How to use the command protontricks (with examples)

Protontricks is a simple wrapper that allows you to run Winetricks commands for Proton enabled games. It provides a convenient way to manage and configure games running on Proton. Whether you want to run the protontricks GUI, install specific packages for a game, or search for game App IDs, protontricks makes it easy.

Use case 1: Run the protontricks GUI

Code:

protontricks --gui

Motivation: Sometimes you might want a graphical user interface to interact with protontricks, especially if you prefer a visual representation over a command-line interface. This command launches the protontricks GUI, which provides a user-friendly way to manage Winetricks commands for Proton enabled games.

Explanation: The --gui option is used to run the protontricks GUI.

Example output: The protontricks GUI will open, allowing you to select and configure Proton enabled games.

Use case 2: Run Winetricks for a specific game

Code:

protontricks appid winetricks_args

Motivation: When you want to install specific packages or run Winetricks commands for a particular Proton enabled game, this use case comes in handy. It allows you to specify the appid (App ID) of the game along with the necessary winetricks_args (Winetricks arguments) to perform the desired tasks.

Explanation:

• appid: The App ID of the game for which you want to run Winetricks commands.
• winetricks_args: The Winetricks arguments to be passed for the specified game.

Example output: Running protontricks 123456 audio=alsa will execute the Winetricks command for the game with the App ID 123456, installing the Alsa audio package.

Use case 3: Run a command within a game’s installation directory

Code:

protontricks -c command appid

Motivation: In some cases, you might want to execute a specific command within the installation directory of a Proton enabled game. This use case allows you to run a command directly within the game’s installation directory, making it easier to perform game-specific tasks or configurations.

Explanation:

• -c command: The command to be executed within the game’s installation directory.
• appid: The App ID of the game.

Example output: Running protontricks -c "chmod +x game.sh" 123456 will run the chmod +x game.sh command within the installation directory of the game with the App ID 123456.

Use case 4: List all installed games

Code:

protontricks -l

Motivation: When you have multiple Proton enabled games installed, it can be helpful to have a list of all the games for easy reference. This command provides a convenient way to list all the installed games on your system.

Explanation: The -l option is used to list all installed games.

Example output:

Game 1 (AppID: 123456)
Game 2 (AppID: 789012)
Game 3 (AppID: 345678)

Use case 5: Search for a game’s App ID by name

Code:

protontricks -s game_name

Motivation: When you know the name of a game but are unsure of its App ID, this use case helps you find the App ID associated with the game. By searching using the game’s name, you can easily obtain the correct App ID for further actions.

Explanation:

• -s game_name: The name of the game you want to search for.

Example output:

Game: Example Game (AppID: 123456)

Use case 6: Show the protontricks help message

Code:

protontricks --help

Motivation: If you ever need a quick reference or guidance on how to use protontricks, this use case provides the help message. It displays information about protontricks’ usage, commands, and available options.

Explanation: The --help option is used to display the help message.

Example output: The help message displays detailed information about the available command-line options, usage, and examples of using protontricks.

Conclusion:

Protontricks is a valuable tool for managing and configuring Proton enabled games. With its different use cases, you can easily run the protontricks GUI, install specific packages for a game, search for game App IDs, and more. Understanding and utilizing these use cases will greatly enhance your ability to configure and optimize games running on Proton.