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Crash Course

Step 1: Setup project

Create a game on the Rivet Dashboard

Visit the Rivet Dashboard to create a new game.

Install the Rivet CLI

Follow instructions here.

Initialize the project

Open your project's directory in a terminal and run:

rivet init
Command Line

This will guide you through setting up your project with Rivet.

Write a Dockerfile for your server

You'll need a Dockerfile to build and run your game server.

Step 2: Integrate Rivet Matchmaker

Install the Rivet library

npm install --save @rivet-gg/api

Update your client

Copy the following pseudocode into the appropriate places in your source:

import { RivetClient } from '@rivet-gg/api';
let rivet = new RivetClient({ token: process.env.RIVET_TOKEN });

// Find a lobby (a new lobby will automatically be created on demand if needed)
let res = await rivet.matchmaker.lobbies.find({ gameModes: ['default'] });

// Connect to the lobby (Rivet automatically manages your SSL)
let ws = new WebSocket(`wss://${res.ports['default'].host}/?token=${res.player.token}`);
TypeScript

Update your server

Copy the following pseudocode into the appropriate places in your source:

// `RIVET_TOKEN` is automatically added to the environment by Rivet.
import { RivetClient } from "@rivet-gg/api";
let rivet = new RivetClient({ token: process.env.RIVET_TOKEN });

// Tell Rivet your server is ready. This gives you time to load maps and
// other data before accepting players.
rivet.matchmaker.lobbies.ready().catch(() => process.exit(1));

myGameServer.on("connect", await (socket) => {
	let playerToken = socket.request.query.token;

	// Notify the matchmaker that the player connected. This can be
	// called only once per player token. This will throw an error and
	// close the socket if the player token is already used or invalid.
	await rivet.matchmaker.players.connected({ playerToken }).catch(err => socket.close());

	socket.on("close", async () => {
		// Notify the matchmaker that the player disconnected.
		await rivet.matchmaker.players.disconnected({ playerToken });
	});
});
TypeScript

Step 3: Publish your game

# Deploy to the production namespace
rivet deploy prod
Command Line

This will print a URL ending in rivet.game. If you are hosting your game on Rivet CDN, visit that URL to play your game.