Platform Overview

Varion is a GTA V multiplayer platform with a dedicated server, a launcher, client runtime, resources, SDKs and a masterlist backend.

Main Pieces

Piece	Role
Dedicated server	Runs networking, resources, entity/world/voice state, the scripting host, native modules and HTTP manifests
Resources	Server and client gameplay packages under resources/
Modules	Optional native server extensions loaded from modules/
Client runtime	Connects to a server, downloads the resource manifest and runs client scripts
Launcher	Installs and updates the protected client payload
Masterlist	Publishes public servers and verifies production server identity

Developer Boundary

Server developers work with:

• server.toml
• resources/<name>/resource.toml
• JavaScript, C#, Go and native module SDKs
• public HTTP endpoints
• masterlist identity settings

They do not need protected client internals, launcher internals, signing keys, private CDN config or platform source trees.

Runtime Flow

1. The server loads server.toml.
2. Resources listed in server.toml are loaded from resources/, and the client manifest is built.
3. The JavaScript scripting host starts for js resources (Node host host/varion-host.cjs).
4. The network comes up: the game port (ENet) and the HTTP port (metadata, manifest, resource files).
5. Native modules are loaded from modules/ last — after every subsystem and the network.
6. Clients connect to the game port and fetch runtime data through the HTTP port; gameplay resources own spawn, economy, permissions and user-facing logic.

Trust Model

The server is authoritative. Treat client scripts and local files as untrusted. Validate important gameplay, inventory, economy, permissions, teleport-like movement and masterlist identity server-side.

Source Backing

This page is derived from the implemented runtime boundaries in:

• include/varion.h
• server/src/CServer.cpp
• server/src/CServerConfig.cpp
• server/src/CResourceManager.cpp
• src/network/CNetworkManager.cpp