While this feature request is under consideration, is there any way to inhibit auto-suspend while a process is running via CLI?
I would like to make a workaround for personal use, but not sure where to start.
Would systemd-inhibit work in game-mode?
Old issue, has there been some progress here?
I use the Brave browser as a 3rd-party/non-steam media player in between gaming with extensive durations where no input at all occurs eg. watching a stream or movie. I don't want to disable hibernate/power-saving options globally as i want them to occur when eg. in common menus like the steam home screen. An option for steamapps like 'Suspend screensaver/hibernate while this app is running' would be supernice.
Would
systemd-inhibitwork in game-mode?
as far as i can tell no, if it worked in the past it does not anymore, you can verify this with ssh and any program that inhibits the usual ways
its only useful in desktop mode, which has other merits for media consumption, but what about self contained programs like kodi? the underclocking utilities are very useful and theyre currently locked away in game mode so if you want to increase your battery life a good while when just watching local/networked content, youre SOL
ive also had issues in the past with bluetooth connected controllers, where the steamdeck would dim and go to sleep even if im actively using a bluetooth connected controller
i can understand why valve doesnt listen to inhibit requests by default, specific games could abuse it or assume carelessly that the host is not a portable system (no power restrictions like batteries), and that can be an issue for the average person, but instead of blocking it outright it should be configurable in the properties menu next to the program arguments tab
edit:
here is various system information in case it is relevant, more is available upon request but this should be plenty for someone to reproduce the issue on their own hardware
Device: SteamDeck OLED 512GB
OS Name: SteamOS Holo
OS Variant: steamdeck
OS Version: 3.7.21
OS Build: 20260414.1
Kernel Version: 6.11.11-valve27-1-neptune-611-g60ef8556a811
BIOS Version: F7G0112
Steam Version: 1773426488
Nothing extracted yet.
System Reprequisites:
Device: Steam Deck OLED
OS Varient: Main
Steam Client Update Channel: Steam Deck Beta
Steam Version: 1701289036
Feature Request:
i'm asking to expand the current "Dim Display" & "Put Deck to Sleep" Options under: "Settings" --> Display.
Specifically a Game Option for "Dim Display" & "Put Deck to Sleep".
Maybe if needed the ability to set Game Limits[On/Off Toggle] on a Per-Game basis, via the performance tab.
Explained:
There are games where you don't really need to actively make physical contact with the inputs on Steam Deck for a period of time in-order to progress the game.
For example, Visual Novels usually have Auto-Modes where it is a more hands off approach until you get to the point where you make choices to decide the future of the story.
Or you may be consuming Media Content, through an alternate Web Browser or Video Player that you've added to Steam.
Problem is when unplugged, you can only go up to 20min before auto dimming & suspend takes effect.
This is problematic for some games & use cases for the Steam Deck.
The Limits as they are, work fine in-general, especially for saving power when idle at the home screen of Game Mode. But I think the user should have an option to toggle on longer limits specifically for Steam/non-Steam games.
Especially since the Steam Deck OLED has increased the battery life nearly 50% & some games like Visual Novels really using very little battery as it is.
PlayStation also does this for the PS4/5 Where Games have their own sleep time & all other menus suspend at a different time.
Specifics:
Either a new Sub-Menu/toggle in the Display tab or Hidden Option in Developer Mode(Tab). Alongside when it is toggled on, a new option appears in the Performance Tab to enable new or longer Dim/Suspend times for that specific game.
Again this would help media consumption & Genres like Visual Novel experience from being unnecessarily disrupted.
I should note, when the game ends, once back at the Home screen or in a different game where it's not enabled, it returns to the Global Dim & Suspend/Sleep settings.