I need some advice now that Ubuntu is dropping support for x11 in 26.04

Lounge
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So now that the gnome version of Ubuntu is dropping support for x11, i find myself with a bit of an issue. I still use x11 for blender, and would like to remain doing that. I see two solutions to my problem, and would like to hear your input about potential issues.

Solution 1:

Remaining on 24.04 with Ubuntu pro, and keep using the system as i currently do. Right now i swap between wayland and x11 on 24.04 based on what i’m doing. As i understand it, i will be able to continue doing this with Ubuntu pro for a few more years.

I am however, worried about keeping the system up to date.

I can swap the kernel with the maineline kernel tool, it makes it quite easy, but will this also update my AMD drivers? or can i do that independently? Second, as i understand it, using the snap store will keep my programs (snaps that is) up to date, even though i’m not on the newest LTS?

Solution 2:

Install Ubuntu 26.04, and install another desktop (xfce) and use that for my x11 needs. This might be my preferred option, i’m just worried that having two desktops could potentially cause issues with updates?

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I’ve moved your topic to the Lounge, as Ubuntu 26.04 LTS is months away from being released, and thus isn’t found in the supported releases covered by Support.

Refer Welcome To Support And Help

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Blender 3.4 added native wayland support, is there any reason you cannot use Blender on a wayland desktop ?

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I’m using Ubuntu resolute currently to reply here, and am happily using an Xorg/X11 session without issue, and I have Ubuntu Desktop (GNOME) installed. My system is a multi-desktop install, but I’ve been using multi-desktop installs for longer than I remember.

Whilst I’m currently using LXQt from the Lubuntu team, I also have Xfce from the Xubuntu team installed, plus the GNOME from the Ubuntu Desktop team; I select which session (ie. DE/WM) I use at login, just as I’ve done for years (more than a decade!).

The only limitation for Ubuntu 26.04 maybe you won’t be able to use gdm3 as your DM; myself I’m using sddm currently as my DM/greeter; but will that matter to you?

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Blender is pretty buggy under wayland, it’s usable, but annoying. There is also the issue of cursor stutters, when the pc is stressed - that happens quite often while previewing renders.

It’s just not a pleasant experience for me.

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DM don’t really matter for me. there are no issues when updating the system?

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The only current issue relates to init systems being used; Xubuntu (and xubuntu-desktop) use initramfs-tools where Ubuntu Desktop, Lubuntu & others use dracut… That issue existed ~late in the questing or Ubuntu 25.10 cycle anyway; so there is no change, and there is still a possibility that it maybe resolved prior to Ubuntu 26.04’s release… but that issue relates to installing the packages & method required… I worked around it last year when it happened, and haven’t needed to change anything since then.

I’m not aware of any update issues; I’ve been using multi-desktops as already stated for over a decade (probably since 2010 with Ubuntu; given that’s when I believe I started using Ubuntu)

Don’t forget resolute is still in an unstable or alpha state, so things can change! I’m giving my opinion.

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Are you just using the same account or multiple depending on the desktop?

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I have one login on this system (excluding root which I have enabled), with this install setup so I can work in any and experience much of the same experience on any DE; at least for the stuff that matters to me.

GNOME handles workspaces differently; with one monitor not switching when my others do; that is the most significant difference. Second would be my media keys on my [second] keyboard; LXQt for example has them always control my music player, where GNOME/Xfce will have them control whatever I last used (if I’ve only used a music player there won’t be a difference, but I’ve got vlc running with a paused movie, AND my music playlist in clementine or audacious, the media keys will operate whatever I last used). The media keys I can change; but I opted to leave it default. The workspace differences I could possibly also have worked around, but I’m aware of that & sometimes the GNOME approach does work for me.

I’ll provide some links where I talk about the install on this site

On the third link you’ll also see me talking about the dracut versus initramfs issue too that I mentioned earlier.

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It seems to me that the option with the less hassle is the one that says say on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS with a Ubuntu pro subscription.

You could also dual boot with Ubuntu 26.04 LTS and experiment. Who knows what life will be like when Ubuntu 28.04 LTS is released?

Regards

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@Zeanix Experiment is the key here, as @graymech mentioned as an option.

Thanks to @guiverc I started trying more than one desktop environment, and I was scared that it would be too complicated, and stuff like that… but it was nothing like that.

Right now that you’re on 24.04 you can install XFCE a a secondary desktop and try it, and see if your issues have been resolved. It won’t affect your main Ubuntu system at all. Best thing about this is that it’s just like changing clothes, you look different but you’re still doing the same, I mean, different desktops are different sessions, but everything else remains the same, meaning that your browser settings and history and cookies and all that are all the same, and so on. The only thing that changes is the interface, the desktop.

Only issue would be that installing a new desktop will install its own notepad, its own calculator, its own video player, its own apps, so you will find there are two apps for text files, two apps for videos, etc, you just pick which one is the default according to your preferences.

Having said that, I’d like to add just a little bit about my experience with dual desktops (not dual boot).

On Ubuntu, I was having issues with some software, and even on Steam for some games. Sometimes small stuff like some hotkeys not working, sometimes some app or game working badly.

I installed Xubuntu as a secondary desktop, but all issues remained.

So I installed Xubuntu as the main system (clean install) and then installed Ubuntu-desktop… and all issues were gone. Yes, even under Wayland.

So, if your issues are not fixed by installing Xubuntu as your secondary desktop, and you’re willing to try a clean install, keep that in mind.

My technical knowledge comes only from daily usage, so I don’t know any specifics, but there is something different on different Ubuntu flavors, maybe it’s related to desktop, maybe it’s something on the many underlying layers that are specific to each flavor.

If there’s something I’ve learned on my many years as a ‘buntu user mostly on Xubuntu but also several years on Ubuntu and Ubuntu MATE, is that you’ve got to try different set ups until you find what works best for you.

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I have to second the comments made by @claudiodc and @graymech , Keep trying different flavours and desktops until you find one that fits the bill. I use 3 x 256gb nvme drives, one as my daily driver, one cloned from that for backup and one for experimentation with different flavours.

I have used ubuntu (until mate) Mint, Arch, Ultimate, and Kubuntu and finally settled on Kubuntu as it does all I need.

I think it’s great we have all these choices, from the bland to the plain whacky like Ultimate. I often wonder what sort of medication or recreational drugs some are on when they create them, certainly as far as Ultimate is concerned, it is just fantastic we have all this choice.

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The AMD page for Radeon Linux drivers currently supports 22.04 LTS and 24.04 LTS. I imagine that they’ll continue to post updated kernel modules for the latest 24.04 LTS HWE kernel for some time.

https://www.amd.com/en/support/download/linux-drivers.html