How to run Steam from the Xfce desktop?

Question

I've installed Steam on Debian 7.0 without any hassle, and I can run it by typing steam &.

I've set it as a desktop launcher in Xfce, but when I ran it, nothing happened.

Then I've check the "Run in terminal" option, and saw that it printed error messages about GLIBC_2.5 missing, which I had previously installed in order to get Steam to work.

I suspected that it probably needs my environment variables, and that Xfce isn't running it as "me" (why?).

After that, I've created a runsteam script and linked the desktop launcher to it. The script tried to execute my .bashrc to get the environment variables, but it had its permission denied.

I've set the variables in runsteam myself (copied from .bashrc), but the terminal window simply flashes and exits before I can see anything.

These are the relevant contents of my .bashrc:

PATH=$PATH:/home/name/bin/
STEAMLIBS=${HOME}/steamlib
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${STEAMLIBS}

export STEAMLIBS
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH

How can I run Steam from my Xfce desktop?

Answer 1

This is an easy to fix bug, please see the 7th entry on my blog post about fixing common Steam on Debian Linux problems: http://www.yannbane.com/2013/02/how-to-steam-on-linux-debian-70.html.

Solution:

1. Right click on desktop
2. Create launcher...
3. Start writing "Steam" into the name box, and then select it from the suggestion.
4. Create

Try to run it! I doesn't work, does it? Well, neither did mine, but I've figured out how to fix it:

sudo mousepad /usr/bin/steam, after the line that begins with a '#!' (shebang) add:

STEAMLIBS=${HOME}/steamlib
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=${STEAMLIBS}

export STEAMLIBS
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH

1. Completely quit Steam.
2. Try your new launcher.