Launcher Builds

Manage launcher versions and distribution

Build, version, and distribute your custom launcher to players. 📦

---

Overview

Manage multiple launcher versions, track deployments, and control distribution.

---

Build Process

Creating a Build

Build Time:

• With Installer: ~7-10 minutes

• No Installer: ~3-5 minutes

Auto-build: Enable automatic builds when you change appearance or settings!

---

Version Management

Semantic Versioning

Launcher versions follow semantic versioning:

MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH
  1  .  2  .  3

Major: Breaking changes
Minor: New features
Patch: Bug fixes

Examples:

• 1.0.0 - Initial release

• 1.1.0 - Added Discord RPC

• 1.1.1 - Fixed crash bug

• 2.0.0 - Complete UI overhaul

---

Build Types

Production Builds

• ✅ Fully optimized

• ✅ Code signed

• ✅ Auto-update enabled

• ✅ Analytics included

• Secure

Use for:

• Official releases

• Public distribution

• Stable versions

Beta Builds

• Quick builds

• Not code signed

• ✅ Debug logging

• ✅ Fast iteration

Use for:

• Testing

• Beta testers

• Pre-release

Development Builds

• ⚡ Fastest builds

• ❌ No optimization

• ✅ Full debug info

• 🧪 Internal only

Use for:

• Local testing

• Development

• Debugging

---

Platform-Specific Builds

Build Configuration

Platform	Format	Size	Build Time
Windows	.exe installer	~50MB	5 min
macOS	.dmg / .pkg	~60MB	7 min
Linux	.AppImage	~55MB	5 min

---

Managing Builds

Builds Tab

Access the Builds Tab in your launcher settings to manage all launcher versions:

Dashboard → Launchers → Select Launcher → Builds Tab

Location: Find build management in the dedicated Builds tab, separate from general launcher settings.

Active Build Selection

IMPORTANT: After deploying a new launcher build, you must manually set it as the Active Build. This allows you to test changes before all users receive the update.

Setting an Active Build:

1. Navigate to the Builds Tab

2. Locate the build you want to activate

3. Click Set as Active

4. Users will now download this version

Safety Features:

• Cannot delete the currently active build

• ✅ Test builds before activating them

• View complete build history

• Roll back to previous versions if needed

Download Formats

Each build provides two download formats:

Format	Description	Use Case
Windows Installer (.exe)	Full installation package	Recommended for distribution
Portable ZIP	Compressed executable	Quick testing, portable use

Build Metrics

View detailed metrics for each build:

• ⏱️ Executable ZIP Upload Duration - Time to upload the ZIP file

• ⏱️ Installer Upload Duration - Time to upload the installer

• ⏱️ Total Build Time - Complete build process duration

• 📦 File Sizes - Size of each download format

• ⚙️ Configuration - Build settings and parameters

Visual Preview

See your launcher's branding directly in the build list:

• Launcher Icon - App icon preview

• Splash Screen - Loading screen preview

---

Distribution

Persistent Download URLs

NEW: Download links always point to the same URL, making distribution simple and consistent!

Latest Folder System:

The active build is automatically available at a persistent URL:

https://cdn.gamelauncher.cloud/Launchers/{LauncherID}/Builds/Latest/{LauncherName}_Executable_Windows_x64.zip
https://cdn.gamelauncher.cloud/Launchers/{LauncherID}/Builds/Latest/{LauncherName}_Installer_Windows_x64.exe

How It Works:

1. You activate a new build (e.g., Build 42)

2. Files automatically copied to /Latest/ folder

3. Download URLs remain the same

4. Users always get the active build

Benefits:

• ✅ Single Download Link - Share one permanent URL

• ✅ Always Current - Users download the active version automatically

• ✅ Easy Sharing - Copy button makes distribution simple

• ✅ CDN Powered - Fast global downloads via Cloudflare CDN

Copy to Clipboard

Use the Copy to Clipboard button for instant link sharing:

• One-click copy for both Installer and ZIP links

• Share links on your website, Discord, or social media

• No need to manually construct URLs

---

Auto-Update System

How It Works

Update Process:

1. 🔍 Launcher checks version on start

2. 📥 Download new version if available

3. ✅ Verify digital signature

4. 📦 Install update

5. 🔄 Restart launcher automatically

Seamless: Players get updates automatically without manual downloads!

Learn More: Check out How Updates Work for a detailed explanation of configuration updates vs. launcher deploys.

---

Best Practices

✅ Test Before Release

Always test beta builds before production

✅ Version Numbers

Follow semantic versioning consistently

✅ Changelog

Document changes for each version

✅ Monitor Analytics

Track adoption and issues post-release

---

Next Steps

⚙️ Launcher Settings

Configure launcher options

📰 Create News

Engage players with updates

📊 Analytics

Track launcher performance

---

Questions? Visit our documentation or join Discord!