If one wants to make this less confrontational maybe a way forward is a path where you buy on the website and you have a much simpler or even cli-only client to manage downloads, drm, and sync. Can always check out the latest deals and buy on the website.
Some people don't want the experience but merely the transaction. I for one am not calling for ending DRM or even Valve Management.. Just give us a choice.. If we ask we are obviously loyal enough to care. And maybe we should approch these challenges on that basis. Hmm?
And of course this doesn't impact what the majority wants or is used to. The full integrated Steam client.
Exactly, if I need to use any of Steam's fluff, I can do so via their website (via my browser of choice, not some creaky, clunky 32-bit abomination running in X-emulation mode), or the mobile app.
And I do not need (or want) to be reminded that game X came out or publisher Y is having a sale.
I'm fine with Steam's DRM too.
All I want is a command line version of Steam that allows me to install, update, and launch games. With no dependencies on 32-bit libraries, obscure UI toolkits, or outdated display servers. No fluff, no community, no game recording, no NOTHING but installing, updating and playing.
I know it's confrontational, but some confrontation is needed here.
So I have a NAS that contains backups of my entire Steam library. I want to restore a game, but I can't, because for some reason the Steam client crashes when restoring a backup from a network drive. And it also refuses to do it via a symlink.
So basically, I need to actually copy the backup to a local drive, before restoring the backup from there.
Valve is unable to help because I am not running Ubuntu.
I know it's confrontational, but some confrontation is needed here.
no. in fact, it is not needed here at any point. especially confrontation with a hint of toxicity.
I understand some of my language is colorful, but you cannot deny I'm making several good points. Don't use this 'toxicity' as an excuse to ignore the content of my message.
I have no choice but to deal with it. And that pisses me off.
Hello @EoceneMiacid, after re-reading this issue report, there's no way to put a positive spin to it. This is a hostile multi-issue feature request. There's no way for a Steam dev to respond here with a positive or constructive response that would lead to a good outcome for you.
In general, multi-issue issue reports are bad for any issue tracker, and most of your points are already being tracked in separate issue reports focusing on those specific issues on this issue tracker.
This is not a multi-issue report. There is but one request:
Separate the client into a front and backend.
Stop trying to exploit the perception that i'm being hostile as an excuse to dismiss this request.
@EoceneMiacid They aren't listening because they prefer form over substance. Indicated by the fact they completely ignored what I said which was a basic distilation with a few benefits. Had they been willing to inquire more.. I would have been more detailed.
A shame really. A simplesteam standalone cli runner and util would have been pretty nifty. Could have called it Valve Kettle .. Still steam but you have to put commands in like water in a tea kettle. Welp, back to tracking context menu clickthru issues on not-gnomekde I guess.
This is not a multi-issue report. There is but one request:
Separate the client into a front and backend.
Stop trying to exploit the perception that i'm being hostile as an excuse to dismiss this request.
there is an issue already without any hostility: #12153
@EoceneMiacid They aren't listening because they prefer form over substance. Indicated by the fact they completely ignored what I said which was a basic distilation with a few benefits. Had they been willing to inquire more.. I would have been more detailed.
A shame really. A simplesteam standalone cli runner and util would have been pretty nifty. Could have called it Valve Kettle .. Still steam but you have to put commands in like water in a tea kettle. Welp, back to tracking context menu clickthru issues on not-gnomekde I guess.
Yeah, I know how the game works.
I worked for a few large software development companies. One of them proudly announced they spent a fortune on thousands of licenses for some intrusive, closed source antivirus/security app.
I pointed out they can just spend 10 minutes writing a shell script instead that would synchronize their DNS daily with the one from orbz and completely immunize their network - and save them tons of money, bandwidth, and frustration for the IT support teams.
But they decided they didn't like 'my tone', and went with the retarded license solution instead.
Oh and Valve already have such a utility - steamcmd. But it is intended to install and maintain servers for Source games.
If only they would develop it further so that it is capable of running any game.
That would completely solve the problem.
Nothing extracted yet.
I have a lot of money invested in my game collection on Steam. I think it's a good service, and I am grateful to Valve for doing their part to making gaming on Linux more accessible (even though we all know they have ulterior motives for doing so).
I do, however, absolutely loathe the fact that my game collection is kept hostage by a piece of software I would LOVE to be able to get rid of.
Now, the huge majority of Steam users think it's fine; all they care about is being able to play their Counter-Strikes or DOTAs or what have you, without caring in the slightest about what's needed to make the Steam client work.
Being a software developer myself, I believe the solution here is straightforward:
You split the client up into a front and a backend. Let's call them steam-core and steam-ui, the latter being entirely optional.
Steam-core is an entirely UI-less command-line driven program; it contains all the functionality needed to download, update, backup/restore and launch games. (Basically steamcmd, but then fully functional).
Everything else - all the superfluous fluff - goes into steam-ui, which sits on top of steam-core.
Linux distros could then offer a steam-core and steam-ui package; and a meta one called 'steam', containing both.
Windows users would get offered the option to download either 'Steam' (default, recommended, contains both) or 'Steam core' (for power users only)
THAT is how Steam should work.
Now, for Linux, the immediate advantages would be:
You used to be able to launch the Steam client in minimal mode, without any web browsing functionality and other fluff entirely unnecessary to run games - but Valve took that away.
Why?
Is it because it threatened Gabe's side hustle of shoving game ads down our throat? Our selling our browsing behavior to third parties? He's got enough yachts already, doesn't he?
Do the right thing Valve, and separate the core from this godforsaken horrible client.
Thank you.