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gaming should be just about picking up a controller and having a good time, no need to deal with OS things.
Just use Steam Big Picture mode.
Yeah... But no, at the same time. Turning a PC into a console using a standard desktop OS and BPM is not a straightforward experience like PS4 or Xbox.
SteamOS (now GamerOS does the same, only much better and up to date) is maintenance free and has it's own display manager (SteamOS-Compositor) that handles tearing and stuttering much better than any other desktop environment (among other things). It's a lean OS without any background process that are useless for gaming and it's 100% controller manageable; no need of a keyboard and mouse. That's were a standard desktop OS using BPM fails miserably.
I use it (GamerOS) on the PC that is hooked to my TV, because what it does, it does it right.
This said, nobody is forcing you to like the concept. It might not be for you and it's pretty fine.
https://gamer-os.github.io/
Because you are not the target audience... And it's fine.
You are entitled to your own opinion, but as a Steam Link user, I can say that it's not perfect either. I much prefer a live gaming session to a network dependent pixelated/laggy/flashy experience.
Add to this the fact that some games won't even launch in streaming or, for Nvidia users, that you need to turn off "Allow Flipping" in the driver, else it stutters and flashes all over the place... Then, when you get back to play on your desktop, you need to turn it back on... every... %?*... time... else it wil tear like a champ... Not what I call a plug & play experience at all.
But yeah, a SteamOS desktop OS could be nice. More gaming options is not a bad idea, imo.
This said, we might be niche, but like many others, I really do like the dedicated console OS option and I don't see why we should be denied that possibility.
The option you are looking for can be achieved with any desktop environment as well. Set Steam to launch on startup, set steam to open in big picture. The desktop environment provides user with all functionality desired by living room users, just requires setting be applied.
I totally know what your talking about. I thoroughly tested all available solutions, but I beg to differ. It's still feels like an app that relies on a background UI that must be operated with a keyboard and mouse. Just think about when you exit a game, when Steam loses focus and is reduced to the task bar... Doesn't feel controller friendly to me. SteamOS-Compositor (will be replaced by Gamescope) has it's advantages, no matter what you think. Using BPM on a standard desktop D.E. is an awkward hybrid solution to me.
This said, choose the solution that you prefer, I'll keep mine. ;)
I've never experienced any of the cons which you listed above. I can start my computer in my living room, it loads without password for login or returning from sleep, and it immediately goes to Steam big picture. My controller is already connected so there is no sense in keyboard or mouse. Further, steam emulates mouse and keyboard via controller if you desire. When I return from a game to desktop, it immediately goes to Steam big picture mode.
As to Steam link that you mentioned was choppy and grainy. It depends on your level of effort to resolve this. If you play via Wi-Fi 6, you notice this occasionally. If you play through an Ethernet connection, I have never noticed. This is with max graphical settings on any game.
I'm not trying to convince you that you should switch environments, by all means use gameros and I hope you enjoy it. I'm stating that the option is already available in desktop environment.
I must admit that my network context is unusual... We are 5 at home with 3 teens that are consuming a lot of bandwith... "Experience may vary depending on the time of day". :)
As for Steam losing focus, lucky you. What D.E. are you using? I'm wondering if Gnome with Dash to dock (like in stock Ubuntu) is not responsible for that... With stock Pop_OS! I have a yet to witness the same behavior. This said, it's a long standing bug:
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/4611
Never had audio degradation during streaming from a Linux host? In my case it happens 100% of the time, no matter which combination of hardware I use, exactly like this:
https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/6749
Additional informations: the GamerOS PC I refer to is hooked to my basement TV (for my kids) and I use Steam Link in my living room (Nvidia shield, wired) and, occasionnaly, in my bedroom (Steam Link device, wifi 5ghz), because why not? All of the Steam Links are linked to my personnal desktop (wired).
I am using kubuntu mainly at this point, occasionally I use Debian, but gnome seems to create problems for me while using Vulkan.
I also have fiber optics in TN. I have upload/download up to 1 gbps. The thing that improved my performance the most was investing in a good router, a good switch, and a AMD 3950x. Streaming of course consumes the CPU, so the AMD 3950x is barely taking a hit.
I have not experienced hardware degradation at all. The only problem I have experienced is the mouse cursor not disappearing versus it disappearing on startup I kubuntu and window respectively. The solution in kubuntu is always to minimize big picture, and then restore.