Hello. I am making an alternative version of Steam Big Picture mode with Unity.
I’d like to know if it’s possible to implement Steam library inside Unity.
Thanks.
Before trying to do that you need to at least check if this is even allowed by steam subscriber agreement.
You can check that with a lawyer, or you could ask Valve directly.
I am going to use my program only with my friends so I don’t think there will be legal issues, but I’ll definitely check that out!
Thanks
This sort of application is basically a fancy way to display some text and pictures. As long as you can pull relevant data from your account, you should be able to implement a big picture mode replacement.
The question is whether the agreement allows that or not.
Steam has REST APIs for accessing user information:
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Just be careful that your friends don’t share it with their friends and so on. 
Even if there were no public API (like there seems to be) it is not illegal to use information or general internet endpoints\servers with your own software. In the end, a browser or the Steam client is software too. Of course if you cause or intend to cause harm (like with DDoS attacks) or make profit off of the system it’s another story.
Only other thing to be careful about is copyrighted stuff, like putting the Steam logo in your application can have restrictions (or is only tolerated for certain purposes, like in a game to show that “it’s on steam”).
I’m referring to the idea that you give it to one friend who then gives it to another that then gives it to yet another and before you know it it’s been uploaded somewhere. 
Yeah 
Just saying that even if that happens, it’s unlikely that this would get the thread starter in trouble.
Actually that one’s false. And rather than “illegal” (which for me always implies it is against CRIMINAL law), there’s matter of EULA of the service you’re using (or abusing), and using public information of general internet endpoints may be easily going against it.
For example, we have google maps with all their wonderful map tiles, map information and so on, but you are not allowed to rip that data and use it in your game unless you go through the ways google provided to you. Meaning map API.
Same deal with Steam. You need to raincheck if that’s allowed.
And same deal with information on the internet. Just because the information is accessible to you, it does not mean you are allowed to use it.
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This. Case in point, you need to fill a form to obtain a Steam API key and they can revoke it if you use it in ways their agreement forbids.
That’s an entirely different case. There is copyright on that data and that’s why you may not just use it.
Of course, if the API is bound to an account etc, the provider can control it and EULA’s apply.
Sure, but it’s not the whole reason. After all they do freely give that data out freely and without physical restriction to anyone who logs in through the provided mechanisms.
Servers have running costs and limited capacity, and the stuff running on them commonly had buckets of money invested into it. They belong to someone, and you need their permission to use their stuff. Usually they only give you permission to use it via a specific mechanism. If you’ve SSH’d into some servers you might notice that there’s almost always a message saying that unless you’re an authorised user you can’t go any further, and as far as I’m aware there are provisions in various telecommunications acts which back that up, depending on where you are in the world.
Anyway, if there’s a public API then there should also be some clear statements in the license about what you can and can’t do with it.
That’s not only a copyright problem. It is also EULA problem, because by using their service you have to accept their condition.
Basically, imagine that somebody accidentally is running a router with default password and web-configurator visible. Or accidentally exposed their computer’s filesystem to a web server. This data is now publicly accessible. However, accessing that data without permission is not allowed.
And in case of united states, I believe there’s this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Fraud_and_Abuse_Act
Though this is a lawyer territory.