SteamForwarder Versions Save

Project status

• Since Valve introduced their new SteamPlay feature that allows linux users to run windows games directly from Steam, I have stopped the active developement of the project. SteamPlay does almost the same thing that SteamForwarder but better, because Valve has all the source code of their product and understanding how the Steam works. Moreover, Valve provides their own build of WINE, called Proton which includes some patches for better gaming experience (and the steamclient implementation as well). So it probably will be last release of SteamForwarder so far.

Installation script

• win32 arch no longer being forced while applying registry file for the game installation
• Fixed installer crash when empty depot is provided by the Steam

Installation script:

• 64-bit steam_api64.dll handling support
• The script now prints a list of all DLCs and is able to download them if they are available
• The script now prints a list of all depots related to the game, so user can see if MSVC++ runtime or directX needs to be installed
• Fixed some issues related to the steamnative mode answer reading
• Fixed SteamApps folder name register (#2)
• Improved some error messages
• The --overlay-dir option was replaced by --steam-dir option, which should point to the steam installation folder in the system ($HOME/.steam usually) Please ensure that you set up the steampath option in the config file (located in $HOME/.config/SteamForwarder/config.json) to make the steam overlay working

Build system:

• The 64-bit libraries now are being built by default. To make only 32-bit libraries use ARCH=32 flag passed to make

Forwarding code:

• 64-bit steam_api64.dll.so implementation
• Reduced the Nim's GC influence on the memory by using static storage for wrappers, callbacks and vtables

Packaging:

• The main repository has been moved to gitlab.com, but github is left as a mirror
• GitLab CI was configured to build and deploy the project every week, so the binary packages are available as artifacts in devel branch at gitlab
• Fixed the supplying of libsteam_api.so of wrong version (#22)
• The 64-bit libsteam_api.so libraries now are being deployed

That's a mostly bugfix release with a little improvement.

Installation script

• The --steamapps option has been brought back to allow user to point the steamapps location not related to a steam volume.
• Installation script now able to select suitable version of the steam_api.dll.so libraries from existing ones without compilation.
• Fixed shebang string in the script header (#18)
• Fixed the language selection problem (#19)

Dependecies

• Nim compiler dependency has been removed for user. It might be necessary only if user want to build their own version of the steam_api.dll.so library.

Forwarding code

• Fixed incorrect wrapped object passing to the C interface method-like function emulators.

Packaging

• Package now is being supplied with precompiled steam_api.dll.so files, so no more compilation needed for user for all known Steam API versions. The compilation (and compilation dependencies) might be necessary only when user will encounter unsupported version of steam_api.dll.
• Changed the folder layout inside the package. Now it has a bin folder with symlink to the installation script and a share folder with the SteamForwarder subfolder containing all other files.

From the user perspective

• Some subset of games won't crash anymore
• Less packets need to be installed to use SteamForwarder
• sf_install will show an error a bit less frequently
• sf_install will show another errors a bit more frequently =)
• Games can be placed everywhere user wants

Architecture

• steam_api.dll.so is being compiled for each game at installation step instead of one steam_api.dll.so for all games.
• steam_api.dll.so is being created for corresponding version of steam_api.dll and uses libsteam_api.so of the same version, so libsteam_api.so libraries of various versions is being supplied with SteamForwarder.
• The installation script now also manages steam_api.dll.so creation instead of just installing the game.
• Code generation tools has been removed in favor to code generation by macros of Nim language.
• All code was rewritten to the Nim language.

Installation script

• The installation script has been renamed from app_install.py to sf_install.
• The installation script now saves configuration to $XDG_CONFIG/SteamForwarder.
• The installation script also launches steam_api.dll.so compilation, so added new command line options to control it.
• Added possibility to use native steam client instead of steamcmd to download games (experimental flag --steamnative).
• Initial support of registry modification (as game demands it) when installation is being performed via --depot.

Dependencies

• Removed dependency from Steam API headers
• Added dependency from Nim compiler v0.18.0 or higher
• Dependency from steamcmd became optional

Build system

• Added install target for make to perform installation of SteamForwarder.
• Added dll analysis tools to implement steam_api.dll.so building for particular steam_api.dll.
• Removed the code generation step.
• The continuous integration system was attached to the project to check if it compiles for a test sample.

Documentation

• A little usage video example was added.
• Some implementation details was added to the project Wiki.
• Added a bit more detailed description to the README.md.

From the user perspective

• More games should work without the "Hard way". There is no more hard or easy ways anymore.
• The fresh Nim compiler now is required for user. Users from slowly updating distros may suffer this.
• There is a possibility to use native steam. So some games may be installed even if they were not able to with steamcmd. The steamcmd itself is not necessary anymore.
• The tool can be installed to the system or packed for the packet manager.
• Compilation steps is being performed on the users computer. So the tool became less fool-proof but more applyable. May be fixed by #17 in future.

• Added option for downloading games via steam depot (may help if the normal way of downloading does not work)
• The steam password now being asked via getpass instead of command line

• Full reimplementation of code generator. Should fix numerous of class layout errors.
• app_install.py script now depends only on steamcmd, the https://steamdb.info site parsing remain as a fallback

• AppId environment variable support in the generated runscript
• Added option to pass password to steamcmd
• Added support for multiple launch scenarios
• Some bugfixes

• Fixed problem with CallbackResult
• Added new game installer script
• Fixed Makefile to avoid problems with make v4.1

Tested on steam version of the Path Of Exile game. No problems encountered.