DorkNet/README.md

# DorkNet — `march-2023-03-21`

This is the **December 2020.12.18** branch of DorkNet — a self-hostable
reimplementation of the Rec Room backend tuned to the wire protocol of
the **Rec Room 2020.12.18** client build.

> ⚠️ **Not affiliated with Rec Room Inc. or Against Gravity.**
> See [DISCLAIMER](../../blob/main/DISCLAIMER.md). DorkNet ships no Rec
> Room game assets or modified binaries — you supply your own
> legally-acquired Rec Room 2020.12.18 install.

If you're not sure which DorkNet branch you want, start at the
[main branch's chart](../../blob/main/BRANCHES.md). The launcher on
main also auto-detects your install.

---

## What this branch targets

| | |
|---|---|
| **Client build** | Rec Room 2020.12.18 |
| **Version key** (sent as `X-DorkNet-Version` header) | `december_2020_12_18` |
| **Version plugin** | `DorkNet.Server/Versions/Late2020/Late2020VersionPlugin.cs` |
| **Schema** | One EF `Initial` migration; SQLite + Postgres both work |
| **Runtime topology** | Gateway-fronted microservices with dedicated service slices and a monolith fallback |
| **Diverges from `march-2020-03-10` by** | ~170 files |

Subsystems present on this branch that the March branch doesn't have:

- Chat threads + group DMs (`ChatThreads`, `ChatThreadMembers`)
- Clubs surface (`clubs.{apex}/*` — announcements, categories, subscriptions)
- Playlists (curated + user-created)
- Weekly challenges
- Room keys (purchasable room access)
- Room roles (per-room co-owner / moderator / host grants)
- Leaderboard channel metadata
- Loading-screen tips

---

## Quickstart

**1. Install .NET 9 SDK** and (optionally) `dotnet-ef`:

```pwsh
dotnet tool install --global dotnet-ef
```

**2. Clone this branch:**

```pwsh
git clone --branch december-2020-12-18 https://github.com/DorkSquadRR/DorkNet
cd DorkNet
```

**3. Configure secrets.** Drop in `DorkNet.Server/appsettings.Local.json`
(gitignored) or export environment variables:

| Config key | Env var | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| `Jwt:Secret` | `DORKNET_JWT_SECRET` or `Jwt__Secret` | yes | >=64 random chars |
| `Photon:AppId` | `Photon__AppId` | yes | Photon Realtime AppId (free at dashboard.photonengine.com) |
| `Photon:VoiceAppId` | `Photon__VoiceAppId` | no | only if voice chat |
| `Photon:CloudRegion` | `Photon__CloudRegion` | no | defaults to `us` |
| `Database:Provider` | `Database__Provider` | no | `sqlite` (default) or `postgres` |
| `ConnectionStrings:Default` | `ConnectionStrings__Default` | postgres-only | full Npgsql connection string |
| `ConnectionStrings:Redis` | `ConnectionStrings__Redis` | no | enables SignalR backplane |
| `Domain:Apex` | `DORKNET_DOMAIN` | no | defaults to `localhost`; set for production |
| `S3:Endpoint` | `S3__Endpoint` | production | S3-compatible API endpoint for blobs/images |
| `S3:AccessKey` | `S3__AccessKey` | production | S3 access key |
| `S3:SecretKey` | `S3__SecretKey` | production | S3 secret key |
| `S3:Region` | `S3__Region` | no | defaults to `garage`; use `auto` for R2 |

**4. Boot a local standalone server:**

```pwsh
dotnet run --project DorkNet.Server
```

First boot creates `bin/Debug/net9.0/data/dorknet.db`, runs every
`LegacyUpgrades` pass, seeds canonical rooms / store catalog / club
categories / playlists, and starts listening. You should see
`Application started.` in the log; `curl http://localhost:8080/healthz`
returns 200.

For the production microservices stack, Docker, and Dokploy deploy
notes, see
[docs/deploy.md](docs/deploy.md).

---

## Patching your client

```pwsh
.\tools\install-melon.ps1 `
  -RecRoomPath "C:\Path\To\Recroom_Release_Data" `
  -PhotonAppId "<your-photon-realtime-app-id>" `
  -PhotonVoiceAppId "<your-photon-voice-app-id>"
```

This installs the MelonLoader mod (`DorkNet.ClientMod`) into the
client's `Mods/` folder and writes its config to
`MelonLoader/UserData/dorknet-clientmod.json`. The mod rewrites all
`*.rec.net` URIs to your configured DorkNet apex, swaps the Photon
AppIds, and bypasses TLS verification on the client's HTTPS calls so
self-signed certs work. (First run prints "launch the game once"; do
that, then re-run with `-ResumeBuild` to finish — see the script's
`-?` help.)

### Standalone Quest build (experimental)

The December Quest APK is also IL2CPP and can build the same
`DorkNet.ClientMod` source against LemonLoader's Android runtime. The
current Quest path is still device-tested manually: build the mod as a
net8 LemonLoader DLL, install it into a LemonLoader-patched APK, then
sideload the resigned APK.

From this branch:

```pwsh
dotnet build .\DorkNet.ClientMod\DorkNet.ClientMod.csproj `
  -p:TargetFrameworks=net8.0 `
  -p:MelonLoaderDir="C:\path\to\LemonLoader\melon_data\MelonLoader"
```

Output lands at
`DorkNet.ClientMod\bin\Debug\net8.0\DorkNet.ClientMod.dll`. Desktop
builds still default to net6 and keep the historical flat output path.

Quest notes:

- Target package: `com.AgainstGravity.RecRoom`.
- Use a public HTTPS DorkNet host; keep `"EnableTlsTrustBypass": false`
  for Quest builds.
- The Dec Photon hooks are discovered from the unique
  `PUNNetworkManager` methods returning `AppSettings` and
  `AuthenticationValues`, with the known Dec obfuscated names as fallback.
- Standalone APK patching/resigning is not yet wrapped by
  `install-melon.ps1`; this is the porting path, not a public one-click
  installer yet.

### Debugging (opt-in — `DorkNet.DebugMod`)

The shipping `DorkNet.ClientMod` carries only what's needed to connect and
survive anti-cheat. All diagnostics — HTTP/request tracing, join/quit/studio/
room-load traces, the process-exception sink, auth-token tracing, the
registration-dialog trace, and the in-game debug console — live in a separate
`DorkNet.DebugMod`. Drop `DorkNet.DebugMod.dll` into the `Mods` folder next to
`DorkNet.ClientMod.dll` to turn them on; remove it to ship a quiet, minimal
client. Debug knobs are read from the same `dorknet-clientmod.json`.

Retail builds keep the `RecRoom.Debugging.DebugConsole` UI and serialized
`DebugConsoleCommandConfig` list, but the public 2023 client strips the
native command submit path. With `DorkNet.DebugMod` installed, set
`"EnableDebugConsole": true` and relaunch: it force-toggles the console UI on
a hotkey (`"DebugConsoleToggleKey"`, default `BackQuote` = the `~` key),
intercepts the dead submit callback, and invokes commands from the runtime
command metadata directly. Type `help` in the console to list discovered
commands. `"DevCommands"` may contain optional `"Label=Command args"`
shortcuts. The feature stays off by default and also silences the retail
`CheatManager` callbacks used by movement/time commands.

### Desktop Screen Sharing FPS (opt-in)

The Maker Pen "Desktop Sharing Screen"
(`RecRoom.Tools.Productivity.DesktopScreenSharingDisplay`) broadcasts at a
baked refresh rate (~5 fps). Set `"DesktopScreenShareFps"` in
`dorknet-clientmod.json` (e.g. `30`) and relaunch to override it — the mod
rewrites the gadget's `screenShareImageRefreshFrequency` at runtime and,
when `"DesktopScreenShareRaisePhotonRate"` is true (default), lifts
`PhotonNetwork.SendRate`/`SerializationRate` to match so the frames
actually transmit (the image streams over `OnPhotonSerializeView`, capped
at the serialization rate otherwise). This is **global** — it raises every
object's network sync rate, so back it off on a busy room.
`"DesktopScreenShareResolution"`/`"DesktopScreenShareQuality"` (both `0` =
keep the prefab value) trade per-frame size for bandwidth if a high FPS
saturates the link. Only the player *sharing* needs the override. Default
`0` (off).

### RRO quest team size (opt-in)

RRO quests ship with a baked 4-player `GameConfigurationAsset` team cap.
Set `"QuestMaxTeamSize"` in `dorknet-clientmod.json` (for example `8`) to
raise that cap for the allowlisted quest configs in
`"QuestMaxTeamSizeRooms"`:

```json
{
  "QuestMaxTeamSize": 8,
  "QuestMaxTeamSizeRooms": [
    "CrimsonCauldron",
    "Crescendo",
    "GoldenTrophy",
    "IsleOfLostSkulls",
    "TheRiseofJumbotron"
  ]
}
```

The quest host must run the mod: the host builds the game configuration
that gets networked to joiners. The patch also relaxes the quest spawn
filter for extra players, so player indexes above the four baked spawn
slots can reuse existing quest spawn points instead of being left out.
Default `0` (off).

### Rec Royale night mode (opt-in)

Rec Royale never shipped a night variant, but the client carries the room
"mood" engine (`RecRoom.Core.Scene.SceneMoodSettings`) and ready-made
night `MoodSetting` assets in `resources.assets`. Set
`"RecRoyaleNightMode"` in `dorknet-clientmod.json` and the mod applies one
of those moods (sky dome, sun, fog, bloom and colour grading) as soon as
the `RecRoyale_Frontier` scene finishes loading, and unlocks the weapon
flashlight prefab while it is on:

```json
{
  "RecRoyaleNightMode": true,
  "RecRoyaleNightMood": "Night_Calm_Outdoor_Mood",
  "RecRoyaleNightScenes": ["RecRoyale"],
  "RecRoyaleNightFlashlights": true,
  "RecRoyaleNightFog": false,
  "RecRoyaleNightExposure": -3.5,
  "RecRoyaleNightSunScale": 0.15,
  "RecRoyaleNightAmbientScale": 0.2,
  "RecRoyaleNightForcePostProcessing": true,
  "RecRoyaleNightMatchSunLights": true,
  "RecRoyaleNightDisableFog": false,
  "RecRoyaleNightHideObjects": ["Cloud"],
  "RecRoyaleNightToggleKey": "N"
}
```

`RecRoyaleNightDisableFog` turns fog off entirely while night is on
(`RenderSettings.fog` forced off and the mood's fog block pushed out of
range); it is ignored when `RecRoyaleNightFog` is `true`.
`RecRoyaleNightHideObjects` hides every renderer whose object or material
name contains one of the entries; the default hides Frontier's daytime
cloud meshes (`CloudPlane`, `Clouds`, the `_Cloud_RecRoyale_Frontier_Mat`
static batch). Both are restored on toggle-off or scene change.

The mood engine only ever drives `RenderSettings.sun`, which on Frontier
is the sun-disc light, not the map's key light, so daylight would keep
casting. `RecRoyaleNightMatchSunLights` (default `true`) copies the
engine-driven sun's rotation and colour onto every other directional
light and scales their intensity by `RecRoyaleNightSunScale`.

Two more RRO quirks the mod works around: the mood skybox material the
engine swaps in (`MoodConfig.SkyBoxMaterial`) is not loaded outside
custom-room scenes, so the mod builds one on the `Custom/SkyBox` shader
and hands it to the engine (otherwise the sky is plain black and the
engine refuses to touch sky colours or the sun); and post-exposure only
shows when the scene Volume is on and the camera renders
post-processing, which `RecRoyaleNightForcePostProcessing` (default
`true`) forces while night mode is active.

Brightness: RRO maps are lightmapped, and baked lighting ignores the sun
and ambient changes a mood makes, so the mod also darkens the mood data
itself before applying it. `RecRoyaleNightExposure` is an EV offset added
to the mood's colour-grading post-exposure (a full-frame post effect, so
it dims lightmapped surfaces too; `0` = mood default), and
`RecRoyaleNightSunScale` / `RecRoyaleNightAmbientScale` multiply the
mood's sun and ambient intensities (`1` = unchanged). Raise the exposure
toward `0` if it is too dark.

RRO scenes have no room data blob, so the mood engine starts disabled
there; the mod replays the room-data loader's bring-up (disable, capture
the scene's own lighting, enable), points `RenderSettings.sun` at the
scene's directional light (Frontier ships without the reference, which
would otherwise skip every sun change), and re-captures once the mood
skybox material is in place so the sky colours apply. `RecRoyaleNightFog`
is off by default: the mood's fog block is swapped for one captured from
the scene, so fog stays as the map author left it.

Shipped moods: `Night_Calm_Outdoor_Mood` ("Calm Night"),
`Night_Spooky_Outdoor_Mood` ("Spooky Night"), `Night_Wild_Outdoor_Mood`
("Wild Night"), `Night_StuntRunner_Outdoor_Mood` and `OuterSpace_Mood`.
`RecRoyaleNightToggleKey` is an optional `UnityEngine.KeyCode` name that
flips night on/off in-game (off restores the scene's own mood); setting a
key also arms the feature when `RecRoyaleNightMode` is `false`. This is
purely **client-side**: the mod calls the mood engine's apply step
directly and never touches the networked room-mood index, so other players
keep their own view. Baked lightmaps are not changed, so interiors stay
lit; the mood's colour grading does the darkening. Default `false` (off).
Wire-level notes: `docs/recroom-2023-scene-moods.md`.

---

## Code map

| Folder | Purpose |
|---|---|
| `DorkNet.Server/` | Shared ASP.NET Core controller/service stack, standalone fallback, monolith fallback |
| `DorkNet.Models/` | DTOs shared between server and client mod |
| `DorkNet.Contracts/` | Shared service names, route ownership, service-map options, and health/probe contracts |
| `DorkNet.ServiceDefaults/` | Shared service health, JSON, HTTP client, service identity, and route-guard setup |
| `DorkNet.Gateway/` | Edge reverse proxy with service-map, route-table, and service-health endpoints |
| `DorkNet.Services.*` | Gateway-fronted service hosts for identity, rooms, notify, content, social, commerce, platform, moderation, and web |
| `DorkNet.ClientMod/` | MelonLoader IL2CPP mod — the client patcher |
| `tools/` | Installers (`install-melon.ps1`, `install-legacy-client.ps1`, `remove-eac.ps1`), Cloudflare tunnel templates |
| `Dockerfile`, `Dockerfile.service`, `docker-compose.microservices*.yml` | Standalone fallback image, reusable service image, and local/Dokploy microservices entrypoints |

See [docs/architecture.md](docs/architecture.md) for the full mental
model (project layout, request lifecycle, watch-mirror controller
pattern, where to start contributing).

### Client API contracts

Rec Room is shut down, so the clients can only be studied statically.
[docs/recroom-2023-client-api-complete.md](docs/recroom-2023-client-api-complete.md)
is the complete contract for the March-2023 client: every route it can
call, the HTTP verb, the request and response shapes, and a per-subsystem
diff against what this server currently implements. Read it before adding
or changing any endpoint that build touches — it also documents how to
recover verbs and response shapes from the disassembly yourself.

The equivalent material for the December-2020 client is in the
`recroom-2020-client-*` files alongside it.

### Microservices

The production topology is the gateway-fronted compose stack.
`docker-compose.microservices.yml` starts the gateway, identity, rooms,
notify, content, social, commerce, platform, moderation, web, and
monolith fallback service hosts plus Compose-managed Postgres and Redis
for local testing. `docker-compose.microservices.dokploy.yml` is the
Dokploy version; it adds a `cloudflared` sidecar so Cloudflare Tunnel
can route the apex and wildcard hostnames to the gateway without Dokploy
domain rows.

The gateway routes owned host/path slices to the dedicated service hosts.
The `web` service owns the apex, `www`, `admin`, and `feed` static hosts.
The monolith fallback is still present for unknown route families, so
public client URLs remain stable while the split continues.

The compose file intentionally does not start object storage. Point it at
your separate S3-compatible instance:

```pwsh
$env:DORKNET_S3_ENDPOINT="https://your-s3-endpoint"
$env:DORKNET_S3_ACCESS_KEY="..."
$env:DORKNET_S3_SECRET_KEY="..."
$env:DORKNET_S3_REGION="garage" # or auto for R2
docker compose -f docker-compose.microservices.yml up --build
```

For deployment details, including Dokploy env vars, Cloudflare Tunnel
routing, external Postgres, and S3 setup, see
[docs/deploy.md](docs/deploy.md).

For the browser admin console, its routes, auth model, and production
troubleshooting, see [docs/admin.md](docs/admin.md).

---

## Database & migrations

One EF migration (`Migrations/<timestamp>_Initial.cs`) captures the
schema. SQLite dev DBs apply it via `Database.Migrate()`; Postgres uses
`EnsureCreated()` behind a transaction-scoped advisory lock. The
entity model is the single source of truth — to add a column, edit the
entity, boot, done (on SQLite — Postgres prod needs a migration).

Data transforms that can't be schema (seed renames, computed backfills)
go in [`DorkNet.Server/Data/LegacyUpgrades.cs`](DorkNet.Server/Data/LegacyUpgrades.cs).
See [`DorkNet.Server/Data/MIGRATIONS.md`](DorkNet.Server/Data/MIGRATIONS.md)
for the full discipline.

Tables added after the consolidated `Initial` migration (e.g.
`SignupCodes` / `PendingDevices`) are created by an idempotent
`CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS` step in
[`Startup/DatabaseBootstrap.cs`](DorkNet.Server/Startup/DatabaseBootstrap.cs)
so both providers pick them up on existing DBs without a new migration
(the Postgres path is `EnsureCreated`-only and never replays migrations).

### Signup codes

When account creation is disabled (admin **Settings → Server**), the only
way in is an admin-issued single-use **signup code**: generate one in the
admin panel's **Settings → Signup codes** tab (with a descriptor + optional expiry),
hand it to the player, and they redeem it on the site's **`/join`** page —
which creates their account bound to the device their game client
reported, so the next launch logs straight in.

### Everyone-is-friends toggle

For small servers where searching + friend-requesting each other is
friction, admin **Settings → Server → "Everyone is friends"** makes every
account a friend of every other account. It writes **no** relationship
rows — the friend graph is synthesized at read time
(`RelationshipQueries.EffectiveFriendIdsAsync`, gated on
`ServerSettings.GlobalFriendsEnabled`), so flipping it off reverts
instantly. Blocks are still honored and the system/coach account is
excluded, as are auto-generated `Player_NNN` placeholder accounts that
never set a real username (they only appear if there's a genuine friend
row). Flipping it broadcasts `RelationshipsInvalid` to every connected
watch, which calls `Relationships.RefreshList` and re-pulls
`api/relationships/v2/get` — so players see everyone appear (or disappear)
**without relogging**. It covers the friends list, the friends-online HUD,
and room-move presence fan-out.

---

## Single-server defaults (review before going public)

Several values are hardcoded or defaulted for the convenience of running a
small, trusted, single-operator server. They work out of the box for a group
of friends but should be reviewed / adapted before exposing the server to the
public internet:

- **Client build version (`appVersion`).** Hardcoded to this branch's client
  build (`20230317`) in the presence/match/notification responses
  (`MatchPlayerController`, `PlayerPresenceController`, `NotificationService`,
  `RoomsController`). It must match the build everyone runs, or players get a
  "version mismatch" and can't join each other. If you serve a different
  client build, change it (ideally hoist it to one shared constant).
- **No real authentication.** Accounts are keyed by a per-install `deviceId`
  the client generates (`PlayerService.GetOrCreateByDeviceAsync`) — **not** a
  verified identity (Steam ID is deliberately ignored so emulators work).
  Anyone who can reach the server with a patched client gets/creates an
  account. Use **Settings → Server → disable signups** + the
  [signup-code](#signup-codes) flow to gate who can join; there is no password
  wall by default.
- **First account becomes admin.** The first account created on a fresh DB is
  granted `IsAdmin` so there's always a root admin. On a public server, create
  your admin account first and verify no one else beat you to it.
- **Online status = Everyone.** Presence reports `StatusVisibility = 0`
  (Everyone) so every player appears online to every other player, matching
  the [everyone-is-friends](#everyone-is-friends-toggle) convenience. A public
  server may instead want to persist and honor each player's own visibility
  preference.
- **Room / matchmaking capacity.** New matchmade sessions and subrooms default
  to **8** players and are capped at **40** (`GameSessionService`,
  `RoomSceneEntity.MaxPlayers`, admin `MaxCapacity` clamp). The in-game "Max
  Player Count in This Subroom" slider raises it per room (slider ceiling 40).
- **Avatar unlock clamp.** The wardrobe clamp defaults high
  (`Avatar:MaxUnlockedItems` 4000 / per-slot 1000) for this desktop client —
  tune in config if you change the ownership model.
- **Hosts / domain.** The apex and per-service subdomains come from
  `DomainConfig` (`Domain:Apex`) / `appsettings`; set these to your own
  domain. The `Everyone-is-friends`, signup-disable, and similar switches live
  in **admin Settings**, not source.

None of these are security boundaries as shipped — treat the server as trusted
LAN/friends infrastructure unless you harden the items above.

---

## Contributing

See [main's CONTRIBUTING guide](../../blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md) for
the project-wide rules.

Branch-specific: schema changes on this branch don't flow to
`march-2020-03-10` automatically. If a fix applies to both, cherry-pick
it across. Don't rebase across branches.

---

## License

[AGPL-3.0](LICENSE). Hosted forks must publish their source.