How to use the command steamcmd (with examples)

Steamcmd is a command-line version of the Steam client that allows users to install or update Steam applications, games, and servers. This powerful tool provides a way to automate the installation and configuration process, making it ideal for developers and system administrators.

Use case 1: Install or update an application anonymously

Code:

steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update appid +quit

Motivation:

The motivation for using this example is to install or update a Steam application without the need for a Steam account. This can be useful when setting up a game server or testing an application quickly.

Explanation:

• steamcmd: This is the command that launches the steamcmd tool.
• +login anonymous: This argument allows users to log in to Steam anonymously without a username or password.
• +app_update appid: This argument specifies the ID of the application you want to install or update. Replace appid with the actual application ID.
• +quit: This argument closes the steamcmd tool after the installation or update is complete.

Example output:

Redirecting stderr to '/home/steam/Steam/logs/stderr.txt'
[  0%] Checking for available updates...
[----] Verifying installation...
Steam Console Client (c) Valve Corporation
-- type 'quit' to exit --
Loading Steam API...OK.

...

Use case 2: Install or update an application using the specified credentials

Code:

steamcmd +login username +app_update appid +quit

Motivation:

The motivation for using this example is to install or update a Steam application using specific user credentials. This can be useful when you want to use a specific Steam account to install or update the application.

Explanation:

• steamcmd: This is the command that launches the steamcmd tool.
• +login username: This argument allows users to log in to Steam using a specified username. Replace username with the actual username.
• +app_update appid: This argument specifies the ID of the application you want to install or update. Replace appid with the actual application ID.
• +quit: This argument closes the steamcmd tool after the installation or update is complete.

Example output:

Redirecting stderr to '/home/steam/Steam/logs/stderr.txt'
[  0%] Checking for available updates...
[----] Verifying installation...
Steam Console Client (c) Valve Corporation
-- type 'quit' to exit --
Loading Steam API...OK.

...

Use case 3: Install an application for a specific platform

Code:

steamcmd +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows +login anonymous +app_update appid validate +quit

Motivation:

The motivation for using this example is to specify the platform for which you want to install the Steam application. This can be useful when you are running steamcmd on a different platform than the one you want to install the application for.

Explanation:

• steamcmd: This is the command that launches the steamcmd tool.
• +@sSteamCmdForcePlatformType windows: This argument forces the platform type to be Windows. Replace windows with the desired platform (macos, linux, etc.).
• +login anonymous: This argument allows users to log in to Steam anonymously without a username or password.
• +app_update appid validate: This argument specifies the ID of the application you want to install or update. Replace appid with the actual application ID. The validate option ensures that the installation is validated.
• +quit: This argument closes the steamcmd tool after the installation or update is complete.

Example output:

Redirecting stderr to '/home/steam/Steam/logs/stderr.txt'
[  0%] Checking for available updates...
[----] Verifying installation...
Steam Console Client (c) Valve Corporation
-- type 'quit' to exit --
Loading Steam API...OK.

...

Conclusion:

Steamcmd is a versatile command-line tool that provides powerful options for installing and updating Steam applications, games, and servers. With its ability to automate the installation process and support for different platforms, it is an invaluable tool for developers and system administrators. Whether you need to install an application anonymously or using specific credentials, steamcmd has got you covered.