I like to keep bigscreen mode primarily for games, but I find the desktop mode is not ideal when using from the TV even with a Steam Controller to use media streaming apps (Firefox progressive web apps, x86_64 Waydroid Aurora/F-Droid apps, and native Discover Store apps), and adjust other settings.

The answer to this pain-point is KDE Plasma Bigscreen. It has a Android TV like interface, and works well with controllers and remotes (FYI, the most reliable one I’ve tested, sold under a variety of brands). It’s easy to switch between the regular Desktop Mode and Bigscreen from the sddm login screen, it’s just a dropdown.

Someone recently gave it some much needed love to promote it to QT6, but it could use some additional contributors to bring it to a production grade environment, hopefully in time for the Steam Machine launch.

If you want the stable QT5 version, it is available with most distro package managers as:

plasma-bigscreen

But it does not work perfectly, there are known issues. I am staking my hopes in the next version.

If you want to try the latest on Arch-based systems like SteamOS without building from source, help with filing bugs (always appreciated), or contribute code, the QT6 version which I find more reliable in some ways, less in others, and some key associated dependencies are

plasma-bigscreen-git
plasma-remotecontrollers-git
qt6-virtualkeyboard

Else for Fedora-based Bazzite, or Debian-based distros like Mint, at least currently you need to build from source or help get the package into the testing branches.

One key thing that needs fixing is, since Mycroft voice control closed down, OVOS has continued the voice assistant codebase and skills library, but Bigscreen needs OVOS modules placed in where previously Mycroft was used. Definitely helpful for searching shows/movies with controllers/remotes that have a microphone.

  • Meldrik@lemmy.wtf
    6·
    3 hours ago

    Stumbled upon this a while ago, because I was looking for an open source alternative to Apple TV and Google TV. I’m really hoping that this will be a viable option in the near future!

    • Canuck@sh.itjust.worksOP
      4·
      1 hour ago

      I would love if it could display in-progress shows and play next right in the interface like Android TV, though it would require native app integration, perhaps there’s also a way via Waydroid or Android Translation Layer (ATL) by hooking up to those existing APIs

    • RedStamp@piefed.socialEnglish
      5·
      2 hours ago

      It looks like the QT 6 version isn’t available in nixpkgs yet, but the QT 5 version is. You’d need to explicitly install plasma 5 though, since nixos uses plasma 6 by default.

      • Canuck@sh.itjust.worksOP
        3·
        1 hour ago

        I checked with Debian Sid, one of the reasons it is not there yet is they haven’t fully migrated to QT6 including Plasma, so hopefully it means there is less friction to get the QT6 version into NixOS’ packages if it already forces QT6 by default.

  • poVoq@slrpnk.net
    6·
    3 hours ago

    Yeah, I hope the qt6 version comes to the Fedora repos soon. Was really disappointed when the qt5 version seemed discontinued for a long time.

    Maybe this will end up on the Steam Machine as the primary non-Steam UI? Would explain why there is renewed developer interest.

    • Canuck@sh.itjust.worksOP
      2·
      1 hour ago

      From what I can tell Valve has no interest in it (yet), but hopefully one day. Recent updates have been from individuals who want to ensure it doesn’t get left behind.

    • Canuck@sh.itjust.worksOP
      6·
      4 hours ago

      I edited my post to clarify. The older table QT5 version is available today to use on most distros, but there are some known issues, and things that no longer work like Mycroft. It will be great when the QT6 version is stable though, I agree.

  • Semperverus@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    4 hours ago

    Been waiting for this to be downloadable for a long time. Are you saying this is available via the AUR? I may have to install Arch on my media raspberry pi units.

    • Canuck@sh.itjust.worksOP
      6·
      4 hours ago

      Best way for the QT6 version is to build from source, which is what I’m doing for my Pi, as I’m using Rasbian Trixie. I would love if someone CI/CD packaged builds for Debian Sid via KDE or Debian resources to more easily install on the Rasbian, but yes it’s been setup in AUR for Arch-based distros like SteamOS, PostmarketOS.

      • Björn@swg-empire.de
        2·
        2 hours ago

        SUSE’s Open Build System can build for basically all distros. If you’re up to the task you can use that to build packages.