reverse-engineering the client possible?

[[bin]zwieda]

It may sound crazy at first sight, what´s coming next...
But what are the most basically needed/used functions, we need from a steam client?

(1) installing already purchased games from regional selectable steam servers
(new purchases can be done via a webbrowser)
(2) uninstalling games
(3) syncing savegames between the steam cloud and the local disk
(4) some layout(s) to browse the game library
(5) using categories to structure the library
(6) maybe showing game achievements
(not sure, how "important" this really is to people)

Maybe it´s just too much wishful thinking, but do you guys think, it´s possible for one of you software cracks, to create a new kind of client, which can deliver the upper 5 to 6 functions, using steam infrastructure (steam servers to download games from, sync savegames with, ...) and their DRM? So, not to invent the wheel again from scratch, using their infrastructure, where possible, but avoiding their painful client in general?

I have way too little idea about coding in general, so i can´t really tell, how realistic this would be, but maybe a combination of a self-developed slim-lined basic client for game management and just using a standard web browser with some helpful add-ons to block f.e. animations could be the solution to find out of this "dead end road".

And as my creative mind is running in hyperspeed: could this mentioned slim-lined client maybe be having a GUI, which is displayed via a webbrowser, too, to integrate the other steam-content (like forums, storefront, ...) and the client together into one overall interface? Like operating a cteam client via webbrowser, offering all functionality for users?

Well, maybe the latter one will be a bit too much "over the top", but i needed to ask you guys, what YOU think...

[Rokonuxa]

afaik, this is EXACTLY the kinda thing that terms of service order you not to do. This could be a step too far.

[GogoVan]

Add me and i will tell you about some solution.
Cause i kinda afraid of posting this kind of information on steam forum.

[tyl0413]

Sounds like a pretty easy way to have your account nuked.

[Tharon]

Retroenginering the client will be difficult, in violation of the TOS, not legal and finally (and fortunately) not needed.

Procedures of Steam inside Steamclient.dll are exposed, so it's possibile to call them with a third party software. m4dEngi already did it with his CLI launcher for Steam games.
Building a different client for Steam games without have to retroengine Steam is totally possibile, the only request is to have an updated Steam installation and being properly logged offline on Steam (Steam doesn't need to be running).

Your points 1,2,4 and 5 are all doable, don't know about 3 and 6.

[tyl0413]

Originally posted by Tharon:

Your points 1,2,4 and 5 are all doable, don't know about 3 and 6.

There are 3rd party programs out there that manage Steam Cloud so that should be possible too.