Project Overview

This page outlines the modular framework for configuring Arch Linux as a dedicated gaming system.

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📍 System Requirements

• Distribution: Arch Linux or Arch-based distributions (e.g., EndeavourOS) using systemd.
• Graphics Stack: Open-source drivers recommended (Mesa). Proprietary NVIDIA also supported.
  • AMD: RADV — Recommended
  • Intel: ANV
  • NVIDIA (NVK/Nouveau): Mesa open-source Vulkan ICD
  • NVIDIA (Proprietary): nvidia-utils deployed automatically if the nvidia module is detected
  • Display Manager: None. The system manages session handovers via a systemd service on TTY1.
  • Desktop Environment: KDE Plasma 6.x (Wayland).

Important

NVK is currently in active development; users may experience varying compatibility compared to proprietary drivers.

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🚀 Features

1. Zero-DM & Service-Based Boot

Replaces traditional Display Managers (SDDM/plasmalogin) to eliminate session conflicts and reduce overhead.

• Direct DRM Access: The session manager runs as a high-priority service, granting Gamescope "DRM Master" status to minimize latency.
• Visual Transitions: The integrated notify engine manages visual feedback during session swaps, suppressing raw TTY output.

2. Session Management

Session state is persisted to /var/lib/steamos_diy/next_session via atomic writes, ensuring the file is never partially written after a power loss.

• Crash Recovery: The launcher monitors sessions via proc.wait(). If a session exits before VALIDATION_TIMEOUT (default: 5s), the system boots to Desktop to prevent a soft-lock loop.

3. Dynamic Parameter Mapping

Acts as a bridge between user configuration and the compositor:

• Argument Translation: The engine parses config.yaml and maps variables into command-line arguments for Gamescope (e.g., FSR, HDR, Sharpness).
• Configuration-driven Tuning: Allows modification of rendering behavior and display output through text files without altering the Python source code.

4. Game Wrapper

Utility for automated game execution and environment setup:

• Profile Lookup: Searches the directory tree for specific .yaml configurations based on SteamAppId or directory names.
• Environment Injection: Applies per-game environment variables and wrappers (e.g., GameMode).

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⚙️ Centralized Configuration

Configuration is split into system-level (/etc/default/steamos_diy.conf) and user-level (~/.config/steamos_diy/config.yaml), with optional per-game overrides in games.d/. See Architecture for the full filesystem hierarchy.

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📦 Essential Core Packages

• 🚀 Gamescope: Valve's micro-compositor for Wayland.
• 🎮 Steam: Running in -gamepadui mode.
• 📊 MangoHud: Vulkan/OpenGL performance overlay.
• ⚡ GameMode: Feral Interactive’s system optimizer.
• 🖥️ PyQt6: Powers the Control Center dashboard.

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➕ Optional Packages

• Goverlay: Graphical interface for MangoHud and vkBasalt.
• LACT: Control your AMD, Nvidia, or Intel GPU.
• Bottles: Run Windows software and games.
• ProtonUp-Qt: Manage Proton-GE and Wine-GE versions.
• Lutris: Central interface for all your game libraries.
• Ludusavi: Back up PC game save data.
• Protontricks: Run Winetricks commands for Steam Play/Proton games.

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