mbp2018-bridge-drv VS linux-surface

Does anyone happen to have info on how I might get things up and running? I have tried googling, but not finding much specific to Debian. What I have found points to MacBook Bridge/T2 Linux Driver, but my undersanding this is in the kernel from 5.7. Also found linux-mbp-arch but that is specific to arch, and wouldn't work on Debian yeah? Or could I run those patches against something to get a Debian compatible kernel?

It's the other way around: Linux has some extra support for these laptops. And of course the place where extra support is required is the input devices. Despite Microsoft kinda pushing the industry to standardize on HID over I2C, they themselves now do HID over… uh… a custom protocol that runs over UART of all things.

https://www.kernel.org/doc/html/latest/driver-api/surface_ag...

https://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/hid/hid.git/...

Well at least it is HID inside I guess.

Meanwhile Apple used a custom simple protocol over SPI for the Broadwell-Kaby Lake generations (and now Apple Silicon), but the few "T2" generations went back to USB… over some truly cursed custom T2 USB host controller https://github.com/MCMrARM/mbp2018-bridge-drv (WTF)

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Also many Surface devices used awful Marvell Wi-Fi :/ At least the "Laptop 3" generation switched to Intel on Intel models and Qualcomm (seems like ath10k) on AMD ones.

Apart from camera, almost everything is working correctly. Camera doesn't work at all.

https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface

I use this kernel, you can use this with most operating systems.

I use xournal++ for note writing, and using GNOME is necessary. KDE doesn't have support for screen rotation etc. When you use GNOME, make sure to disable gestures and screen edge detection, because that might occasionally cause problems.

So, the workflow is quite simple with xournal++, you run a `inotify` based watched which automatically compiles and pushes stuff on every save. I of course assume that only `xournal++` on tab can change those handwritten notes. You can get some fancier git logic if needed.

```

while inotifywait -e modify,create,delete,move $INPUT;

There's support for Linux on the Surface range:

https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/wiki/Supporte...

But actual users seem to say it's a bit of a mixed bag.

If someone's looking for a laptop (that doesn't need touchscreen support), then Apple laptops are probably the better choice.

How to get out of this situation? Links https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface/issues/1240 - the same problem as I have and the same puncture, but the person managed to get out of the situation https://www.reddit.com/r/SurfaceLinux/comments/16d40vs/kill_my_surface_pro_2017_need_help/ - my similar post in a nearby subreddit, but since I'm here, the problem turned out to be bigger than I thought

https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface

Should have you covered.

I went the 12” MacBook route which can also install Linux.

I have a surface with Ubuntu and the Surface Kernel (https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface) , and it works really wonderfully. I will say, before installing the Surface Kernel, it was very janky.

I know about https://github.com/linux-surface/linux-surface but I'm looking for practical feedback from people who did the operation in order to orient my choice.