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Linux Setup

Note: Everything here should also work for L4D1 (1.0 or Newest), but is untested.

Method 1 (easy way, directly in the bat)​

Use this method unless you have a specific reason not to

  • Tested by Osku on Ubuntu 22.04 (Wayland) on 2024-11-08
  • Tested by Skytis on Kubuntu 24.04 LTS (x11) on 2024-11-08 with Proton 9.0-3
  • Tested by Skytis on Kubuntu 24.10 (Wayland) (clean install) on 2024-11-08 with Proton Experimental
  • Tested by Skytis on Kubuntu 24.04 LTS (x11) (clean install) on 2024-11-20 with Proton 9.0-3

Note: Skytis tried this previously (around July/August 2024) with aciidz' assistance and couldn't get it to work. Osku tried this on 2024-11-08 and it worked. Skytis tried it again the same day and it also worked for him. No idea why

Steps​

  • Acquire the desired old version of L4D2 from the L4D Speedrunning Discord (in this guide 2.0.0.0 is used), unzip somewhere
  • Acquire LiveSplit, unzip somewhere
  • Edit the Start L4D2.2000.bat to add LiveSplit to it
    • In this example you have a folder called "Games" which has the folders "L4D2 2.0.0.0" (this contains Start L4D2.2000.bat) and "livesplit" (this contains LiveSplit.exe)
    • Add these lines (adjust according to your folder structure/LiveSplit location)
      • cd ..
      • cd ..
      • start livesplit\Livesplit.exe
  • Add Start L4D2.2000.bat as Non-Steam game to Steam
    • Add some other .exe then edit it to point to the .bat since you can't add the .bat directly
  • Under Compatibility force a specific compatibility tool select a Proton version (I used 9.0-3)
  • Launch the bat-Steam-game
  • Wait for the game and LiveSplit to start
  • Verify that SST works (check for the console output or see if sst commands can be autocompleted)
    • If it crashes or SST doesn't work, use SST v0.5, v0.6-v0.8 don't work on Linux (v0.9 is not released as of 2024-11-20 but likely will work again)
  • Configure LiveSplit and verify that it works

Method 2 (complicated way, SteamTinkerLaunch)​

Use this method if method 1 doesn't work or if you know what you're doing and want to tinker with more stuff

Tested by Skytis on Kubuntu 24.04 LTS (x11) on 2024-11-02 with the latest versions of STL and pacstall available and proton-9.0-3c (via STL)

Steps​

  • Acquire the desired old version of L4D2 from the L4D Speedrunning Discord (in this guide 2.0.0.0 is used), unzip somewhere
  • Acquire LiveSplit, unzip somewhere
  • Install SteamTinkerLaunch https://github.com/sonic2kk/steamtinkerlaunch
    • It is not available via a native repository for (K)ubuntu. Install https://github.com/pacstall/pacstall and then run pacstall -I steamtinkerlaunch-git
      • UPPER CASE i (for install), NOT LOWER CASE L
  • Add STL as compatibility tool https://github.com/sonic2kk/steamtinkerlaunch/wiki/Steam-Compatibility-Tool
    • Should just need to run steamtinkerlaunch compat add
    • Restart Steam
  • Add Start L4D2.2000.bat as Non-Steam game to Steam
    • Add some other .exe then edit it to point to the .bat since you can't add the .bat directly
  • Under Compatibility force a specific compatibility tool: Steam Tinker Launch
  • Launch the bat-Steam-game
  • In the STL window click the MAIN MENU button (you have 2s to do this, then the game is automatically launched)
  • Click on GAME MENU
  • Turn on Use custom command
  • Custom command: Select your LiveSplit.exe
  • Enable Fork custom command
  • Disable Use Steam Linux Runtime with Custom Command
  • Enable Inject custom command
  • Click SAVE AND PLAY
  • Wait for the game and LiveSplit to start
  • Verify that SST works (check for the console output or see if sst commands can be autocompleted)
    • If it crashes or SST doesn't work, use SST v0.5, v0.6-v0.8 don't work on Linux (v0.9 is not released as of 2024-11-20 but likely will work again)
  • Configure LiveSplit and verify that it works
    • Skytis had it already set up before from testing other stuff, so if weird stuff happens to you when configuring, maybe launch LiveSplit by itself to configure it

Notes

  • If you quit the game first, LiveSplit freezes. You can just stop it via Steam
  • If you quit LiveSplit first, then the game, everything should properly be shut down
  • If you launch the bat-Steam-game and you don't get the STL launch dialog (where you can go to MAIN MENU), close LiveSplit and the game, then start Steam Tinker Launch (Settings) to edit stuff. It should have automatically selected the game you last launched (so the bat-Steam-game)
  • Fonts don't work correctly, so stuff looks a little weird
  • Sometimes LiveSplit doesn't start. No clue why

Credits​