Linux Viewer
in progress
Signal Linden
LL stopped publishing an official Linux compatible viewer build in 2015. Despite this, TPVs have managed to support linux builds in the years since, performing necessary 3p upgrade work and fixing breaks in compatibility introduced from upstream.
Aside from a handful of library updates (SDL to SDL2, etc.) there isn't too much to do to restore linux build support. This would benefit TPVs, as they can reduce their delta from upstream, and benefit users who use linux as a main OS or want to run SL natively on Steamdeck, etc.
Further thoughts:
- Rather than shipping a distro-specific package (deb, rpm, etc.) just drop a compressed archive. This will allow distros to re-package as necessary, and allow the most broad compatibility
- Many linux64compatible 3p packages have already been rebuilt on Github as part of CI/CD modernization efforts (Examples: expat, zlib-ng) 🙂
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Amiren Resident
I very much would love to see full Apple Silicon support added at first opportunity!
A
Antone Andretti
I support full official Linux viewer support being the norm again going forward, as soon as reasonably possibly.
Ehawee Ravenhurst
I haven't installed my Firestorm Viewer on Linux in ages. I unzip the downloaded file, push the unzipped folder to my home, create a launcher in the menu and that's it. It's going great.
I also have a Windows 11 24H2 installation on the same PC and, for example, in full clubs, I have about 20 to 30 fps more on an Ubuntu 24.04.1 with the same graphics setting than on Windows.
Starting and stopping under Linux is also very fast, hardly any waiting time, while I always have to wait under Windows.
Rathgrith027 Resident
On the topic of distro-specific packages, would it be possible to install SL as a flatpak? Would allow for compatibility with platforms like Steam Deck which could blend nicely with controller supports.
Yavanna Llanfair
As a Linux-only user, I would no longer be in SL if third party viewers hadn't continued to support Linux.
I guess there's always Wine, but it's not quite the same.
00 Python
Yavanna Llanfair on some of my Linux devices i find that running the windows version of Firestorm through Lutris gives me a better experience than running the Linux version of Firestorm. generally voice is very broken on the Linux version these days, and the flat pack for firestorm on flathub was causing my steamdeck to hard crash.
Send Starlight
Yes please!
Darling Brody
Fantastic Idea. There are so many Linux based platforms that would benefit from being able to run SL natively. Please do this!
Lordy Boo
Yes, please do this. Just the ability to compile it myself again would be amazing since I do most of my creation and developer work in Linux in Software Dev/Blender/Substance Painter/etc. I also like to help track down bugs and it's impossible to figure out if it is a LL specific bug or a 3rd party viewer bug on this platform. The way Firestorm packages their viewer works fine. Thank you guys so much for all the amazing work you've been doing lately.
Fenny Foxpaws
I remember being so angry when they decided to pull support for the Linux Release. For many years after, the only viewers available without the need to compile drivers for voice or integrate your own wine session was Firestorm and CoolVlViewer which only recently made its debut back into the Third Party Viewer Repository.
I would have hope that the recent strides towards WEBrtc and eventual processing of Vulcan API would be encouragement for the Linden Labs development team to see the importance of this category of operating system as they transition to tools supported and developed by what was removed.
Throughout the years the Secondlife Official Viewer has grown into a standard of stability for users who have access to it. As such, I run an Operating System designed with stability in mind, and would like to pair such a tool with the most stable client in the field, yet find myself unable to do so for the foreseeable future.
I second this notion for Flatpak integration to mitigate much of the work necessary for maintainers to make these releases available as all 3 most commonly used bases (Debian, Fedora & Arch) all have the capability to support its packaging formats with relative ease. This will ensure its availability to both advanced users and new users alike.
primerib1 Resident
Fenny Foxpaws Don't forget Kokua Viewer!
A lot of Linux residents I know of says it's more stable than Firestorm for Linux 😉
Fullperm Alpha
I would also suggest making it available in many Linux repositories through package management and not only via downloads and install scripts. Somebody would have to manage this.
Flatpak might be the best solution for now to solve this issue. It allows for easy installation and reaches a wide range of Linux distributions, avoiding the hassle of dealing with different package managers.
Therefore i enjoy doing yay -s firestorm-bin alchemy-viewer as long as this issue is not solved. But i am really willing to use the official viewer when this issue is finally solved.
Fullperm Alpha
Woolfyy Resident + for wayland support and lets stick to talk about linux in general in favor of personal linux distributions.
Madi Melodious
Fullperm Alpha Flatpack would be the best, I agree. But if LL needs someone to maintain a package, just reach out and I'll be more than happy to help.
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