node-steam-user VS SteamCMD-GUI

https://github.com/DoctorMcKay/node-steam-user is a popular NodeJS library for writing steam bots. This could provide useful, but iirc the method this uses for login will only allow you to have one login session at a time. Steam will automatically kick you out with a "logged in elsewhere" error.

https://github.com/DoctorMcKay/node-steam-user/blob/master/examples/databasedownloader.js - then you can follow the code here to list the game info thanks :D

Depends on what language you're using for JavaScript I think the defacto is anything Doctor McKay makes https://github.com/DoctorMcKay/node-steam-user, https://github.com/DoctorMcKay/node-steam-user etc. If you use python, I'd recommend https://github.com/Gobot1234/steam.py (I'm totally not biased). If you use C# then SteamKit is always a good option. If you use rust then SteamHelper looks interesting although doesn't support too many trading bot features

I don't know any direct resources for learning how the Steam network works, smart people figured it out over many years and lots of reverse engineering. I just know a few programming libraries which you can use to interact with it, the most popular two being Steam-User (JavaScript) and SteamKit2 (.NET).

One way you can do this, is by using the "steam user" node module node-steam-user. to play the games. And use the api call to Steam_Web_API to get the playtime of each of the games the account have.

However, Steam has been long offering https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD (command line, no UI) as an alternative to normal Steam Client so you can install that (replaces the current) and add either https://github.com/dmadisetti/steam-tui or https://github.com/DioJoestar/SteamCMD-GUI that uses SteamCMD but offers a functional UI, the alternative you're seeking for.

I know Steam/SteamCMD is not open-source, but I've been curious as to the limitations of the program. A lot of people often complain about the Steam client, and while I personally like it for what it is, I feel like a lot of people might get appeasement if a more open-source program was made. I'm mainly just curious if that's actually possible, or if SteamCMD's limitations are to where it can only do the basic stuff that this program does. Most info I can readily find online is stuff from about 10 years ago, so I don't know how much has changed since then. I know it's mainly meant for servers, but in theory it could be repurposed if it has a lot of the same featureset.

Lucky for you, https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD still works as the No-UI command line interface that's sole purpose is to act as a DRM-checking layer that is stripped from all the bloatware latest Steam Beta offers in the name of fancy. And if you combine that https://github.com/dmadisetti/steam-tui or https://github.com/DioJoestar/SteamCMD-GUI, you'll get yourself a still functional and manageable but not so good looking DIY Steam Client, totally legit.

What can you do? Luckily so far https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD (Command Line UI) is still working for the lowest consumption and Players are fighting to keep it alive via Projects like https://github.com/DioJoestar/SteamCMD-GUI or https://github.com/dmadisetti/steam-tui but I'm pretty sure that stupid developer will also convince Gaben to get rid of them sooner or later.

I don't think there will be any SteamLite, but for your purpose, you can try SteamCMD: https://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/SteamCMD For GUI: https://github.com/DioJoestar/SteamCMD-GUI I haven't used it, so I can't tell what problems you might encounter.