Is there anything else besides workshop that would be downloading faster with server?

[DarkMind187]

Hey, guys, I need players download content from server.
Is there anything else besides workshop that players would download faster and easily with server?
I know about sv_downloadurl which could able to players download files from url direcotory. What can you say about bzip2 packing of content? Is there better analog?

[editline]20th April 2017[/editline]

Also what about .vpk packaging? It should works fine with FastDL? And if it works: is this a better analog of bzip2?

[YourStalker]

You're three options for automatic file downloading are ServerDL, FastDL, and WorkshopDL. ServerDL isn't used anymore and is absolutely awful by today's standards. FastDL is easier for server owners to add/remove files, supports FastDL, is compressed with bz2, and can be hooked up to a CDN if you know what you're doing. WorkshopDL is also compressed very well, is supported by Steam's CDN, and can download three files concurrently when joining a server. WorkshopDL also allows developers to change stuff like material names without needing to rename them from users to see the changes and can override default gmod files.

Overall your best bit is sticking with WorshopDL since it is automatically on Steam's CDN, can download three files at once, is compressed well, and better to make revisions with. The downsides to it is that can be annoying to update and that you'll have to split your files into 200mb chunks.

[DarkMind187]

[QUOTE=YourStalker;52126082]You're three options for automatic file downloading are ServerDL, FastDL, and WorkshopDL. ServerDL isn't used anymore and is absolutely awful by today's standards. FastDL is easier for server owners to add/remove files, supports FastDL, is compressed with bz2, and can be hooked up to a CDN if you know what you're doing. WorkshopDL is also compressed very well, is supported by Steam's CDN, and can download three files concurrently when joining a server. WorkshopDL also allows developers to change stuff like material names without needing to rename them from users to see the changes and can override default gmod files.

Overall your best bit is sticking with WorshopDL since it is automatically on Steam's CDN, can download three files at once, is compressed well, and better to make revisions with. The downsides to it is that can be annoying to update and that you'll have to split your files into 200mb chunks.[/QUOTE]

Yeah, WorkshopDL is good method of downloading too, but it has some awful bugs: sometimes it crash clients when they download something a very long time; after crash clients must download everything from 0%, not from that percents where they were stopped; any other community can steal your content, re-construct it and use for their objectives (what not good for community that original owner of this content).

So, FastDL is better, I guess.

Are there any methods of compression files a little bit better then bzip2? And is it possible to compress files twice or more times with other compressors?

If you have any info about this can you share with me?
I'll be very grateful to you. ;)

[MeepDarknessM]

[QUOTE=DarkMind187;52127422]Yeah, WorkshopDL is good method of downloading too, but it has some awful bugs: sometimes it crash clients when they download something a very long time; after crash clients must download everything from 0%, not from that percents where they were stopped; any other community can steal your content, re-construct it and use for their objectives (what not good for community that original owner of this content).

So, FastDL is better, I guess.

Are there any methods of compression files a little bit better then bzip2? And is it possible to compress files twice or more times with other compressors?

If you have any info about this can you share with me?
I'll be very grateful to you. ;)[/QUOTE]

No, use higher bzip2 settings if you want.

[editline]a[/editline]

And you realize Workshop is the same as FastDL right? It does the same exact stuff.