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Community
General discussionWe say goodbye to GOG Downloader(886 posts)(886 posts)
(886 posts)
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This is my favourite topic
Posted March 10, 2020
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WinterSnowfall: Since I don't think the GOGBear or his prophets will reply to your queries, I'm going to take a shot at some of the points you've raised :).
It's proper to reply to this. This development looks like a major regression, so if it's not, GOG can explain that, and if it is, they can explain what they are doing to address it.
Posted March 10, 2020
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shmerl: I didn't quite understand then. Is it possible or not? I.e. is enough of the Galaxy API exposed now for Linux builds to download anything, or not?
I haven't implemented any downloads via the APIs so far, so can't say for sure, but it should be possible. Worst case scenario it could be a freak combination of Galaxy APIs and the download links exposed by the website that gets it done.

Edit: I've checked the lgogdownloader source code and it's already using Galaxy APIs for installer downloads (I'm assuming this includes Linux, unless they were specifically excluded for some reason).

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shmerl: They surely planned to do it in the past, so that's how I see the announcement, decommissioning of the legacy API.
Ah... guess we'll see on the 17th of March.

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shmerl: It's proper to reply to this.
Never said you don't deserve an answer :).
Post edited March 10, 2020 by WinterSnowfall
Posted March 10, 2020
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Give us a "Galaxy Offline" alternative.

It could be a branch from GOG Galaxy removing the launcher, store and all social aspects, leaving only our library and backup installers / additional content.

Keep the search functions and applicable filter options. Hide/Remove everything else.

Simple enough, right?
Post edited March 11, 2020 by djdarko
Posted March 10, 2020
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chandra: After announcing that we’re ceasing the active development for GOG Downloader 6 years ago, the time has come to disable it. We put a lot of work into making GOG.COM an up-to-date place for gamers. Supporting GOG Downloader, which became an obsolete tool some time ago, simply does not go hand in hand with the goal we mentioned above.

In a week from now, we will deactivate GOG Downloader entirely, and it won’t be possible to download any files with it. As of the 17th of March, there will be two methods of downloading games from GOG.COM – via the browser or with the GOG GALAXY app. For more information on how to download your games and digital goodies go here.
I know we are a bunch of DRM hating hardasses over here but as long as they allow easy download of the installers without their client I have zero problems with a move like this.
Posted March 10, 2020
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I do use the GOG Downloader, as I find it the easier and most convenient way to download my games. However, it was already not being worked on by the time I registered my account, so this is not exactly a surprise. Still, it will be missed.

I don't think downloading directly through a browser will be much different, as told by my experience with games for which the GOG Downloader already doesn't work.

My two main reasons for using the GOG Downloader are:

1. It neatly organizes files in subfolders aptly named. I think I will be able to manage on my own for now on. ;)

2. You can download all files with just one click, useful with games with a lot of parts or bonus goodies. I hope a "Download all files" option is added for browser download.
Posted March 10, 2020
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DubConqueror: It surely upsets me. Downloading via the GOG Downloader is/was a lot more convenient than via the browser, where you have to select for download all files. With the GOG Downloader, you only have to select one file and all bin files of the installer will be downloaded automatically. And Galaxy is supposed to be optional (I don't even have it installed).
This is the first time I felt obliged to downvote an official post from GOG.
I wholeheartedly agree, GOG Downloader makes it all so simple - one click and everything downloads. Why it can't be available for those who want to use it is beyond me. GOG have not touched or updated it for years but it still works perfectly. The offline installers are still going to be there that GOG Downloader accesses so why drop it?

And the sad thing is it's also been the first time I've downvoted an official post too.
Posted March 10, 2020
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shmerl: What's the story with Linux games then? Will you start supporting Galaxy for them on the backend (i.e. provide Linux builds through Galaxy API) or you will again treat Linux users as second class citizens, forcing us to only use the browser (since lgogdownloader won't work either for Linux versions if I understand correctly, once you decommission the downloader Web API).

lgogdownloader supports Galaxy API already, but it's now only exposed for Windows builds of games. Linux builds are excluded from it. So if you don't plan to enable Galaxy API on the server for Linux builds, this announcement sounds like a pure regression for Linux users.
Removal of downloader api shouldn't affect lgogdownloader much.
lgogdownloader has used galaxy api for getting the download links since version 3.3 (only --update-check and --download-file options were using the old api)

I really need to make a new release sometime soon so people using "stable" versions of lgogdownloader won't be affected in any way.
Currently version 3.5 still uses old api for --download-file option but this has been changed to galaxy api in git.

I switched the last parts of downloader api usage to galaxy api in a884e8c
And then removed the downloader api and all references to it in 42c7188
and 8829f44 so the current git version uses only galaxy api.

The api for "installing" games (downloading individual game files) doesn't have server side support for Linux at the momen but lgogdownloader should start using without much problems as soon as GOG enables it.
That is if my assumption about the platform name used in the url is correct (using "linux" in url for linux builds)

edit: gog forum formatting for urls really sucks
Post edited March 10, 2020 by Sude
Posted March 10, 2020
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firstpastthepost: . What people typically mean is a client required to play the game, which isn't what the GoG downloader is. It's basically a download manager with a couple of other features, like update downloading and account notifications.
You're ignoring context also. Consider that Galaxy isn't needed to play the game either. I regularly launch the exe directly with games installed through Galaxy. Does that mean Galaxy is not a client as people mean?

When speaking on behalf of all people, don't wear blinders. Or just don't speak on behalf of others.


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teceem: No store has a "DRM-free delivery system". Without logging into an account, everybody could download ALL games for free. /end of all stores
In the context of GoG, DRM Free means the executable game files do not have any DRM that would prevent them from running. The store manages digital rights at some level, you are technically correct; But, there is and always has been context to what "DRM Free" means.
Post edited March 10, 2020 by flowwolf
Posted March 10, 2020
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Sude: The api for "installing" games (downloading individual game files) doesn't have server side support for Linux at the momen but lgogdownloader should start using without much problems as soon as GOG enables it.
That is if my assumption about the platform name used in the url is correct (using "linux" in url for linux builds)
So this means that Linux installers are already exposed by Galaxy API? That's good to know, thanks. Then indeed, I don't think this will change much.

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Sude: The api for "installing" games (downloading individual game files) doesn't have server side support for Linux at the momen but lgogdownloader should start using without much problems as soon as GOG enables it.
Since access to installers will remain through Galaxy, I assume lgogdownloader will continue to be able to use the pseudo-Galaxy installation method, using the zip offset hack in them?
Post edited March 10, 2020 by shmerl
Posted March 10, 2020
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firstpastthepost: Calling it a client may be accurate in one sense, but it's not really what most people mean when they talk about what a client is, at least not in the context I've seen on the forums. What people typically mean is a client required to play the game, which isn't what the GoG downloader is. It's basically a download manager with a couple of other features, like update downloading and account notifications.

Calling it a client kind of ignores the context of what people mean when they talk about clients.
Galaxy also isn't a client by that definition. It isn't required to play the games either. But people are going to grump and complain about something they won't use because "It's DRM" (it isn't) and glorify their download client that "isn't a client" (it is).
Posted March 10, 2020
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Will be missed by many, many of us.
Posted March 10, 2020
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Sude: The api for "installing" games (downloading individual game files) doesn't have server side support for Linux at the momen but lgogdownloader should start using without much problems as soon as GOG enables it.
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shmerl: Since access to installers will remain through Galaxy, I assume lgogdownloader will continue to be able to use the "pseudo"-Galaxy installation method, using the zip offset hack in them?
Yes.
MojoSetup hack using zip offsets will continue to work until GOG enables this part of the api for linux and I remove the code used for the hack.
Posted March 10, 2020
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firstpastthepost: Calling it a client may be accurate in one sense, but it's not really what most people mean when they talk about what a client is, at least not in the context I've seen on the forums. What people typically mean is a client required to play the game, which isn't what the GoG downloader is. It's basically a download manager with a couple of other features, like update downloading and account notifications.

Calling it a client kind of ignores the context of what people mean when they talk about clients.
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paladin181: Galaxy also isn't a client by that definition. It isn't required to play the games either. But people are going to grump and complain about something they won't use because "It's DRM" (it isn't) and glorify their download client that "isn't a client" (it is).
Galaxy is a very overloaded term, and GOG is using it for everything.

1. Galaxy is an HTTP service(s) that allows downloading games from GOG (including individual files for ability of incremental updates).
2. GOG calls their new downloading and updating manager (client) - "Galaxy", it's using #1.
3. Galaxy is also a service for multiplayer features (using UDP as far as I know).
4. Galaxy are client libraries used by GOG games in combination with #3, and they also rely on #1 through #2 for authentication purposes.

Making sense of what is meant when someone mentions just "Galaxy" can be pretty hard without enough context.
Post edited March 10, 2020 by shmerl
Posted March 10, 2020
high rated
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DubConqueror: It surely upsets me. Downloading via the GOG Downloader is/was a lot more convenient than via the browser, where you have to select for download all files. With the GOG Downloader, you only have to select one file and all bin files of the installer will be downloaded automatically. And Galaxy is supposed to be optional (I don't even have it installed).
This is the first time I felt obliged to downvote an official post from GOG.
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Pajama: I wholeheartedly agree, GOG Downloader makes it all so simple - one click and everything downloads. Why it can't be available for those who want to use it is beyond me. GOG have not touched or updated it for years but it still works perfectly. The offline installers are still going to be there that GOG Downloader accesses so why drop it?

And the sad thing is it's also been the first time I've downvoted an official post too.
There's another function of GOG Downloader that I'll dearly miss: because of the GOG Downloader I knew of this forum reply. When there's a reply or a game update, the GOG Downloader icon in the tray turns orange and if you open it, you can see if and how many forum replies or game updates there are and link you directly to the forum reply page or library.
Posted March 10, 2020
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firstpastthepost: . What people typically mean is a client required to play the game, which isn't what the GoG downloader is. It's basically a download manager with a couple of other features, like update downloading and account notifications.
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flowwolf: You're ignoring context also. Consider that Galaxy isn't needed to play the game either. I regularly launch the exe directly with games installed through Galaxy. Does that mean Galaxy is not a client as people mean?

When speaking on behalf of all people, don't wear blinders. Or just don't speak on behalf of others.
Don't be so obtuse. I never said I was speaking for everyone. I was speaking in terms of what my impressions of the general consensus seemed to be from comments I saw on the forum. I never said I spoke for anyone. I also never said anything about Galaxy, I was just speaking in general terms. Maybe I could have been more clear, but I thought I was being clear... apparently not.
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paladin181: Galaxy also isn't a client by that definition. It isn't required to play the games either. But people are going to grump and complain about something they won't use because "It's DRM" (it isn't) and glorify their download client that "isn't a client" (it is).
Again, I was speaking in general terms about what my impression of a general consensus on the forum is. And I wasn't talking about Galaxy. Obviously there are some people here who will complain about anything, or call any change they don't like DRM or some other thing they think is a terrible injustice.
Post edited March 10, 2020 by firstpastthepost
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This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussionWe say goodbye to GOG Downloader(886 posts)(886 posts)
(886 posts)