Pros of HeroicGamesLauncher

• Dedicated launcher for Epic Games and GOG, providing a native interface for these platforms
• Supports cloud saves and syncing game progress across devices
• Offers wine/proton integration for running Windows games on Linux

Cons of HeroicGamesLauncher

• Limited to Epic Games and GOG platforms, while BoilR supports multiple launchers
• May require more system resources as a standalone application
• Less flexible in terms of integrating with existing Steam libraries

Code Comparison

HeroicGamesLauncher (TypeScript):

export const installGame = async (
  gameInstallParams: GameInstallParams
): Promise<void> => {
  const { appName, path, platformToInstall } = gameInstallParams
  // Installation logic here
}

BoilR (Go):

func (a *App) ImportGames(ctx context.Context) error {
    for _, importer := range a.importers {
        err := importer.Import(ctx)
        if err != nil {
            return fmt.Errorf("error importing games: %w", err)
        }
    }
    return nil
}

The code snippets show different approaches: HeroicGamesLauncher focuses on game installation for specific platforms, while BoilR emphasizes importing games from various sources into a unified library.

Pros of Playnite

• More comprehensive game library management with support for multiple platforms
• Rich feature set including game metadata scraping and customizable UI
• Extensible plugin system for additional functionality

Cons of Playnite

• Larger application size and potentially higher resource usage
• Steeper learning curve due to more complex features and options
• May be overkill for users only interested in Steam library management

Code Comparison

Playnite (C#):

public class Game : DatabaseObject
{
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public Guid PlatformId { get; set; }
    public List<Guid> GenreIds { get; set; }
}

BoilR (Go):

type Game struct {
    Name     string
    Platform string
    Genres   []string
}

Both projects handle game data, but Playnite's implementation is more complex, reflecting its broader scope and feature set. BoilR's simpler structure aligns with its focused approach on Steam library integration.

Pros of Lutris

• Broader game support, including non-Steam games and emulators
• More mature project with a larger community and extensive documentation
• Offers a graphical user interface for easier management

Cons of Lutris

• More complex setup and configuration process
• Heavier resource usage due to its comprehensive features
• Slower development cycle compared to BoilR

Code Comparison

BoilR (Go):

func (s *Steam) GetInstalledApps() ([]App, error) {
    apps := []App{}
    for _, libraryFolder := range s.libraryFolders {
        folderApps, err := s.getAppsInFolder(libraryFolder)
        if err != nil {
            return nil, err
        }
        apps = append(apps, folderApps...)
    }
    return apps, nil
}

Lutris (Python):

def get_installed_games(self):
    """Return the list of installed games."""
    return [
        game for game in self.games
        if game.get('runner') and game.get('installed') is True
    ]

The code snippets show different approaches to retrieving installed games. BoilR focuses on Steam libraries, while Lutris has a more generic approach for various game sources.

Pros of GameHub

• More comprehensive game management features, including library organization and game launching
• Supports a wider range of gaming platforms and stores
• Offers a full graphical user interface for easier navigation and management

Cons of GameHub

• Larger and more complex project, potentially requiring more system resources
• May have a steeper learning curve for users due to its extensive feature set
• Limited to Linux operating systems

Code Comparison

GameHub (C#):

public class Game : BaseObject
{
    public string name { get; set; }
    public string? description { get; set; }
    public GameSource? source { get; set; }
    public GameStatus status { get; set; }
}

BoilR (Go):

type Game struct {
    ID          string
    Name        string
    Hidden      bool
    Tags        []string
    LastPlayed  time.Time
    PlayTime    time.Duration
    ImageURL    string
    IconURL     string
}

Both projects define game structures, but GameHub's implementation is more detailed and object-oriented, while BoilR's is simpler and more focused on basic game information.

GameHub offers a more feature-rich experience for Linux users, with comprehensive game management capabilities. However, BoilR is a lighter, cross-platform solution focused specifically on adding non-Steam games to Steam. The choice between them depends on the user's needs and operating system.