How to Debug Games Using Environment Variables

How to Debug Games Using Environment Variables

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Environment Variables
  • WINEDEBUG
  • PROTON_LOG

Introduction

This page is a continuation of the environment variables page, https://github.com/Heroic-Games-Launcher/HeroicGamesLauncher/wiki/Environment-Variables with a specific focus on how to debug games using environment variables.

Environment Variables

WINEDEBUG

When using WINEDEBUG=+fixme, follow the below steps to locate the verbose log:

1. See How to Set Environment Variables to learn how to apply the WINEDEBUG=+fixme environment variable.
2. Launch the game so it produces a new verbose log. After you have launched the game (even if it crashes), close out of it and open the Heroic Games Launcher.
3. Open the game's page, click Report a problem running this game.
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4. Either click SHOW LOG FILE IN FOLDER or UPLOAD LOG FILE, the first will open the directory of the log, the latter will upload the log to a website that you can then share with someone if you are receiving support.
5. Once you have investigated the log, you can remove the environment variable by returning to the Advanced tab in the game's settings and clicking the - button.
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Alternatively, you can open the directory of the log directly, the file paths are listed below:

• Flatpak:
  • $HOME/.var/app/com.heroicgameslauncher.hgl/config/heroic/GamesConfig
  • Locate the -lastPlay log with the newest timestamp.
• Non-Flatpak (AppImage, DEB, RPM, etc.):
  • $HOME/.config/heroic/GamesConfig
  • Locate the -lastPlay log with the newest timestamp.

If you have not debugged a log before, typically locating error messages or repeating messages and copying these messages into a search engine of your choice is a good way to begin. If you are still struggling to debug your log, join the Heroic Games Launcher Discord and create a support post with your log attached.

PROTON_LOG

When using PROTON_LOG=1, follow the below steps to locate the verbose log:

1. See How to Set Environment Variables to learn how to apply the PROTON_LOG=1 environment variable.
2. Launch the game so it produces a new verbose log. After you have launched the game (even if it crashes), close out of it.
3. To locate the log, navigate to one of the file paths below depending on how you installed Heroic.
   • Flatpak:
     • $HOME/.var/app/com.heroicgameslauncher.hgl
     • Locate the steam-# log with the newest timestamp.
   • Non-Flatpak (AppImage, DEB, RPM, etc.):
     • $HOME
     • Locate the steam-# log with the newest timestamp.
4. If you are sharing this log with someone providing you support, you may either directly upload the log or upload it to Pastebin or a website of a your choice.
5. Once you have investigated the log, you can remove the environment variable by returning to the Advanced tab in the game's settings and clicking the - button.
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