r/linux_gaming • u/Drackrath • 16h ago
steam/steam deck Release of Aurelia v0.1.40: choose native or Proton build and Steam mode per launch, CLI/Terminal Steam launcher
I build Aurelia with a lot of AI assistance and review the code by hand. It's an unofficial beta, and it writes to Steam's files directly, so back up your Steam library first.
For anyone new: Aurelia is a command-line Steam launcher and backend for Linux and Windows. It has no CEF or WebView and uses under 50 MB of RAM when idle. It handles installs and updates, a Proton manager, downgrades, cloud saves, DLC, Workshop, and friends and chat. Every command takes --json, so other launchers can build on it.
What's new in v0.1.40
aurelia launch-targets <appid> lists every way an installed game can be started: the native Linux build, and the Windows build under Proton in each Steam mode. It shows the play flags for each one and marks the one plain play would choose. New play flags for a single launch.
--platform linux|windows(-t) runs the native build or the Windows build, overriding auto-detection.--platform linuxignores a pinned Proton version.--steam-mode runtime|host|none(-m) sets the Steam integration for a Windows build: the in-Wine Steam runtime, a bridge to your host Steam client, or standalone with no Steam. This mostly helps games where the native port is broken or behind the Windows version, and games whose DRM needs a particular Steam setup. Fix: executable names are now matched case-insensitively. Some games list their executable asGame.exewhile the file on disk isgame.exe, and launches failed on case-sensitive Linux filesystems. Aurelia now resolves the path regardless of case, and prefers an exact match when one exists.
Quick start
The usual setup: Install Steam as normal. Aurelia needs the Steam folders on your system. Install Aurelia in whichever of these ways suits you:
Arch: from the AUR with yay -S aurelia or paru -S aurelia.
Prebuilt files: download a binary or .deb from (https://github.com/Drackrath/Aurelia/releases/latest)
From source: git clone https://github.com/Drackrath/Aurelia.git && cd Aurelia && cargo build --release. The binary ends up in target/release/aurelia. The README / Wiki lists the system packages needed. Optionally, configure games to run with or without --steam. When a game needs Steam, Aurelia starts it silently in the background. You can skip this step: DRM games are detected automatically and get a silent Steam by default.
No Steam on the host? You can try the in-Wine Steam runtime instead. It's still a work in progress: the Steam login window inside Wine doesn't display on every system or account setup, and DRM games need it. Don't rely on it for stable gameplay yet.
aurelia proton install GE-Proton9-20
aurelia config steam-runtime-runner GE-Proton9-20
aurelia steam-runtime install
aurelia steam-runtime login
aurelia steam-runtime stop
aurelia config steam-runtime-policy on # or per game: aurelia config game <APPID> --steam-runtime on
aurelia play <APPID>
Known issues
Half-Life 1 and a few other very old games still don't work natively. Try --platform windows and see the Wiki.
Feedback
Bug reports are welcome, especially for Proton edge cases. If a game launches wrong, the output of aurelia launch-targets <appid> --json in the issue helps a lot.

