straywild Dedicated Server

This repository packages the headless straywild server produced by the main game project. Gameplay and networking code remain in the straywild repository so clients and servers use the same protocol implementation.

Production tags follow the coordinated straywild release train. Package a game release with the same vX.Y.Z-alpha tag checked out in this repository. The package manifest records both the exact game commit and the exact dedicated packaging commit; packaging refuses to run when its matching release tag does not point to the current commit.

Stage a build

Export the Linux Dedicated Server preset from the game project, then stage its executable and PCK with the exact game version and source commit:

game_commit="$(git -C ../straywild rev-parse HEAD)"
./scripts/stage-build.sh \
  ../straywild/builds/vX.Y.Z-alpha/server-linux-x86_64 \
  X.Y.Z-alpha \
  "${game_commit}" \
  ../straywild

The staged binaries under dist/ are release inputs and are intentionally not tracked by Git. dist/BUILD_INFO records the version, full game and packaging commits, export preset, platform, and binary hashes. Manifest version 3 also records the consolidated notice layout. Packaging refuses a version mismatch, packaging-tag mismatch, or failed internal checksum. Staging also requires the clean main game checkout at that exact commit and copies its authoritative licenses, attribution/provenance record, and font notices into the package. This repository does not maintain duplicate copies.

Create a deterministic native archive after staging:

./scripts/package-native.sh X.Y.Z-alpha

Install or update natively

The native archive contains its BUILD_INFO and internal checksums. Transfer both the archive and its adjacent .sha256 file, then install it:

sudo ./scripts/install-native-release.sh \
  packages/straywild-dedicated-server-X.Y.Z-alpha-linux-x86_64.tar.gz \
  packages/straywild-dedicated-server-X.Y.Z-alpha-linux-x86_64.tar.gz.sha256

Releases are immutable directories under /opt/straywild-server/releases. The installer verifies the outer archive hash, internal hashes, manifest, and platform before atomically changing /opt/straywild-server/current. When the sample systemd unit is already active, a failed start automatically restores the prior release. Manually return to the recorded previous release with:

sudo ./scripts/rollback-native.sh

Copy config/server.cfg.example to /etc/straywild-server.cfg and adjust the room name, UDP port, player limit, and public-listing preference. Set TZ in /etc/straywild-server.env to an IANA timezone such as America/New_York when the server's world should follow that region's wall clock and daylight-saving rules; the packaged default is UTC. The timezone must be present before the server process starts, so restart the service after changing it. Forward the configured UDP port through the host firewall and router when accepting Internet players.

The data directory contains the server identity and moderation state. Keep it persistent and back it up; replacing it changes the server fingerprint shown to returning players.

Configuration is applied in this order: config file, environment variables, then command-line overrides. Supported command-line options are --name, --bind, --port, --max-players, --data-dir, --discovery-url, --operators, --chat-log-path, --chat-logging, --no-chat-logging, --public, and --private. Value options use --option=value. Keep the first standalone -- shown above; it separates Godot engine flags from server flags.

Chat privacy

Chat logging is disabled by default. With the default configuration, chat is kept only in the connected player's current UI, is not replayed to players who join or reconnect, and is not written to disk. The live session's chat is destroyed when that session ends.

A dedicated-server operator can explicitly opt into logging by setting chat_logging=true under [privacy], setting straywild_CHAT_LOGGING=true, or passing --chat-logging. The optional chat_log_path, straywild_CHAT_LOG_PATH, or --chat-log-path setting must be an absolute path; it defaults to logs/chat.jsonl inside the configured data directory. Players joining a server with logging enabled receive an in-game privacy warning. The JSON Lines log contains UTC timestamps, player display names, and message bodies. Treat it as sensitive data and configure access, retention, and rotation deliberately.

Headless operators

Headless moderation is granted by authenticated player identity, never by a display name or shared password. A player can copy their complete 64-character fingerprint from Settings → Data & Identity → Copy Player Fingerprint.

Add trusted fingerprints to /etc/straywild-server.cfg:

[moderation]
operators=PackedStringArray("0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdef")

Alternatively, provide a comma-separated list through straywild_SERVER_OPERATORS or --operators=fingerprint1,fingerprint2. Configuration file values are overridden by the environment, then by the command line. Restart the server after changing the allowlist.

The server grants operator status only after the connecting player proves ownership of that exact identity key. Operators can kick, ban, unban, and clear shared session artwork through the in-game Players page. They cannot grant operator access, revoke another operator, or moderate another operator. Keep the server data directory persistent because it owns the server identity and stored bans.

Public listing requires the discovery URL and a publicly reachable ENet UDP port. Discovery makes a server findable but does not relay gameplay traffic.

For a systemd installation, create a dedicated straywild system user, install the sample configuration and environment files under /etc, and copy systemd/straywild-server.service to the system unit directory. The unit runs the atomic current release link and expects /var/lib/straywild-server to be writable by that user. When migrating an older direct-path installation, stop the service, run the installer once, replace/reload the unit, and then start it. After that one-time migration, future upgrades can be applied while the unit is running.

For a direct foreground run from staged build inputs:

./dist/straywildServer.x86_64 \
  -- \
  --config=/etc/straywild-server.cfg \
  --data-dir=/var/lib/straywild-server

Run with Docker Compose

./scripts/stage-build.sh \
  ../straywild/builds/vX.Y.Z-alpha/server-linux-x86_64 \
  X.Y.Z-alpha \
  "$(git -C ../straywild rev-parse HEAD)" \
  ../straywild
docker compose build
docker compose up -d

Set values such as straywild_SERVER_NAME, straywild_SERVER_PORT, straywild_SERVER_MAX_PLAYERS, straywild_SERVER_PUBLIC, TZ, and the optional comma-separated straywild_SERVER_OPERATORS in a local .env file. Chat logging remains off unless straywild_CHAT_LOGGING=true is explicitly set. The Compose service runs without Linux capabilities, uses a read-only root filesystem, and stores persistent state in a named volume.

Steam distribution

Publish the server as a separate Steam Tool AppID/depot linked to the base game. Replace the placeholders in copies of the files under steam/, then use SteamCMD to upload the staged dist/ directory. Keep the example files free of private Steam credentials.

Licensing

Project-owned source code in this packaging repository and the packaged game server code are licensed under GPL-3.0-or-later. Every binary package includes the license and a corresponding-source record for its exact game commit.

The server PCK contains straywild creative assets and third-party material. Their governing terms, credits, and provenance are maintained once in the main game's docs/ATTRIBUTION.md, with the asset license and trademark terms beside that record. Every staged server package copies those files from its exact game source commit.

Unsolicited contributions are not accepted; see CONTRIBUTING.md. Historical and expressly invited work is governed by CONTRIBUTOR-TERMS.md.

Copyright © 2026 Woofmeow.