ContentBuilder

ContentBuilder is a flexible command-line utility designed to automate the asset compilation pipeline for Source Engine projects.

This makes ContentBuilder especially useful for:

• Teams or individuals who want to include automated map builds in larger workflows (e.g., continuous integration, automated testing, or packaging pipelines).
• Anyone seeking a Source 2–style workflow within Source 1.

By streamlining repetitive compile tasks, ContentBuilder helps keep your workflow fast, consistent, and efficient.

ContentBuilder allows developers to:

• Compile and package multiple asset types.
• Control exactly what gets built and how.
• Generate reports instead of compiling.
• Separate warnings and errors into dedicated logs.
• Manage performance with multi-threading and 32/64-bit tools.
• Prepare builds ready for Steam or Workshop release.

ContentBuilder uses external tools, such as SceneImageBuilder, ResourceCopy, MapBuilder, you need to donwload them in order for ContentBuilder to work. Additionally, ContentBuilder is designed to integrate with the Source 1 ecosystem, which means it also utilizes tools such as vtex.exe, studiomdl.exe, captioncompiler.exe, and vpk.exe.

ContentBuilder in action:

2025-09-24.19-10-21.mp4

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Installation

Drag the executable in the bin\x64or bin if on 32 bits games.

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Build

To build ContentBuilder, follow these steps:

1. Start with a clean copy of the Source SDK 2013 source code (works with both SP & MP).
2. Drag and drop the contents of this repository into your SDK source directory.
3. Overwrite any existing files when prompted.
4. Regenerate the Visual Studio solution files (e.g., by running createallprojects.bat).
5. Open the solution in Visual Studio and compile it. The contentbuilder.exe executable will then be ready to use.

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Features

Supported Asset Types

• Materials (textures)
• Models
• Scenes
• Captions (subtitles)
• Maps
• VPK packages
• Addons (if compiled with MP_ADDON_SUPPORT) (NOT WORKING AT THE MOMENT)

Build Modes

• Force Build (-fb): Rebuilds all assets, even if they are up to date.
• Partial Build (default): Only builds assets that are out of date. (NOT WORKING AT THE MOMENT)
• Info Build (-info): Generates a detailed report of which assets would be built without compiling them.
• Steam Build (-steambuild): Prepares assets for a Steam release.
  • Automatically enables VPK generation.
  • Cleans the game directory from residual files (.log, .ptr, .lin).
• Addon Build (-addonbuild): Packages addons into a .bsp for Workshop release. (NOT WORKING AT THE MOMENT)
• -skipmaterial: Skip texture compilation.
• -skipmodel: Skip model compilation.
• -skipscene: Skip scene compilation.
• -skipcaption: Skip caption compilation.
• -skipmap: Skip map compilation.
• -vpk: Generate VPK packages.

Performance and System Options

• -threads N or -proc N: Set maximum simultaneous compile threads. Avaivle for MaterialBuilder, ModelBuilder, CaptionBuilder
• -toolsforce32bits: Force usage of 32-bit tools.
• -toolsforce64bits: Force usage of 64-bit tools.

Logging and Reports

• A main log is generated at:
  _build\contentbuilder.log
• The logger separates output into multiple files:
• General log
• Warnings log
• Errors log
• Logs help distinguish important issues from normal messages.

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File Structure

Since Source 1 lacks a built-in system to sync source content with game assets, ContentBuilder enforces its own structure. Everything is relative to the -game <gamedir>.

Builder	Source Extensions	Final Extensions	Description	Source Folder	Destination Folder
MaterialBuilder	.tga, .png, .psd, .vmt	.vtf, .vmt	Textures and materials	\materialsrc	\materials
ModelBuilder	.qc, .smd, .dmx	.mdl, .vtx, .phy, .vvd, .ani	3D models	\modelsrc	\models
CaptionBuilder	.txt	.dat	Close captions	\resource\closecaptionsrc	\resource
SceneBuilder	.vcd	.image	Valve Choreography Data (scenes)	\scene	\scene
MapBuilder	.vmf	.bsp	Source maps	\mapsrc	\maps
VpkBuilder	All compiled game content	.vpk	Valve Pack files (VPK archives)	<gamedir>	<gamedir>

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Supported Builders

Each builder corresponds to a compile tool. By default, these tools are assumed to exist in the bin or bin\x64 directory (the same location as contentbuilder.exe).

You can modify the command line of the builders. To add a command, specify it inside the BuildParam KeyValue.

Example

    CaptionBuilder
    {
        BuildParams     "-v -l"
    }

Only include the command-specific arguments in BuildParam, as ContentBuilder will automatically append:
-game <gamedir> <filename>

Command Line Expansion

The full format is:

<Tool Path> <BuildParams> -game <gamedir> <filename>

For SceneBuilder and VpkBuilder, the format is:

<Tool Path> <BuildParams> -game <gamedir>

Example:

"C:\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Source SDK Base 2013 Multiplayer\bin\x64\captioncompiler.exe" -v -l -game "D:\generic_test" "D:\generic_test\resource\closecaptionsrc\closecaption_brazilian.txt"

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Execution Order

Unless a compile type is skipped, the build order is as follows:

1. MaterialBuilder → runs vtex.exe to compile all textures.
2. ModelBuilder → runs studiomdl.exe to compile all models.
3. CaptionBuilder → runs captioncompiler.exe to compile all closecaption files.
4. SceneBuilder → runs sceneimagebuilder.exe to compile all Valve Choreography Data files.
5. MapBuilder → runs mapbuilder.exe to compile all source map files.
6. VpkBuilder → runs vpk.exe to create Valve Pack files.

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Script file (scripts/tools/contentbuilder_settings.txt)

ContentBuilder loads its configuration from scripts/tools/contentbuilder_settings.txt
This file defines all the settings required for compilation.
Take the example bellow as the base of your settings file.

ContentBuilder
{
    // For any builder (except VpkBuilder) exclude these files, folders, or extensions
    Exclude
    {
        // Folders
        ExcludeFileOrFolder     "mapsrc\dev"
        ExcludeFileOrFolder     "mapsrc\prefab"
        ExcludeFileOrFolder     "mapsrc\instances"  

        // Files
        ExcludeFileOrFolder     "materialsrc\dev\test.psd"
        ExcludeFileOrFolder     "modelsrc\template.qc"
    }

    // Do not remove these commands for vtex.exe — ContentBuilder behavior depends on them
    MaterialBuilder 
    {
        BuildParams     "-nopause -deducepath -nop4"
    }

    ModelBuilder    
    {
        BuildParams     "-nop4"
    }

    SceneBuilder
    {
        BuildParams     ""
    }

    CaptionBuilder
    {
        BuildParams     "" 
    }

    MapBuilder    
    {
        BuildParams     "-preset Final"
    }

    VpkBuilder
    {
        BuildParams     "-M"

        // Exclusions specific to VPK builds
        Exclude
        {
            // Extensions
            ExcludeFileOrFolder ".vcd" 
            ExcludeFileOrFolder ".ptr" 
            ExcludeFileOrFolder ".lin" 
            ExcludeFileOrFolder ".vpk" 

            // Files
            ExcludeFileOrFolder "gameinfo.txt" 
            ExcludeFileOrFolder "contentbuilder_settings.txt" 

            // Folders
            ExcludeFileOrFolder "_build" 
            ExcludeFileOrFolder "mapsrc" 
            ExcludeFileOrFolder "materialsrc" 
            ExcludeFileOrFolder "modelsrc" 
            ExcludeFileOrFolder "resource/closecaptionsrc" 
        }
    }
}

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Important!

• Your gameinfo.txt must be valid for the compiler to run, if not, the compile will fail. Which can lead to UNDEFINED behaviour.

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Contact

• Steam: Profile Link
• Twitter/X: @47Z14
• Discord: carlossuarez7285

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