As of October 28, 2024, the Raspberry Pi Foundation has officially transitioned its operating system, Raspberry Pi OS, from the long-standing X Window System to the modern Wayland display server. This shift marks the end of a yearslong development process aimed at modernizing the graphical interface capabilities of Raspberry Pi devices. Despite the gravity of such a technological change, Raspberry Pi users are not expected to notice drastic visual changes, though they should experience improved performance and functionality.

Why Wayland?

The X Window System, first developed over 40 years ago, has been a staple in various UNIX-like operating systems. However, as technology evolved, its limitations became apparent, notably in handling modern graphical requirements efficiently. In contrast, Wayland offers a simpler, more efficient framework suited for today's needs. This transition is part of a broader trend across technology platforms to adopt Wayland for its modern features and improved performance.

A Decade in the Making

The decision to replace X with Wayland wasn't made overnight. Simon Long, a key figure at Raspberry Pi, explained in a blog post how the Raspberry Pi team considered Wayland over 10 years ago. Back then, Wayland wasn't ready for deployment, prompting Raspberry Pi to implement intermediary steps such as using Mutter as an interim window manager that could support Wayland compatibility.

In the journey, notable changes included the switch to the Wayfire compositor in 2023, ultimately leading to the adoption of the Labwc window manager tailored to match Raspberry Pi's hardware requirements. Built on the modular wlroots framework, Labwc allows customized modifications without needing to rebuild the entire system, facilitating a smooth transition.

Updating and Compatibility

For users looking to upgrade, Raspberry Pi OS now defaults to using Wayland's Labwc across all models with the new desktop image. Although Raspberry Pi encourages users to switch to labwc, it notes that older devices will maintain compatibility through Xwayland. Additionally, there are enhancements in touchscreen support, like a new virtual keyboard feature and gesture refinements. However, it is advisable for users to approach updates cautiously, as initial adopters reported some technical hiccups, which are being addressed with updates.

Conclusion

This milestone in Raspberry Pi's evolution from X to Wayland reflects significant behind-the-scenes work aimed at enhancing user experience and maintaining compatibility. With improved performance and features, Raspberry Pi OS users can look forward to a more responsive and future-proofed desktop environment. For more detailed information about recent updates, Raspberry Pi's official blog is a recommended resource.

This information was originally reported by Ars Technica and can be read in full here.