I'm a bit puzzled by that. First you seem to be suggesting that the same delta patches that Galaxy users get(?) would somehow appear automatically also for people who want offline installers (as separate offline patches)... but then you suggest there would still be some kind of specific client you'd have to use in order to get them?

Would that "client-lite" delta-update only your installed GOG games, or would it provide offline update installers for your GOG game installers? If the latter, why would one need to use a client-lite for that purpose? I think the current complaint is that people who want to use e.g. their mere browser to get their GOG games, don't always get such patches.

I see the suggestion for "client-lite" problematic to GOG as it would introduce yet another option that GOG would have to support, on top of the existing options (Galaxy users, and people who want to download offline installers).

i have a datacap and im ok with a fully patched game... it keeps my collection nice and tidy... for now i check magog first to see if ai need a patch or not, if not i wait, if its substantial i grab it...

that said i only do a full archive update twice a year for backup purposes... so it doesn't effect me much, Galaxy does a fantastic day to day job.. and after an initial download I'm fine using galaxy for all my updating needs.

Keeping in mind that I'm no technical whiz on this stuff...

A download client wouldn't necessarily have to be something separate to support. We can obtain stripped down things all the time, such as device drivers and antivirus software, offered in big and small packages for the same product family - they have the basic functions down pat but one can opt up to a more feature-rich version of the same package; For example, I did this the week before last, to get a basic printer driver and software instead of the full-blown package at nearly 4x the size. Printer works fine, the provider is supporting the same product with the same drivers, and I save time, space, and hassle while still using the product as intended. So I'm thinking of (again, not being a software tech whiz) a slice of the Galaxy code that handles the downloading duties without all the other stuff. It wouldn't be invented from scratch, but instead snipped out of the existing client and given a front end.

If it's not possible then it's not possible (and even if it is possible with little hassle on their end, I'm not holding my breath). But it's something I'd like to see. And as we're pushed toward a client-based future (which is what this feels like to some of us), well, if I have to have a client then I want a version as stripped down as possible, to do the one thing - out of the all the 13 major features listed on the Galaxy sales pitch - that I, personally, would need out of it, which is the one thing that the store must do for its customers: provide access to the installers and updates for the purchased products. If a client is the only possible way to provide the small updates, then why not offer a stripped version that does just that for those who only need that one thing: getting installers and updates?

As mentioned, I'm not holding my breath. There is mention of it being modified by users, so maybe someone outside gOg will come up with something.

I'm still trying to understand what are those downloading duties that you'd be happy with. These are the different ways you can currently download your GOG games:

1. Downloading of standalone offline installers (and separate update installers, for those games that have them; e.g. Titan Quest doesn't seem to provide such while many other games do).

It is essential to understand here that it is not really important which client or tool you use to download these installers, you'll still have exactly the same installers (and update installers, if available). No matter whether you use Galaxy's backup function, or the old GOG Downloader client, or your favorite internet browser, or gogrepo.py, or or or. The tool might be different, but you end up with exactly the same installer files.

2. Letting a client (Galaxy) download and install a GOG game for you, Steam-style. Apparently the meaning also is that Galaxy can delta-update those GOG games that you've installed with it at any given time (not sure if Galaxy is currently supporting this). In this case you don't have the standalone offline installer, the Galaxy client dowloaded and installed the game files in a different way. Of course you can still download the installer too, but you don't need it for the game to function, it is already there.

So when you say you want a lightweight client that does the download duties, are you referring to 1, or 2, or both?


Regardless of that, if you'd like to download e.g. the Titan Quest offline installer with that client, you'd still have to redownload it fully each time it is updated, as long as GOG/the publisher is not offering separate patches for the offline installer. However, the client might be able to delta-update your existing Titan Quest installation (not the installer).

The point of this thread, and the related wishlist item, was those offline installers which sometimes don't get separate update installers. So even if there would be a lightweight client that can achieve 1 and/or 2, the original problem would still remain: no small update installers for e.g. Titan Quest.

1, to get the small updates that are currently restricted to the do-everything client, without the need for the full client that I - for now, anyway - don't particularly want or need beyond that one function. I already use the Downloader for most large downloads, and often use the browser for small games (usually DOS-based), small updates, and manuals.
Yes, I understand that is exactly the point: no Galaxy = big downloads for really small updates for some games. Precisely my gripe. And my later point is that if we're going to be herded into use of a client, then I'd appreciate it if the store would remember that a good number of us voted "no" when they asked, and give us something that does that one basic function easily and without the full-blown Galaxy experience. That's it: if we are eventually stuck with a client, then please offer client-lite for those who don't want or need all the fluff and problems that come with the big client. Essentially a Downloader-esque bit of software - using a portion of Galaxy that is already written - that will do the delta patch thing and make it easy to get the large offline installers.

Ok I guess it is clearer then. If I understood you right, you are generally fine with how Galaxy works and you could live with the current level of service (e.g. that games like Titan Quest receive only full updates for the offline installers, but delta patches can be received when using the client to update/play your installed game): your main gripe is that you feel Galaxy is too big in size nowadays with too many features (multiplayer? achievements? etc.).

I personally don't care that much how big or small the client itself is, as long as it works for my purposes and that it is optional (at least for installing and playing the game; I guess I could live with having to use a client to _download_ my games; after all a web browser is kind of a client in itself, with which you have to log into your GOG account to download installers).

I wouldn't give up hope, but I would keep providing feedback.

I use Galaxy and it's not even close to finished yet. They've a lot of work to do imo.

Anyone got INSIDE & uses galaxy?

That just got another full DL with no patches for offline versions.

Grim Dawn joins the list of full DL for a tiny patch/update.

128mb "patch" on steam, roughly 3gb here...

Another reason why I don't use Galaxy (yet?)

Just as I thought, it's not the devs/publishers stopping the smaller patches on gog (at least not in all cases...), it's gog themselves.

We talked to GOG and that appears to be the intended way to install this patch.
With the number of patches the game had, they decided to consolidate it all. I believe the incremental patches will continue with future updates though.

You could create a GOGMix for this as constructive criticism (similar to the "second-class citizens" mix).

Galaxy will continue to rest in development alpha hell if they refuse to put in basic features like this. Seriously, not even early adopters will ever try it out without something as basic as independently downloaded patches. I'd much rather have some money thrown at the downloader so it can play track hours and be less buggy.