LinuxGSM

LinuxGSM (Linux Game Server Manager) is a lightweight, Bash‑based command‑line utility that abstracts the complexities of deploying and maintaining dedicated game servers on Linux. From a developer’s standpoint, it functions as an orchestrator: it downloads the appropriate SteamCMD packages, resolves platform‑specific dependencies, injects configuration templates, and exposes a unified API surface for start/stop, monitoring, and backup operations. The tool is intentionally stateless beyond the server’s own data directory, making it ideal for scripted or containerized environments where repeatable deployments are required.

Architecture

• Language & Runtime: Pure Bash (POSIX‑compatible) with a handful of auxiliary scripts in sh and bash. The core logic lives in the linuxgsm.sh entry point, which sources modular command scripts (install, update, monitor, etc.).
• Dependency Management: Relies on SteamCMD for server binaries, and a dynamic dependency resolver that queries each game’s install page to fetch required packages (e.g., lib32gcc-s1, screen).
• Data Layer: No external database; state is persisted in per‑server directories under ~/servers/<servername>. Metadata files (JSON/YAML) hold version, configuration, and health status.
• Networking: Uses simple TCP/UDP checks for monitoring and can expose webhooks via optional curl calls to external services (Slack, Discord).

Core Capabilities

• Installation & Updates: One‑liner commands (./<gameserver> install, ./<gameserver> update) that handle SteamCMD synchronization, patching, and optional mod support.
• Monitoring & Alerts: Built‑in health checks (CPU, RAM, disk I/O) with configurable thresholds; can trigger email or webhook notifications.
• Console & Remote Control: Provides a TTY console (./<gameserver> console) that can be forwarded to SSH or integrated with tmux/screen.
• Backup & Restore: Snapshot utilities that archive world files and configuration, optionally pushing to S3 or a remote rsync target.
• Extensibility: Developers can drop custom scripts into the scripts directory; each script receives environment variables (e.g., $SERVERDIR, $GAME) and can hook into lifecycle events via the action variable (pre_install, post_update).

Deployment & Infrastructure

• Self‑Hosting: Requires a standard Linux distribution (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS) with Bash ≥ 4.0 and SteamCMD installed.
• Containerization: The stateless nature of LinuxGSM makes it straightforward to run inside Docker or Kubernetes. A typical container mounts a host volume for persistent server data, while the image contains only the Bash scripts and SteamCMD binaries.
• Scalability: Each game server instance is isolated in its own directory, enabling horizontal scaling across multiple hosts or pods. The tool’s monitoring can feed into Prometheus exporters for cluster‑wide observability.

Integration & Extensibility

• Plugins: Although not a plugin framework per se, LinuxGSM’s script hooks allow developers to inject custom logic (e.g., auto‑scaling, CI/CD pipelines).
• APIs & Webhooks: Exposes simple HTTP endpoints via optional curl calls; developers can build a lightweight REST wrapper to integrate with existing Ops tools.
• Customization: Configuration templates are shipped as config_<game>.sh files; overriding defaults is as simple as editing the template or providing a custom config file in the server directory.

Developer Experience

• Documentation: Comprehensive guides on docs.linuxgsm.com cover command usage, dependency resolution, and advanced scripting.
• Community: Active Discord channel and GitHub issues provide rapid support; contributors can fork the repository, add new game scripts, or improve existing ones.
• Licensing: MIT License ensures no restrictions on commercial use, making it suitable for both hobby and enterprise deployments.

Use Cases

• DevOps Pipelines: Automate server spin‑up in CI/CD workflows, run integration tests against a fresh instance.
• Game Hosting Providers: Offer customers instant server provisioning with minimal manual intervention.
• Modding Communities: Deploy modded servers (e.g., Rust, Ark) with pre‑configured dependency lists and backup schedules.
• Educational Environments: Quickly set up isolated game servers for workshops or classroom labs without exposing users to complex installation steps.

Advantages

• Performance: Minimal runtime overhead; Bash scripts execute quickly and do not introduce a heavy process.
• Flexibility: Supports over 140 games, each with its own tailored install logic.
• Licensing & Open Source: MIT License and a vibrant contributor base mean you can fork, modify, or extend without legal friction.
• Simplicity: One‑command install/update reduces the learning curve for new developers and sysadmins alike.

LinuxGSM delivers a developer‑friendly, scriptable interface to the world of Linux game servers, combining ease of use with deep control over every aspect of server lifecycle management.