Installation

Learn how to install and configure Plugify as a standalone launcher for modding projects.

This guide will walk you through the installation process for S2-Launcher, a standalone launcher for S2-Launcher. Unlike MM-Loader, S2-Launcher does not require Metamod and is designed to run the game while injecting Plugify directly. Follow the steps below to get everything set up.

Prerequisites

Download S2-Launcher

Download the latest version of S2-Launcher from our download page:
S2-Launcher Download.

Installation Steps

Extract S2-Launcher

Extract the downloaded archive into your game’s installation folder. For example, if your game is installed at ../Counter-Strike Global Offensive, extract the files there.

After extraction, your folder structure should look like this:

Use S2-Launcher

Instead of running the game’s main executable (cs2.exe or cs2), use the S2-Launcher (s2launcher.exe or s2launcher) to start the game. The launcher will automatically inject Plugify into the game process.

On Windows:

  1. Navigate to the bin/win64 folder.
  2. Run s2launcher.exe instead of cs2.exe.

On Linux:

  1. Navigate to the bin/linuxsteamrt64 folder.
  2. Run ./s2launcher instead of ./cs2.

Validate the Installation

To ensure that Plugify has been installed correctly, open the in-game console and type the following command:

plg --version

This will display the current version of Plugify running in your game.

Install Plugins and Language Modules

After validating that Plugify is working correctly, you'll need to install plugins and language modules to start developing and running plugins.

Install Basic Source 2 Plugins

These are the essential plugins required for developing Source 2 plugins. Open the in-game console and run:

# Install C++ language module (required to run C++ plugins)
mamba install -n modules -c "https://untrustedmodders.github.io/plugify-module-cpp/" plugify-module-cpp

# Install plugin configuration support
mamba install -n plugins -c "https://untrustedmodders.github.io/plugify-plugin-configs/" plugify-plugin-configs

# Install PolyHook for function hooking
mamba install -n plugins -c "https://untrustedmodders.github.io/plugify-plugin-polyhook/" plugify-plugin-polyhook

# Install Source 2 SDK plugin (provides Source 2 game functions)
mamba install -n plugins -c "https://untrustedmodders.github.io/plugify-plugin-s2sdk/" plugify-plugin-s2sdk

What these plugins do:

  • plugify-module-cpp: Language module that allows you to run C++ plugins
  • plugify-plugin-configs: Provides configuration file support for plugins
  • plugify-plugin-polyhook: Enables function hooking capabilities
  • plugify-plugin-s2sdk: Core plugin with many Source 2 engine functions and utilities

Install Additional Language Modules (Optional)

If you want to develop plugins in languages other than C++, install the corresponding language module:

# For C# plugins
mamba install -n modules -c "https://untrustedmodders.github.io/plugify-module-dotnet/" plugify-module-dotnet

# For Python plugins
mamba install -n modules -c "https://untrustedmodders.github.io/plugify-module-python3/" plugify-module-python3

# For JavaScript plugins
mamba install -n modules -c "https://untrustedmodders.github.io/plugify-module-v8/" plugify-module-v8

# For Go plugins
mamba install -n modules -c "https://untrustedmodders.github.io/plugify-module-golang/" plugify-module-golang

# For Lua plugins
mamba install -n modules -c "https://untrustedmodders.github.io/plugify-module-lua/" plugify-module-lua

Choose only the language modules you need for your development.

Verify Installed Plugins

Check that your plugins and modules are installed by running in the console:

plg modules
plg plugins

This will show all installed plugins and their status.

Video Tutorial

TODO
A video tutorial will be added here soon to provide a visual guide for the installation process.

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

  1. Game Fails to Start:
    • Ensure that s2launcher.exe (or s2launcher on Linux) is located in the same folder as the game’s main executable.
    • Verify that you have the correct permissions to run the launcher.
  2. Plugify Commands Not Working:
    • Ensure that the launcher is running and that Plugify has been injected successfully.
    • Check the game’s console for any error messages related to Plugify.
  3. Missing Files:
    • Verify that all files were extracted correctly and that the folder structure matches the example above.
  4. Dedicated Server Not Starting:
    • If you are running a dedicated server, ensure that you provide the same arguments to s2launcher.exe (or s2launcher) as you would to cs2.exe (or cs2). For example:
    s2launcher.exe -dedicated -console -usercon +game_type 0 +game_mode 1 +map de_dust2

    This ensures that the launcher passes the correct parameters to the game executable.
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Overview
Plugify can run as a standalone game launcher, executing the game directly while loading custom plugins, without relying on MetaMod.
Building
Step-by-step guide on compiling Plugify as a standalone modding tool.