Consider re-adding the ability to select the game to configuration file

[twrightsman]

Problem

#13550 dropped the default_game setting from minetest.conf. This setting was useful for situations like running minetestserver in a template systemd unit.

For example, suppose I have a systemd template unit configured to start a server with the config in /etc/minetest/pvp.conf when [email protected] is started or in /etc/minetest/mineclonia.conf when [email protected] is started. Previously, I could use the same template service file and set the game in the configuration file. Now, if I want to run different games it seems I have to create individual service files that have --gameid set to the appropriate value, which defeats the purpose of the template units.

Perhaps I am missing some configuration option that allows this.

Solutions

Add a configuration option back to set the game from the configuration file.

Alternatives

#13550 mentions it should "automatically pick the first non-devtest game", but this doesn't seem to be the case for the dedicated server, which errors out if --gameid is not set even if MTG is installed and available.
(has been fixed)

Additional context

Related to setting the game, hopefully the map-dir setting in the configuration file is not deprecated like the CLI option to minetestserver is?

[sfan5]

Just fyi an usual solution to this limitation is to use an environment file (I think they can also be templated).
Here's an example from a different program:

prometheus.service:
[...]
[Service]
Restart=on-failure
User=prometheus
EnvironmentFile=/etc/default/prometheus
ExecStart=/usr/bin/prometheus $ARGS
[...]

/etc/default/prometheus:
ARGS='--enable-feature=memory-snapshot-on-shutdown'

#13550 mentions it should "automatically pick the first non-devtest game", but this doesn't seem to be the case for the dedicated server, which errors out if --gameid is not set even if MTG is installed and available.

somewhat related: #14989

[twrightsman]

Ah totally forgot about EnvironmentFile, thanks! That's a solid workaround. Though long-term I still think it's easier for server admins running multiple servers to have the game + world configurable from the standard configuration file.