Help on using a different mesa branch for 9070s testing

Hi guys, i'm trying to help developers on mesa git resolving 9070 gpus issues. They asked me to try a different branch but i don't know how to do it...can you help me on how to do it? thanks

xxNotorioussss•4/4/25, 8:45 AM

https://docs.bazzite.gg/Installing_and_Managing_Software/Updates_Rollbacks_and_Rebasing/rebase_guide/ You want to rebase to testing. Open up a terminal window in desktop mode and use the guide on the link to change to testing. You can always go back to stable when everything is running smoothly with the new 9070 cards.

Rebase Guide - Bazzite Documentation

Bazzite is a custom image built upon Fedora Atomic Desktops that brings the best of Linux gaming to all of your devices.

XxxNotorioussss https://docs.bazzite.gg/Installing_and_Managing_Software/Updates_Rollbacks_and_R...

VahnOP•4/4/25, 8:49 AM

Thanks, i'm already on testing release, but the guy on mesa asked me to test a specific branch of the mesa development repository, and that's what i don't know how it is done

asen23•4/4/25, 11:07 AM

what are they asking you to do, its likely you can do it inside arch distrobox

VahnOP•4/4/25, 12:36 PM

one of the developers has a development branch on the mesa git repo where he's fixing radv issues for 9070s. He asked me to test that branch. I wanted to do it on my bazzite installation but as far as i'm ok with tinkering...i'm no linux expert

asen23•4/4/25, 12:41 PM

well yes you test but how? open an app? run benchmark?

Aasen23 well yes you test but how? open an app? run benchmark?

VahnOP•4/4/25, 12:45 PM

run games

asen23•4/4/25, 12:54 PM

the easiest way is probably to use bazzite-arch distrobox then

asen23•4/4/25, 12:54 PM

ask them for guides on running their branch in arch

Aasen23 ask them for guides on running their branch in arch

VahnOP•4/4/25, 1:17 PM

Thanks for the advice. i tried asking for support there, but the guy didn't respond. Also i've found this guide https://gist.github.com/Venemo/a9483106565df3a83fc67a411191edbd. Can you tell me if it's legit? it seems fairly simple

asen23•4/4/25, 1:19 PM

it could work, youll need to do the compile step in fedora distrobox and run it in host

Aasen23 it could work, youll need to do the compile step in fedora distrobox and run it ...

VahnOP•4/4/25, 1:58 PM

i can't compile it directly on my host?

asen23•4/4/25, 1:58 PM

you arent supposed to compile anything in host when using atomic distro

VahnOP•4/4/25, 2:00 PM

supposed or allowed? what are the downsides? I understand that's an immutable system...but is it an hard block or something i can circumvent for the sake of one test?

VahnOP•4/4/25, 2:01 PM

thanks for your patience

asen23•4/4/25, 2:01 PM

supposed, you can compile in host but it will give you more problem in the long run

asen23•4/4/25, 2:01 PM

using distrobox arent complicated

asen23•4/4/25, 2:02 PM

basically the downside is you need to layer tons of things which can slow or outright prevent updates if conflict happen

VahnOP•4/4/25, 2:16 PM

ok thanks, understood. Basically installing everything that's needed to compile the new mesa can eventually lead to a general instability that can compromise subsequent updates

asen23•4/4/25, 2:31 PM

correct

Kyle Gospo•4/4/25, 2:47 PM

You can use distrobox to test this

Kyle Gospo•4/4/25, 2:48 PM

Make a box, install Mesa in that box, and then install the application you want to test in that box

Kyle Gospo•4/4/25, 2:48 PM

It'll use the custom branch of Mesa and not affect your system

KKyle Gospo Make a box, install Mesa in that box, and then install the application you want ...

asen23•4/4/25, 2:54 PM

would the gist worked? looks like its just compiling it and injecting it using environment variable

Kyle Gospo•4/4/25, 3:14 PM

Could, yeah

VahnOP•4/4/25, 3:56 PM

can a distrobox impact gaming performance? If it works, i'd like to use this workaround until they release it and finally play games without having to fear for a crash or a vertex explosion

asen23•4/4/25, 3:56 PM

the impact should be negligible but there is some drawback like no gamescope

VahnOP•4/4/25, 3:58 PM

i don't know, i think i'll gonna try my luck with compiling on the host and deal with the consequences once they release it officially. I can easily reinstall everything if needed

asen23•4/4/25, 3:59 PM

try compiling in distrobox first

asen23•4/4/25, 3:59 PM

there is a gui for that

asen23•4/4/25, 3:59 PM

boxbuddy

VahnOP•4/4/25, 3:59 PM

nice

asen23•4/4/25, 3:59 PM

use that image and whatever names

asen23•4/4/25, 4:00 PM

then open terminal and just use it like normal

VahnOP•4/4/25, 4:00 PM

thanks

Zanterack•4/4/25, 4:12 PM

What is the branch they wanted you to try out?

ZZanterack What is the branch they wanted you to try out?

VahnOP•4/4/25, 4:27 PM

This one https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/hakzsam/mesa/-/commits/radv_fix_dcc_gfx12_visible_vram

GitLab

Commits · radv_fix_dcc_gfx12_visible_vram · Samuel Pitoiset / mes...

Samuel's Mesa branches

Aasen23 use that image and whatever names

VahnOP•4/4/25, 5:17 PM

I compiled the custom Mesa repo then I have to install steam and the game I want to try right?

asen23•4/4/25, 5:17 PM

you can just use the compiled file in your host

asen23•4/4/25, 5:18 PM

use their script to inject the file

Aasen23 you can just use the compiled file in your host

VahnOP•4/4/25, 5:18 PM

This is nice. I didn’t understand I could otherwise I would have had nothing against it

dabe glavins•4/4/25, 5:18 PM

is it really true that when you install mesa in a distrobox container, the graphical apps run from that container will use the mesa installed in the container? seems too convenient... but I'm also a noob when it comes to driver-level stuff

asen23•4/4/25, 5:19 PM

yes that is the case

dabe glavins•4/4/25, 5:19 PM

very neat

dabe glavins•4/4/25, 5:19 PM

I'll take a performance hit any day to avoid crashing or booting into windows XD

Aasen23 use their script to inject the file

VahnOP•4/4/25, 5:21 PM

I guess the script must be used on the host and not the distrobox

asen23•4/4/25, 5:22 PM

yes, put that into steam launch option

asen23•4/4/25, 5:22 PM