For more than four years, Apple’s MacBook Pro has introduced the Touch Bar as a display / control bar input device above the keyboard on these laptops. Although there have been reports that Apple may phase out the Touch Bar in future models, an open-source Linux component driver continues on its way to the core.
Submitted on Saturday by independent developer Ronald Tschalär was the latest open-source driver code, which receives Touch Bar and ALS support for MacBook Pro 13, * / 14, * / 15, * models. The Apple Touch Bar driver code was previously sent to the kernel mailing list, while the Apple MBP 15, * models are supported and various code improvements have been made as a result of previous comments.
The Apple iBridge driver (T1 security chip) is also required to interface with the iSight webcam, light sensor and fingerprint sensor. At this time, Linux driver coverage is focused on Touch Bar and Light Sensor / ALS support.
This effort to support the Apple Touch Bar on Linux returned years ago, albeit at a slow pace, given the limited developers involved and no support from Apple. Those interested in trying out this Apple Touch Bar + Light Sensor support for the new MacBook Pro hardware can find the new patches on the kernel mailing list.