9 months and absolutely love it for the nostalgia that is dead simple to use. That being said, anyone on here who keeps suggesting to use a different OS....... please stop. I'm fairly certain everyone on here knows they can use Ubuntu.
The beauty of Batocera is using your computers horsepower to emulate higher grade emulators out of the box. It would be waaaaay easier to setup steam through Batocera linux then it would be to install recallbox on steamos/ubuntu and configuring all the emulators and setting up the controls. IMHO.
I would really love to know if it is possible. I built a micro itx system and would love to play some hollow knight side by side link to the past and super metroid.

You can't blame us for this distro's lack of documentation.

If we knew what it is based on, or what package manager it uses we can probably install Steam just fine.

[storminator16]

Originally posted by Omega:

Originally posted by franchise2099:

I have used Batocera for the last 9 months and absolutely love it for the nostalgia that is dead simple to use. That being said, anyone on here who keeps suggesting to use a different OS....... please stop. I'm fairly certain everyone on here knows they can use Ubuntu.
The beauty of Batocera is using your computers horsepower to emulate higher grade emulators out of the box. It would be waaaaay easier to setup steam through Batocera linux then it would be to install recallbox on steamos/ubuntu and configuring all the emulators and setting up the controls. IMHO.
I would really love to know if it is possible. I built a micro itx system and would love to play some hollow knight side by side link to the past and super metroid.

You can't blame us for this distro's lack of documentation.

If we knew what it is based on, or what package manager it uses we can probably install Steam just fine.

God, I love this "everyone needs to chime in" culture. Op asked " Does anyone have any suggestions/instructions to install steam binaries on this (Batocera)version of linux?" The fact that Op asked that specific version and not about suggestions about installing another distro. For those who don't have a suggestion about Batocera/Steam, then why chime in?

I'm trying to get Steam working on Batocera as well. I hope to share my results in a few days.

Edit: Nvm, didn't realize the client was close source and only targets Debian-based distros.