Apple GPU drivers now in Asahi Linux (asahilinux.org)

Article summary

The Asahi Linux project has released its first public Apple Silicon GPU driver, which is still in alpha stage but can provide a smooth desktop experience and run some games. The driver supports OpenGL 2.1 and OpenGL ES 2.0, but does not yet pass the OpenGL conformance tests. The project is working on supporting more applications and features, including Vulkan. The driver can be installed on Linux-asahi-edge kernel and mesa-asahi-edge Mesa package.

Main themes

• Asahi Linux GPU driver
• Apple Silicon support
• Linux development
• Hardware quality
• Repairability and upgradeability
• Performance and battery life

What commenters say

• Some users consider the current state of the project to be sufficient for basic use, while others point out that many features are still missing.
• The quality of Apple hardware is debated, with some considering it to be superior and others finding it to be terrible.
• The importance of features like sleep mode and battery life is subjective, with some users considering them essential and others not.
• The repairability and upgradeability of Apple devices are often criticized, with some suggesting that other manufacturers like Lenovo offer better options.
• The performance of Apple devices, particularly the M1 chips, is praised by some users, who find them to be fast and efficient.
• The use of Rust in Linux development is seen as a positive step by some, who are excited about its potential to improve the language.
• Some users express frustration with the lack of support for certain features, like audio over Thunderbolt, and the limitations of the current driver.