Difference between Server and Headless?

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:bust_in_silhouette: Asked By shinyclaw

Hi, this seems like a stupid question, but I can’t find any information on that issue… In the download section for Linux we have Server and Headless - what is exactly the difference between them? I know that Headless has no graphics and sound modules and should be used for dedicated servers, but in that case, what is the role of Server? And the most interesing - what parameters are used to compile them?

I have the same question, However from the docs the headless version can be used to export projects from the command line (or remotely).
Also the build system exposes the ability to strip the resulted binary from tools, or build the server version through “p=server tools=no”

mohammad.rasmi | 2018-11-17 04:41

I think headless is for cmdline useage, and server is used for game server

ywaby | 2018-12-22 10:58

:bust_in_silhouette: Reply From: Dooowy.

Similarity
Headless and Server are very similar. According to CS, headless usually has input in the physical level while Server gets input from the network model in the OSI model. The term is kind of bleak because Amateur programmers will sometimes refer Headless to a server, once it’s a server there should not be a need for physical input except for power and when to shut down, restart, ect. Headless should require a keyboard for input not a command via network. Once it can read commands over a network like shutdown, restart, ect it is considered a server.
Short answer
If your program can recieve commands that order the computer to shutdown or restart. It’s a server. If your program is designed for people to run in the background via seperate instance with no Graphics. Then it is considered Headless.

This is not the difference between Headless and Server in Godot’s context.

In Godot, a “headless” binary includes editor-only functionality (such as exporting) whereas a “server” binary doesn’t.

Calinou | 2021-05-05 18:15