As much as I like open source and think we need it, the fact is SteamVR isn’t bad just because of proprietary conflicts of interest. It is bad because of horrible architecture and lack of bugfixing. I would be surprised if Valve themselves were happy with SteamVR as is.
SteamVR is complicated. An elegant solution would be much easier to create now.
What happened to Java is probably a good example of what happens with both lack of due diligence and corporate mismanagement. I rarely, if ever, encountered a Java application without bugs, not because Java itself was broken, but because the applications written in Java never seemed to have as adequate of testing as C programs usually get - Python has been the same for me. Then new corporate owners seem to have started causing even more drama than the previous owners, and remaining interest in Java evaporated predictably.
Java just never seemed to attract or keep competent developers’ interest.
Let’s really hope VR doesn’t go further down that path at all.
Agreed though were on the road to less thorough testing it seems. Biggest problem I have seen is testing. Often because “it seems good enough to release” we can patch it later. Java even suffered in the early days as MS tried to corrupt the implementation. And as you said many didn’t take the time to properly test and audit there code base. However it still has some life left.
Agreed hopefully OpenXR gives us the needed stability and helps to push VR forward by making Development easier instead of having to learn each platforms specifics.
I would be careful with “replace SteamVR”. Yes, their total ignoring of bug reports, periodic backwards compat breaking, forced updates (I would very much prefer pitool model where I can stay on software that works) and zero consideration for accessibility is annoying. In the past, I was pushing for SteamVR replacement - I worked a bit on the Open Composite effort and 1.5 year ago I started a project for total SVR bypass.
However, SVR is not just disadvantages. SVR is not as invasive as Oculus software - I have nothing but black grid in there, exactly what I need. I have multiple hobby VR projects, and I appreciate their dev features - null driver, perf monitor. And, with Overlays working, I don’t need them to fix bugs anymore - all non-game extra functionality I need is working as part of the Crew Chief app, and I can fix things that they don’t bother to. That relies on their overlays.
Replacing all of the above is a lot of work and a long road - as of today I don’t know if there’s much point in replacing it frankly.
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