Open-Source Steam client? :: Suggestions / Ideas

Judgmental Amaterasu Jul 11, 2022 @ 6:08pm

Why though?

#1

Thermal Lance Jul 11, 2022 @ 6:27pm

Originally posted by Glory:
Originally posted by Big Bridge.mp4:
Why though?
Because why not?

Because if there is no actual good reason why would anyone take that risk? Who know what people can find with source code access.

#2

Judgmental Amaterasu Jul 11, 2022 @ 6:32pm

Originally posted by Glory:
Originally posted by Big Bridge.mp4:
Why though?
Because why not?

That's not a reason to do something. If there's no tangible reason for it to happen, why suggest it?

"Hey guys lets put a steam engine in this car. Why? WHY NOT!"

Last edited by Judgmental Amaterasu; Jul 11, 2022 @ 6:33pm

#3

Yzal Jul 11, 2022 @ 6:33pm

Originally posted by Glory:
Originally posted by Big Bridge.mp4:
Why though?
Because why not?

"What could possibly go wrong?"

Last edited by Yzal; Jul 11, 2022 @ 6:36pm

#4

Quint the Alligator Snapper Jul 11, 2022 @ 7:06pm

Originally posted by Glory:
I think it would be pretty cool.

Yeah, it would be pretty cool.

#5

Brian9824 Jul 11, 2022 @ 7:22pm

Let's have glory pay us all a million dollars. I think it would be pretty cool...

#6

𒐪⎝ Epylector ⎠𒐪 Jul 11, 2022 @ 8:56pm

Fully agree. Wish that Steam's application was completely open-source.

Google did it and it helped reduce worries of it becoming a monopoly.

Steam does have some degree of monopolistic power, as much as I respect Steam. If Steam ever wants to reduce legal eyes, open-sourcing its application or at least some of its features would go a long way.

This would also greatly help Steam application modders and mods, such as Metro for Steam (popular dark-black better-organized Steam theme). Presently Metro for Steam is the only mod that appears to consistently work, in large part because it's really hard to modify Steam and account for changes because this application is not open-source.

#7

Black Blade Jul 12, 2022 @ 1:07am

In all honestly what dose Steam have that will benfit from open source?
The browser part is chromuim that is open source
What is left is VAC that you dont really want to open source as you make it easier to find work around it
Download system... whats new?
DRM, again not good for its use, open sourceing it makes it easier to attack it not so much to defend it (becouse more users have good reasons to break it then fix it)
So what part of the client being open source will help really?

And that beside the point of someone making an injection to put there own code into it, to help drain your money to buy them self gifts or something to steal your stuff

Overall seem more risk then worth
Beside that SteamOS is open soruce no?

Originally posted by 𒐪⎝ Epylector ⎠𒐪:
Fully agree. Wish that Steam's application was completely open-source.

Google did it and it helped reduce worries of it becoming a monopoly.

Steam does have some degree of monopolistic power, as much as I respect Steam. If Steam ever wants to reduce legal eyes, open-sourcing its application or at least some of its features would go a long way.

This would also greatly help Steam application modders and mods, such as Metro for Steam (popular dark-black better-organized Steam theme). Presently Metro for Steam is the only mod that appears to consistently work, in large part because it's really hard to modify Steam and account for changes because this application is not open-source.

Metro for Steam uses skins that is part of Steam client
They dont need to modify the client for it
The reason its hard is becouse the client keeps changing and volenters from the skin makers need to keep up to date with it, Steam being open source will not help on that

#8

grail Jul 12, 2022 @ 1:10am

Originally posted by Glory:
Originally posted by Big Bridge.mp4:
Why though?
Because why not?

Imagine the risks Valve would take from that...

#9

Cathulhu Jul 12, 2022 @ 1:36am

Steam already uses OpenSource software, like the Chromium Embedded Framework.

Keep in mind that even if they went "fully" open source, they'd still won't be able to provide source code for proprietary third party modules.

#10

Quint the Alligator Snapper Jul 12, 2022 @ 2:11am

Originally posted by Black Blade:
In all honestly what dose Steam have that will benfit from open source?

First, more effective skinning, since the source code would be there for people to see, rather than just needing people to poke at the client using trial-and-error.

Beyond that, there's the potential to do a bunch more useful customizations:
* Implementation of more display options, including but not limited to the reimplementation of List View, as well as various fixes and tweaks to the current Library UI.
* Improvements to Steam's handling of downloads and game launching, including an actual in-client way to launch games when updates are pending.
* Ability to integrate Steam game downloads into a greater variety of file locations.
* Ability to integrate various much-requested browser improvements to the Steam client, including tabbed browsing as well as various plug-ins (e.g. Augmented Steam). So this effectively also includes skinning of browser pages.
* Other interface changes such as making Steam more compatible with default OS UI elements.
* Making Steam more compatible with older OSes, so it can continue working on them even without official support.

...and much more.

So, you know about all those improvements people keep on asking Valve for for the Steam client? Many of them could become things that people could make themselves.

Last edited by Quint the Alligator Snapper; Jul 12, 2022 @ 2:12am

#11

nullable Jul 12, 2022 @ 6:18am

Originally posted by Glory:
Originally posted by Big Bridge.mp4:
Why though?
Because why not?

Open Source isn't some golden hammer. Not every piece of software lends itself to that paradigm.

Steam is about controlling users, protecting other proprietary software, it's one part DRM. None of those things lend themselves to Open Source Software very well, but they're core features of Steam.

And Valve is aware of Open Source Software, so you have to think if they had any interest in making an open source client, they might have done it by now. And every day they don't release one or enable that sort of thing tells you what their position is.

Last edited by nullable; Jul 12, 2022 @ 6:20am

#12

꧁✞ 𝕱𝖎𝖑𝖍𝖔 ✞ Jul 12, 2022 @ 6:24am

:)

#13

Quint the Alligator Snapper Jul 12, 2022 @ 12:23pm

Originally posted by Snakub Plissken:
None of those things lend themselves to Open Source Software very well, but they're core features of Steam.

It would be possible to make parts of the client open-source. Heck, for that matter, this is already the case to some extent -- as Black Blade pointed out, Chromium is open-source. But obviously, the Steam client (and its interface and workings) isn't just Chromium.

Originally posted by Snakub Plissken:
And Valve is aware of Open Source Software, so you have to think if they had any interest in making an open source client, they might have done it by now. And every day they don't release one or enable that sort of thing tells you what their position is.

While I don't expect Valve to actually make an open-source Steam client, I would also say that to be fair Valve Time is a thing.

#14

Sazzouu Jul 12, 2022 @ 12:31pm

Originally posted by Thermal Lance:
Who know what people can find with source code access.

People found enough already to get paid 50 grands by Valve even without any access to the source code. The only effect would be people finding stuff faster. In a short term that would hurt Valve a lot needless to say. But in the long run this would make the Steam Client cleaner in a faster timeframe

#15

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