Steam

Refresh Steam files

If there are any problems with your Steam installation first try to reset it's configuration and files. This won't affect your currently installed games.

$ steam --reset

Bug 1040: Let Steam client windows be managed by the window manager

Lets you close Steam to the tray instead of having it sit in the task bar.

File: ~/.bash_profile

# Steam close to tray workaround
# https://github.com/ValveSoftware/steam-for-linux/issues/1040
export STEAM_FRAME_FORCE_CLOSE=1

Bug 529: Error: SELinux is preventing steam from using the 'execheap' accesses on a process

Enable workaround:

# setsebool -P selinuxuser_execheap 1

Disable workaround:

# setsebool -P selinuxuser_execheap 0

Force Steam to use the system libs instead of the STEAM_RUNTIME (STEAM_RUNTIME is the default and only supported upstream configuration)

$ STEAM_RUNTIME=0 steam

Start Steam with debug output enabled

$ STEAM_RUNTIME=1 STEAM_DEBUG=1 steam

Debug a Steam application / game with strace

Open the Steam options of the specific application and enter the following command into the start parameters form.

$ strace %command% 2>&1 | tee ~/strace.log

Engine and Game specific workarounds (required on e.g. Fedora)

No sound in Unity based games (e.g. in Shroud of the Avatar: Forsaken Virtues)

Most of the time this is solved by removing the PulseAudio libraries Steam ships with its STEAM_RUNTIME to force the game to use the system installed PulseAudio libraries.

$ rm ~/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam-runtime/amd64/usr/lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libpulse*

$ rm ~/.local/share/Steam/ubuntu12_32/steam-runtime/i386/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libpulse*

Killing Floor

Killing Floor ships it own openal library instead of relying on the (working) one which comes with the steam runtime.

$ cd ~/.steam/steam/SteamApps/common/KillingFloor/System

$ rm openal.so

$ ln -s ~/.steam/steam/ubuntu12_32/steam-runtime/i386/usr/lib/i386-linux-gnu/libopenal.so.1 openal.so

To play the German version with gore (uncut) set the game language to English in Steam and then edit the configuration file by adding an additional line.

File: ~/.killingfloor/System/KillingFloor.ini

[Engine.Engine]
bdevgoreoverride=True

Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition

$ cd ~/.steam/steam/SteamApps/common/Duke\ Nukem\ 3D/bin/

$ ln -s /usr/lib/nvidia/libGL.so.1 libGL.so

Shadow Warrior Classic Redux

$ cd ~/.steam/steam/SteamApps/common/Shadow\ Warrior\ Classic/bin/

$ ln -s /usr/lib/nvidia/libGL.so.1 libGL.so

Dungeon Defenders Eternity

Right click the Dungeon Defenders Eternity in the Steam library, choose "Link Steam Libraries" in the context menu.

Steam on Exherbo Linux

Host - Prepare system tools

File: /etc/paludis/options.conf

# i686-pc-linux-gnu cross
dev-util/pkg-config targets: i686-pc-linux-gnu
sys-devel/binutils targets: i686-pc-linux-gnu
sys-devel/gcc targets: i686-pc-linux-gnu
app-admin/eclectic-gcc targets: i686-pc-linux-gnu

This is required temporarily to get you started and will be reverted later on.

File: /etc/paludis/options.conf

sys-devel/gcc -threads

# cave resolve pkg-config binutils gcc eclectic-gcc -x1

Target - Prepare cross environment

Create a copy of your paludis environment.

# cp -a /etc/paludis /etc/paludis-cross

In the cross environment you can remove any repository .conf not needed, required are ::arbor, ::desktop, ::gnome, ::media and ::x11 (::hardware for nvidia-drivers).

File: /etc/paludis-cross/repositories/i686-pc-linux-gnu.conf

format = exndbam
location = ${root}/var/db/paludis/repositories/cross-installed/i686-pc-linux-gnu
name = i686-pc-linux-gnu
split_debug_location = /usr/i686-pc-linux-gnu/lib/debug
tool_prefix = i686-pc-linux-gnu-
cross_compile_host = i686-pc-linux-gnu

# mkdir -p /var/db/paludis/repositories/cross-installed/i686-pc-linux-gnu

File: /etc/paludis-cross/bashrc

CHOST="x86_64-pc-linux-gnu"
x86_64_pc_linux_gnu_CFLAGS="-pipe -O2 -march=native"
i686_pc_linux_gnu_CFLAGS="-pipe -O2 -march=native"

File: /etc/paludis-cross/platforms.conf

*/* x86 ~x86

File: /etc/paludis-cross/options.conf

*/* targets: i686-pc-linux-gnu
*/* build_options: jobs=5 -recommended_tests -expensive_tests symbols=strip
*/* LINGUAS: -* de
*/* VIDEO_DRIVERS: -*
*/* INPUT_DRIVERS: -*
*/* X86_CPU_FEATURES: -* avx mmx sse sse2 sse3 ssse3 sse4.1 sse4.2

# Steam minimal dependencies setup
*/* -bash-completion
*/* parts: -configuration -documentation
dev-libs/glib-networking PROVIDERS: -gnutls openssl
sys-sound/alsa-plugins pulseaudio
media-sound/pulseaudio -tcpd systemd
x11-drivers/nvidia-drivers -tools
dev-libs/glib-networking -ssl
dev-libs/libepoxy X
sys-apps/systemd PYTHON_ABIS: 3.7 PROVIDERS: -openssl
sys-devel/meson PYTHON_ABIS: 3.7

# cave -E paludis:cross resolve --make cross-compile sys-kernel/linux-headers -x1

# cave -E paludis:cross resolve --make cross-compile --no-dependencies-from sys-libs/glibc sys-libs/glibc -x1

# cave -E paludis:cross resolve --make cross-compile libatomic libgcc libstdc++ -x1

Remove the previously set sys-devel/gcc -threads from /etc/paludis/options.conf and rebuild gcc:

# cave resolve gcc --no-follow-installed-dependencies -x1

# cave -E paludis:cross resolve --make cross-compile libatomic libgcc libstdc++ -x1

# cave resolve pkg-config binutils eclectic-gcc -x1

# cave -E paludis:cross resolve --make cross-compile pulseaudio --ignore-from systemd --ignore-from pulseaudio --suggestions ignore --recommendations ignore

This will install ~40 packages which is enough for Steam to run if you use a NVIDIA card. If not you might have to install mesa and an additional driver to provide a 32bit libGL.so.

File: List of installed packages

n   app-arch/bzip2:0::arbor 1.0.6 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   dev-libs/expat:0::arbor 2.1.0 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   dev-libs/libffi:0::arbor 3.2.1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   dev-libs/openssl:0::arbor 1.0.2a to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sound-themes/sound-theme-freedesktop:0::gnome 0.8 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-apps/skeleton-filesystem-layout:0::arbor 0.84 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-devel/gnuconfig:0::arbor 20140728 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-devel/libtool:0::arbor 2.4.6 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   dev-libs/json-c:0::arbor 0.11-r2 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-libs/ncurses:0::arbor 5.9-r3 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-libs/timezone-data:0::arbor 2015b to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-libs/zlib:0::arbor 1.2.8 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-sound/alsa-lib:0::arbor 1.0.29 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   virtual/libssl:0::arbor 0-r1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   dev-lang/python:2.7::arbor 2.7.9 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   app-admin/eclectic-python:2::arbor 2 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   app-arch/xz:0::arbor 5.2.1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   dev-libs/orc:0.4::arbor 0.4.19 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   dev-util/elfutils:0::arbor 0.161 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   media-libs/libsndfile:0::media 1.0.25-r2 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   media-libs/speexdsp:0::media 1.2_rc3 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-apps/attr:0::arbor 2.4.47 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-apps/coreutils:0::arbor 8.23-r3 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-apps/kmod:0::arbor 20 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-libs/cracklib:0::arbor 2.9.4 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-libs/gdbm:0::arbor 1.11 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-libs/libcap-ng:0::arbor 0.7.4 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-libs/pam:0::arbor 1.1.8-r2 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-apps/kbd:0::arbor 2.0.2 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-libs/libcap:0::arbor 2.24-r1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   dev-libs/glib:2::arbor 2.44.0 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-apps/dbus:0::arbor 1.9.14 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-apps/pciutils:0::arbor 3.3.1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-apps/systemd:0::arbor 219-r2 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-apps/util-linux:0::arbor 2.26.2 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   dev-libs/glib-networking:0::arbor 2.44.0 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   gnome-desktop/dconf:0::arbor 0.24.0 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   gnome-desktop/gobject-introspection:1::gnome 1.44.0 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   media-sound/pulseaudio:0::desktop 6.0-r3 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   sys-sound/alsa-plugins:0::arbor 1.0.29 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu

Cross environment (NVIDIA)

Additionally install the 32bit libraries of nvidia-drivers.

File: /etc/paludis-cross/options.conf

x11-drivers/nvidia-drivers -tools

# cave -E paludis:cross resolve --make cross-compile nvidia-drivers --ignore-from systemd --ignore-from pulseaudio --ignore-from xorg-server --suggestions ignore --recommendations ignore

This will install ~45 packages as dependencies of nvidia-drivers. Steam itself however only requires a 32bit libGL.so an non of the mesa/dri/Xorg stuff.

File: List of installed packages

n   dev-libs/libpthread-stubs:0::x11 0.3-r1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   media-libs/libpng:1.6::arbor 1.6.17 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   fonts/font-alias:0::x11 1.0.3 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   media-libs/freetype:2::x11 2.5.5 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libpciaccess:0::x11 0.13.4 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/pixman:1::x11 0.32.6-r1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libICE:0::x11 1.0.9 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXau:0::x11 1.0.8 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXdmcp:0::x11 1.1.2 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libfontenc:0::x11 1.1.3 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libxshmfence:0::x11 1.2 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-apps/xkeyboard-config:0::x11 2.14-r2 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libxcb:0::x11 1.11 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libSM:0::x11 1.2.2-r1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-dri/libdrm:0::x11 2.4.60 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/xtrans:0::x11 1.3.5 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libX11:0::x11 1.6.3-r1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXext:0::x11 1.3.3 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXfixes:0::x11 5.0.1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXdamage:0::x11 1.1.4 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXi:0::x11 1.7.4 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXrender:0::x11 0.9.9 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXres:0::x11 1.0.7 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXt:0::x11 1.1.5 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXmu:0::x11 1.1.2-r1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXpm:0::x11 3.5.11 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXxf86misc:0::x11 1.0.3 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXxf86vm:0::x11 1.1.4-r1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   dev-libs/libepoxy:0::x11 1.2-r1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   media-libs/fontconfig:0::x11 2.11.1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   fonts/dejavu:0::x11 2.34 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-dri/mesa:0::x11 10.5.5 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   fonts/font-adobe-100dpi:0::x11 1.0.3 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   fonts/font-adobe-75dpi:0::x11 1.0.3 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   fonts/font-cursor-misc:0::x11 1.0.3 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   fonts/font-misc-misc:0::x11 1.1.2 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libXfont:0::x11 1.5.1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libvdpau:0::x11 1.1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libxkbfile:0::x11 1.0.9 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-apps/xkbcomp:0::x11 1.3.0 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-libs/libxkbui:0::x11 1.0.2-r1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-server/xorg-server:0::x11 1.17.1 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu
n   x11-drivers/nvidia-drivers:0::hardware 349.16-r2 to ::i686-pc-linux-gnu

Finalize

For Steam to run you'll need to create a symlink, there's ongoing work on a tool called multiload which will eventually solve that problem in the future and this workaround won't be neccessary anymore.

# ln -s /usr/i686-pc-linux-gnu/lib/ld-linux.so.2 /usr/x86_64-pc-linux-gnu/lib

To remove the symlink:

# rm /usr/x86_64-pc-linux-gnu/lib/ld-linux.so.2