Configuration

All available module options along with their descriptions can be found under modules. The options are also listed on the options page in the documentation.

Using the Steam Deck UI

To use the Steam Deck UI, set jovian.steam.enable = true; in your configuration.

This will only enable the Steam Deck UI tooling. To enable "desktop" Steam, enable the usual NixOS options.

The Steam Deck UI can be used in different manners.

Autostart

(This is the preferred way to use the Steam Deck interface)

Set jovian.steam.autoStart = true; to auto-start at boot.

This also enables use of the Switch to Desktop option.

Note

To go back to the Steam Deck interface from the desktop interface, logout or exit from your desktop environment.

If you want the Switch to Desktop menu option to switch to another session, you will need to configure jovian.steam.desktopSession. Configure it with the name of the X11 or Wayland session of your choosing. The session name semantics are the same as for the services.displayManager.defaultSession NixOS option.

As a user session

Select the Gaming Mode sesssion in your Display Manager, or run start-gamescope-session in a VT.

The Switch to Desktop option will not work as intended, instead it will close Steam.

As a nested window

Run gamescope-session within an existing desktop session.

This will run gamescope in nested mode which may result in higher latency.

Usage as a nested window is less tested, and may have other undesirable idiosyncrasies.

The Switch to Desktop option will not work as intended, instead it will close Steam.