Why would the CEF be needed for in-game content?

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Which library/libraries and programming language(s) do the Steam website and client use?
The Steam website and client primarily use web technologies for the website such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. They also use various JavaScript frameworks and libraries, notably AngularJS, for building their web applications.

The Steam client, however, is built using a combination of different technologies. The majority of the client’s functionality is written in C++ and it also utilizes the Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) for rendering web content within the client. CEF allows the client to display web-based components using the same technology as web browsers.

In addition, the Steam client incorporates other libraries for specific functions, such as OpenSSL for security and encryption, SQLite for database management, and various graphics libraries for rendering images and UI components.
Do please consider the Steam client to be heavy? If so and they are right, why is it heavy?
Yes, the Steam client is considered to be relatively heavy compared to other software applications. There are a few reasons for its heavier resource usage:

1. Feature-Rich: The Steam client is packed with numerous features and functionalities, such as game downloads, updates, social features, community integration, chat functionality, and game management. These features require significant system resources to operate smoothly, which can contribute to the overall heaviness of the client.

2. User Interface: Steam has a visually rich and dynamic user interface with various animations, transitions, and graphical elements. These graphical features can consume additional resources, especially on older or lower-end hardware, making the client feel heavier.

3. Web Integration: The Steam client heavily integrates web-based content, including web pages, community forums, and in-game overlays. This integration relies on Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) to render web content seamlessly. The process of rendering web-based components within the client can be resource-intensive.

4. Background Processes: Steam runs several background processes, such as automatic updates, game synchronization, and system monitoring. These processes can contribute to the client’s overall resource usage, making it feel heavier.

It’s worth noting that the heaviness of the Steam client can vary depending on the system specs and performance. On high-end systems, the heaviness might not be as noticeable, but on lower-end or older hardware, it can lead to slower performance.
Is it considered to not be significantly heavier than other game clients?
Steam is generally considered to be on par with, or slightly heavier than, other game clients in terms of resource usage. Many game clients, such as Epic Games Store, GOG Galaxy, or Ubisoft Connect, also have feature-rich interfaces and integration with various services. These clients typically require a certain level of system resources to provide their functionalities effectively.

Different game clients may have variations in resource usage based on factors like the specific features offered, the efficiency of the underlying code, and the integration with other services. However, the resource requirements of most game clients tend to be in a similar range.

It’s important to note that the perceived heaviness can also depend on individual system specifications and performance. Some users may find certain game clients lighter or heavier based on their hardware capabilities or personal preferences.
Does the Steam client still use a lot of resources when a game it launched is running?
The resource usage of the Steam client can vary depending on several factors, such as the specific game being played, system specifications, and settings. Once a game is launched and running, the Steam client typically transitions into a more streamlined state, focusing its resources on managing and providing necessary services for the game.

In general, the Steam client’s resource usage while a game is running tends to be lower compared to when the client is idle or performing other tasks. However, certain functionalities like in-game overlays, community features, and chat may still be active, potentially consuming additional system resources.

It’s worth mentioning that the specific resource impact can vary based on the game itself. Some games may put more strain on system resources, which can indirectly affect the overall resource usage of the Steam client.

If you are looking to optimize resource usage while gaming, Steam provides options to disable certain client features during gameplay. These settings can help reduce resource consumption and potentially improve game performance.
What’s the heaviest part of the Steam client?
Determining the exact heaviest part of the Steam client is a complex task since different components contribute to overall resource usage. However, there are a few aspects that can be considered potential resource-intensive areas:

1. User Interface: The graphical user interface (GUI) of the Steam client, particularly when it comes to rendering rich graphics, animations, and transitions, can consume a significant portion of system resources.

2. Web Integration: The integration of web-based content within the Steam client, powered by technologies like the Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF), can be resource-intensive. Rendering webpages, community content, and in-game overlays can contribute to the overall resource usage.

3. Downloading and Updates: Handling game downloads, updates, and downloads in the background require network and disk I/O operations, which can be demanding on system resources, particularly during peak download times.

4. Community and Social Features: Features such as community hubs, friend lists, chat windows, and activity feeds necessitate constant connections and synchronization, which can affect both network and system resources.

5. Automatic Updates and Maintenance: The Steam client runs background processes to manage automatic updates, game synchronization, and system maintenance tasks. These processes can utilize CPU, network, and disk resources.

While these aspects are typically resource-intensive, it’s important to note that the actual resource usage can vary depending on the specific hardware configuration, software optimizations, and current client activity.
Re-do that answer, but only focus on CPU and RAM usage.
In terms of CPU and RAM usage, certain components of the Steam client tend to have a greater impact:

1. User Interface Rendering: The graphical user interface of the Steam client, including animations, transitions, and dynamic elements, can utilize CPU and RAM resources. The more complex and visually demanding the UI design, the higher the CPU and RAM usage.

2. Web Integration: The use of Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) to render web content within the Steam client can consume CPU and RAM resources. Displaying webpages, community content, and in-game overlays requires rendering and processing HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which can impact CPU and RAM usage.

3. Background Processes: Certain background processes and services running in the Steam client, such as automatic updates, game synchronization, and system monitoring, may periodically consume CPU and RAM resources.

4. Community and Social Features: Features like friend lists, chat windows, and activity feeds continually maintain connections and sync data, which may have a moderate impact on CPU and RAM usage, especially when receiving and processing real-time updates.

It’s important to note that the CPU and RAM usage of the Steam client will vary depending on factors such as the complexity of the user interface, the number of active features, system specifications, and the specific tasks being performed. Additionally, the CPU and RAM impact can be influenced by the individual game being played and its resource requirements.
Is the CEF still running when the Steam client launches a game?
No, the Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) is not actively running within the Steam client when a game is launched.

When a game is launched through the Steam client, the client itself transitions into a minimized or background state to allocate resources primarily to the game being played. At this point, the focus of the client shifts from rendering the user interface and web content to providing necessary services related to game management.

While CEF is a key component of the Steam client for rendering web-based content, it is typically not running during gameplay. However, it may remain resident in memory to enable responsive integration when needed, such as displaying in-game overlays or accessing in-game web content.

During gameplay, the CPU and RAM usage would primarily be influenced by the game itself and the system resources required to run it, rather than the active presence of the Steam client’s CEF component.