• Dota2 Minify
  • Table of contents
  • Is this safe to use?
  • Installation
    • Community mods
    • Optional Setup
      • Using the project locally
      • Compilation from source
  • Troubleshooting
    • Antivirus software flagged it / I don't see an executable
      • Why though?
      • How do I trust it?
    • VAC dialog
    • Things are broken!
    • It doesn't work / open!
  • Developing mods
    • Mod files and explanations
      • modcfg.json
      • files directory
      • blacklist.txt
      • styling.txt
      • script.py
      • xml_mod.json
      • menu.xml
    • Tools of the trade
  • Thanks
  • Special thanks to
  • Dependencies
    • Binaries
    • Python packages
  • License

This project has been around since 2022 with thousands of downloads and users. While binaries are offered for ease of use, anyone can compile it themselves.

The only valid source to get the software is from GitHub Releases or the website. Releases are built via GitHub Workflows with no intervention, we do not distribute elsewhere.

No one has ever been banned for the use of these mods and alike. Minify strictly deals with VPK modifications and not hacking concepts like memory/file manipulation. It utilizes Valve's approved methods (VPK loading) for creating assets, as documented on the official Valve Wiki. Historically Valve has only disabled assets from loading and never punished modders. The worst thing that can happen is a mod stops working and that's it.

1. Download Minify

   • Click here to download the latest Minify release

     (Optional) Install Dota 2 Workshop Tools DLC

   • These tools enable HUD/Interface mods. Skip this step if you don't need them.

   • Right-click on Dota 2 in Steam.

• Select Properties > DLC.
  • On Linux, you need to force the use of Proton Experimental and have wine package installed. Relaunch steam if you still don't see the DLC.

• Install Dota 2 Workshop Tools DLC.

1. Run Minify

   • Extract the ZIP file.
   • Ensure that you have execution permissions for the Minify executable, run and patch with the mods and the language you want to use.

3. Setting the language argument for Dota2 on Steam

   • Right-click on Dota2 in Steam and click Properties.
   • For English: Add -language minify to your launch options.
   • For Other Languages: Select the language you want to patch with on the top bar and add -language language_id

4. Start Dota 2
   • Launch Dota2 and enjoy!

In our Discord server we have a forum in which you can find more mods!

Prerequisites are git, python and uv. (also tk for tkinter and wine for workshop tools executables)

• git clone https://github.com/Egezenn/dota2-minify
• cd dota2-minify
• uv run Minify

For instructions, refer to the workflow.

Exclude the folder from your antivirus software(s).

These are false-positives caused by people generating similiar compilation/hashes for malwares via the same compilers we're using and we don't have a signing certificate to resolve this as the project is relatively small.

Binaries are released directly from GitHub's build system and there aren't any modifications done from us after releases. If you don't like the executable we're providing, you can run it with Python or build it completely yourself. Instructions for both are included in the readme.

Verify your files from Steam, this happens every so often randomly and is NOT related to anything the program does.

Try uninstalling the mods. If that doesn't work aswell try using the feature below (it'll delete all the contents of dota 2 beta/game/dota_<language>!)

Make a bug report on GitHub or Discord with the contents of your logs folder.

Minify has a programmatical approach to most modifications to keep everything minimal and simple. If there isn't a method available for your needs, you can always upload your mod files in mods/<mod_name>/files to be directly included into the pak minify is going to create or include a python script to accomodate specific behavior.

For most changes, you do not need to reopen the application. Try opening it again if you encounter undesired behavior.

mods
├── <mod_name>
│   ├── files
│   │   ├── <path_to_file_in_pak>
│   │   ├── <...>
│   │   └── <...>
│   ├── blacklist.txt
│   ├── menu.xml
│   ├── modcfg.json
│   ├── notes_<language>.txt
│   ├── script.py
│   ├── script_after_decompile.py
│   ├── script_after_recompile.py
│   ├── script_uninstall.py
│   ├── styling.txt
│   └── xml_mod.json

{ // defaults doesn't need to be indicated
  "always": false, // false by default, apply them without checking mods.json or checkbox
  "dependencies": ["<mod>"], // None by default, add a mod dependency's name here 
  "order": 1, // default is 1, ordered from negative to positive to resolve any conflicts
  "visual": true // true by default, show it in the UI as a checkbox
}

This directory will include any files put here into the pak that minify is going to create. These files should be compiled.

If not specifically protected by Dota2, these files will override any game content. This also applies for the rest of the modification methods available.

This file is a list of path to files used to override those with blanks. Supported file types can be found in bin/blank-files.

A list of all the files (from the game pak) can be found in bin/gamepakcontents.txt.

Syntax for this file starting from the line beginning is as follows:
#: Comments
>>: Directories
**: RegExp patterns
*-: RegExp patterns for exclusion
--: Exclusions (for when you want to exclude specific files from bulk additions)

After that with no blank spaces you put the path to the file you want to override. path/to/file

particles/base_attacks/ranged_goodguy_launch.vpcf_c
>>particles/sprays
**taunt.*\.vsnd_c

This file is a list of CSS paths and styling that will be appended to them.
By the nature of this method modifications done here may break the original XML or CSS that gets updated resulting in a bad layout.
In such cases, a repatch or a slight modification is required.

If you encounter errors while patching, it's most likely that your CSS is invalid or the path is wrong. Check logs/resourcecompiler.txt for more information.

For Source 2 flavored CSS properties, refer to: Valve Developer Community Wiki.
To live inspect the layout, open the workshop tools and press F6 and select the element you'd like to select from the XML.

Syntax for this file starting from the line beginning is as follows:
#: Comments
!: By default, the file is pulled from dota 2 beta/game/dota/pak01_dir.vpk.
However to change this behavior and pull files from dota 2 beta/game/core/pak01_dir.vpk, you can use this.
@@: Links to raw data

path/to/vcss_file_without_extension @@ #example_id { property: value; }

If and when there is a specific behavior to be automated you can include a python script along with your mod. You can find the template below.

Appending _initial, _after_decompile, _after_recompile, _uninstall to your script's name will adjust when it'll be executed. Thus giving you the full control of how your mod can be handled. By default it executes while iterating over each mod when you are patching.

# This script template can be run both manually and from minify.
# You are able to use packages and modules from minify (you need an activated environment from the minify root or running with the tool `uv` can automatically handle this.)
import os
import sys

current_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__))
minify_root = os.path.abspath(os.path.join(current_dir, os.pardir, os.pardir))
os.chdir(minify_root)

if minify_root not in sys.path:
    sys.path.insert(0, minify_root)

# Any package or module native to minify can be imported here
# import requests
#
# import mpaths
# ...


def main():
    pass
    # Code specific to your mod goes here, minify will try to execute this block.
    # If any exceptions occur, it'll be written to `logs` directory


if __name__ == "__main__":
    main()

to be written

to be written

to be written

This project wouldn't be available without the work of the community. Thanks to everyone that has contributed to the project over GitHub with issues & contributions or Discord!

Contents of this repository are licensed under GPL-3.0, however some files in Minify/mods/*/files may contain assets that originate from Dota2 itself, with or without modifications to them.