LANCommander/README.md

LANCommander

Self-hosted game distribution - no internet required.

LANCommander is an open-source, self-hostable digital game platform. Host your own game library, distribute games across your local network, and let players browse and install from a polished desktop launcher. Originally built for LAN parties where internet access isn't available, but works anywhere you want a private game distribution platform.

Screenshots

Depot - browse by genre, popularity, and new releases	Game detail view with media, description, and play controls
Library shelf - your full game collection at a glance	Server admin dashboard - manage games, users, and settings

Features

Game Distribution

• Self-hosted game library - host and distribute games over your local network
• No internet dependency - all assets served locally, perfect for closed networks
• Multi-part archive uploads with chunked transfer for large games
• Automatic metadata lookup from IGDB and SteamGridDB (covers, icons, backgrounds)
• Redistributable management - bundle and auto-install Visual C++, .NET, DirectX, etc.

Desktop Launcher

• Polished game browser with depot storefront, library shelf, and search/filtering
• Download queue with progress tracking and install management
• Cloud saves - automatic backup and restore of game save files
• Auto-discovery - finds servers on your network via UDP beacon
• Media viewer - browse screenshots and video trailers for each game
• Discord Rich Presence integration
• Offline mode support

Server Administration

• Web-based dashboard built on ASP.NET Blazor
• User management with registration, approval workflows, and role-based access
• OpenID Connect authentication support
• PowerShell scripting - pre/post install, pre/post launch hooks with a built-in editor
• Dedicated server management with RCON support
• Play session tracking and statistics

Game Packaging

• Dedicated Packager tool with step-by-step wizard for creating game packages
• Automatic metadata lookup - search IGDB and auto-fill game details
• Registry capture and installer monitoring
• Direct upload to your LANCommander server

Developer SDK

• Published on NuGet - LANCommander.SDK
• Build custom clients and tools with the .NET SDK
• Full API access via dependency injection

Platform Support

Component	Windows	Linux	macOS
Server	x64, arm64	x64, arm64	x64, arm64
Launcher	x64, arm64	x64, arm64	x64, arm64
Packager	x86	-	-

Note: The launcher is primarily tested on Windows. Linux and macOS builds are provided but may have limited functionality.

Quick Start

Docker (Recommended)

A Docker image is available on Docker Hub:

services:
  lancommander:
    image: lancommander/lancommander:latest
    container_name: lancommander
    environment:
      - PUID=1000
      - PGID=1000
      - TZ=Etc/UTC
      # Uncomment the line below to install SteamCMD
      # - STEAMCMD=1
      # Uncomment the line below to install WINE
      # - WINE=1
    volumes:
      - /path/to/app/data:/app/Data
    ports:
      - 1337:1337/tcp   # Web interface
      - 35891:35891/udp # Beacon broadcast
      - 213:213/udp     # IPX relay
    restart: unless-stopped

All config and uploaded game archives are stored in /app/Data.

Standalone

Download the latest release for your platform from the Releases page. The server is a self-contained binary with no external dependencies beyond a supported OS.

SteamCMD Support

The Docker image supports optional SteamCMD installation. Set STEAMCMD=1 to enable it. SteamCMD will be installed in /app/Data/Steam with cached credentials persisted across container restarts.

WINE Support

Set WINE=1 to install WINE with wine32, wine64, and winetricks support in the Docker container.

Note: The Docker image runs the Linux build. Features such as server management may be limited.

FAQ

How do I get games?

LANCommander is a management and distribution platform; it does not come bundled with any games. The best candidates are portable, DRM-free, freeware, shareware, or abandonware titles. Join our Discord where the community shares pre-packaged freeware games.

I have a large LAN party planned. What about scaling?

LANCommander communicates over HTTP(S). All downloads are served through standard API routes (/api/Games/{id}/Download), making it compatible with reverse proxies and LAN caching solutions.

Where can I get help?

• Documentation: lancommander.app
• Community: Discord - the best place for help with the platform, scripting, and game packaging

How do I contribute?

See CONTRIBUTING.md for build instructions and contribution guidelines. If you're not a developer, contributing to the documentation is a great way to help.

Roadmap

The following features are being considered for future releases:

• Peer-to-peer file sharing of game files
• Built-in VPN client/server for remote LAN parties
• Integration with platforms such as Discord, TeamSpeak, Mumble

Community

• Discord - Discussion, support, and game sharing
• Documentation - Guides and reference

License

LANCommander is licensed under the MIT License.