Early updates delivered through these packages introduced the Lua programming language to the game, allowing the community to create their own tools and game modes.
In its infancy (Versions 1 through 9.0.4), Garry’s Mod was a free download. During this time, the "Auto-Updater" was a critical utility because the game was not yet integrated into Steam's automated update ecosystem. Developers like Garry Newman used external scripts and zip-packaged updaters to deliver new features—such as the iconic gm_construct map or the first iterations of the physics gun—directly to users. Impact of Manual and Scripted Updates
Before the Steam Workshop became the centralized hub for content, managing a GMod installation was a manual process.
In the modern landscape, zip files claiming to be "Auto Updaters" or "Patches" for Garry’s Mod are often viewed with caution. GModPatchTool (Official Visual Install Guide) [Windows]