Durable printer and allow easy access
: The game invokes SteamAPI_WriteMiniDump . The Steam subsystem freezes the faulting threads and creates a compact .dmp file containing call stacks, active register contexts, and memory maps.
By automating the generation of minidumps, developers can collect vital debugging information from end-users without requiring complex third-party crash reporters. This article explores how SteamAPI_WriteMiniDump works, how to implement it, and how to utilize Steam's backend to analyze the resulting data. What is a Minidump?
The specific Windows Structured Exception Handling (SEH) code (e.g., 0xC0000005 for an Access Violation / null pointer dereference). SteamAPI WriteMiniDump
: It is typically used within a custom exception handler (via Win32 _set_se_translator ) to notify Steam of an impending crash. Developer Review: Pros & Cons Seamless Integration
pExceptionInfo (void ): * A pointer to the architecture-specific exception pointers structure (e.g., EXCEPTION_POINTERS on Windows). This tracks the exact CPU state during the failure. : The game invokes SteamAPI_WriteMiniDump
Consider setting up a service that allows users to upload these files directly, rather than relying on email. Conclusion
It helps developers understand what caused the crash without needing to reproduce it locally. : It is typically used within a custom
: The Win32 exception code (e.g., 0xC0000005 for Access Violation).
For the whole _set_se_translator pattern to work, you enable SEH in your compiler settings. On Visual Studio, that means using /EHa (Enable C++ EH with SEH exceptions) or /EHs with additional flags. If your compiler flags are wrong, exceptions may bypass your translator entirely.
As highlighted in official Steamworks Features documentation, the legacy Steam Error Reporting subsystem is nearing its End-Of-Lifetime (EOL) status. Valve provides limited technical support for this tool for newer titles.