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'''Source SDK Base''' is a game/tool available to all Steam users which is locked to a particular [[:Category:Engine branches|engine branch]]. Compared to basing your mod on a "real" game, use of SDK Base massively increases your potential audience and prevents incompatible engine updates from making your code or the mod unusable.

== Source Engine Test ({{code|sourcetest}}) ==
All Source SDK Bases comes with '''Source Engine Test''', which contains the stripped down version of {{hl2lc|1}} for benchmark purposes ('''Video Stress Test'''), reduced to only the preprogrammed camera following a path that leads the viewer up the mountain. After the sequence completes, the user is presented with a dialogue showing their system performance & framerate and an option to upload them to Valve (which requires {{code|sv_cheats}} to be enabled, and likely no longer works since the old Steam servers used to upload benchmark result has been shutdown).

== Versions ==
There are currently four versions of SDK Base: the original [[Source 2006]] version (AppID 215), the [[Source 2007]] version, also known as Orange Box version ''(AppID 218)'', and two [[Source SDK 2013|Source 2013]] versions - SP ''(AppID 243730)'' and MP ''(AppID 243750)''. The MP version is currently based on {{tf2branch|1}}, but previously used to be {{src13mp|1}}.

{{as|4}} deserves mention here too, as it is also freely available and also provides source code.

In most cases, it is recommended to base your game on '''Source SDK Base 2013''', as it's more up to date than previous branch. Source SDK Base 2013 has two sub-branches, with the multiplayer branch (now {{tf2branch|1}}) having some additional features such as [[BSPZIP#Compression|BSP compression]], [[$lightmap|static prop lightmaps]], [[Lightmaps|bicubic lightmaps]], [[env_fog_controller|radial fog]], and [[Team Fortress 2 engine branch|more major changes]]. Meanwhile, the '''{{asbranch|1}}''' add some new engine features (including features first introduced in ''Left 4 Dead'') which were not present in {{src13|1}}, but they can be backported. Older version of SDK Base (2006, 2007) are provided in order to play older mods.

== Setting up Source SDK and Source SDK Base ==
Install Source SDK Base 2006/2007 from Steam->Library->Tools or from the links below:
* [steam://rungameid/215 Install/Run Source SDK Base 2006] (AppID: 215)
* [steam://rungameid/218 Install/Run Source SDK Base 2007] (AppID: 218)

To get the game source code, download Source SDK:
* [steam://rungameid/218 Install/Run Source SDK] (AppID: 211)
* After installing Source SDK, go to {{path|...\Steam\steamapps\common\SourceSDK\vpks}}, open {{code|depot_211_dir.vpk}} (using {{vpkedit|1}} or {{gcfscape|1}}), go to {{code|src_mod}} folder, there will be two folders:
** {{code|ep1}} - contains {{src06|1}} gamecode
** {{code|orangebox}} - contains {{src07|1}} gamecode

=== Source SDK Base 2013 SP / MP (TF2 branch) ===
For {{src13|4}} version of SDK Base, see [[Source SDK Base 2013]] page.

== Content ==
* The stock gamecode is a duplicate of [[Episode One]]'s or [[Episode Two]]'s, depending on which version (see below) you are using. '''But the only ''content'' available is that of [[Half-Life 2]] and [[Half-Life 2: Lost Coast]]''': while [[npc_zombine|Zombines]] and [[npc_hunter|Hunters]] exist in the code and can be spawned, they appear as errors because their [[model]]s are not included. If you want to use episodic things, you will need to [[Gameinfo.txt#Mounting content|mount the appropriate game]].
* SDK Base might provide mods with Lost Coast's content, '''but [[dedicated server]]s do not'''. Multiplayer mods should either not use anything from ''Lost Coast,'' or include what they do use in their dedicated server download. {{tip|In Source 2007 or later you can remove the <code>sourcetest</code> SearchPath from gameinfo.txt and Lost Coast will disappear. Unfortunately, doing this under Source 2006 (Episode One) will make the game crash immediately!}}

== Bugs and Fixes ==
There are two small glitches and things that need to be changed:

<ol>
<li>The main menu has a "Visual Stress Test" option instead of anything useful. Copy <code>resource\[[GameMenu]].res</code> from another suitable game into your mod.
</li>
<li>Episode Two's flashlight and weapon pickup icons do not appear. Open <code>resource\ClientScheme.res</code> and add this to the <code>Fonts</code> section:

<source lang=php>
		WeaponIconsSmall
		{
			1
			{
				name		HalfLife2
				tall		32
				weight	0
				antialias 1
				additive	1
				custom	1
			}
		}
</source>
</li>
</ol>

In addition, '''Source SDK Base 2007''' is unable to mount {{hl2ep2|1.bold}} content from provided depot VPKs, because of a missing config file and the VPKs being switched around with '''Base 2006'''.

See [[Fixing VPK mounting for older Source SDK Bases]] in order to fix it.

== Content (2007) ==
* Source SDK Base 2007
* Source Engine Test (stripped down version of {{hl2lc|1}}) (<code>sourcetest</code>)
* Source Engine Test assets files ({{code|vpks}} - depot 215)
* Base Source shared / {{hl2|1}} assets (<code>hl2</code>)
* Base Source shared / {{hl2|1}} assets ({{code|vpks}} - depot 206, 207, 208)
* {{hl2ep1|1}} assets ({{code|vpks}} - depot 213, 381)
* {{hl2ep2|1}} assets ({{code|vpks}} - depot 421, 422, 423)
** {{Note|EP2 assets is missing by default, due to being switched around with Base 2006.}}
* [[Source 2007]] engine branch

{{Note|Source SDK Base 2007 depot also includes "Source 2007 Binaries 2" (depot 317), which is actually Source 2009 binaries. These can be only obtained through Steam developer console (using {{code|download_depot 218 317}} command).}}

== Content (2006) ==
* Source SDK Base 2006
* Source Engine Test (stripped down version of {{hl2lc|1}}) (<code>sourcetest</code>)
* Source Engine Test assets files ({{code|vpks}} - depot 215)
* Base Source shared / {{hl2|1}} assets (<code>hl2</code>)
* Base Source shared / {{hl2|1}} assets ({{code|vpks}} - depot 206, 207, 208)
* {{hl2ep1|1}} assets ({{code|vpks}} - depot 213, 381)
* [[Source 2006]] engine branch

[[Category:Tools]]
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[[Category:Source 2006]]
[[Category:Source 2007]]