Russian Nesting Doll (AKA Add-ons)

[DrewScott]

While I love community-supported projects, I do find add-ons for this program rather tricky. The problem I'm having is that required add-ons have other required add-ons which, themselves, include other required add-ons.

For example:

SpaceX Mission Package

• SpaceX Launch vehicles and Dragon by glider
  • VC++ 2010 Redistributable package
• US ISS A to Z v.3 by donamy
  • ISS AtoZ
  • ISS
    • Proton Launch Vehicle v.2.2 (by Thorton)
    • Soyuz FG (U) v.1.1 (by Thorton)
    • Shuttle Fleet V4.5 (by David413)
    • Shuttle Fleet V4.5 Service Pack 1
  • STS-92
    • Spacecraft3
    • SSU 1.25
      • OrbiterSound 4.0
      • KSC hires tiles
        • AMSO
        • HiRes KSC
      • Vandenberg AFB
• Dragon Update 2 by donamy
• Heat Rejection Subsystem Grapple Fixture [HRSGF] by donamy
• A.R.T. by BrianJ
  • multistage2.dll

Again, I understand community-driven projects like this. I spent my high-school years installing new aircraft in MS Flight Sim and get it. I just thought I might share some frustration in trying to get add-ons installed in this, otherwise, awesome program!

 

[Face]

While I love community-supported projects, I do find add-ons for this program rather tricky. The problem I'm having is that required add-ons have other required add-ons which, themselves, include other required add-ons.

For example:

SpaceX Mission Package

• SpaceX Launch vehicles and Dragon by glider
  • VC++ 2010 Redistributable package
• US ISS A to Z v.3 by donamy
  • ISS AtoZ
  • ISS
    • Proton Launch Vehicle v.2.2 (by Thorton)
    • Soyuz FG (U) v.1.1 (by Thorton)
    • Shuttle Fleet V4.5 (by David413)
    • Shuttle Fleet V4.5 Service Pack 1
  • STS-92
    • Spacecraft3
    • SSU 1.25
      • OrbiterSound 4.0
      • KSC hires tiles
        • AMSO
        • HiRes KSC
      • Vandenberg AFB
• Dragon Update 2 by donamy
• Heat Rejection Subsystem Grapple Fixture [HRSGF] by donamy
• A.R.T. by BrianJ
  • multistage2.dll

Again, I understand community-driven projects like this. I spent my high-school years installing new aircraft in MS Flight Sim and get it. I just thought I might share some frustration in trying to get add-ons installed in this, otherwise, awesome program!

I've once proposed a solution for this. In essence, it moves the burden of composition away from the user towards the developer.

 

[4throck]

A good feature would be for Orbiter to have a dedicated "mods" folder, with sub-folders for each add-on.

Then the user simply checks what's loaded or not. Orbiter already has this for modules.

My point is, any system should be supported by Orbiter / Martins. Otherwise it's just another complexity layer.

 

[Urwumpe]

A good feature would be for Orbiter to have a dedicated "mods" folder, with sub-folders for each add-on.

Then the user simply checks what's loaded or not. Orbiter already has this for modules.

My point is, any system should be supported by Orbiter / Martins. Otherwise it's just another complexity layer.

I agree - or a virtual file system, in which each add-on is included as ZIP file or folder, if wanted. (I love .ear files :lol

But a dependency manager interacting via REST with orbithangar mods or similar websites would be possible as add-on. I would just prefer it to be open-source and maintained "near" Orbiter, so we have it under our control.

 

[Face]

My point is, any system should be supported by Orbiter / Martins. Otherwise it's just another complexity layer.

If this means that you have to use a specific package manager to get your addons into Orbiter at all, I'd oppose the idea.

The current system supported by Orbiter / Martins is file-system xcopy-deployment. It is a pretty simple system for the addon authors, but complicated to use for addon users.

If we add another "supported" system, we will increase the complexity layer already by adding just another system, no matter where on the spectrum of "author/user complexity" it sits.

---------- Post added at 11:54 ---------- Previous post was at 11:52 ----------

But a dependency manager interacting via REST with orbithangar mods or similar websites would be possible as add-on.

OHM has a ReST-API? :speakcool:

 

[paddy]

A batch file which runs a number of FTP's to pull down the required list, written by the author??

 

[Urwumpe]

OHM has a ReST-API? :speakcool:

If not, my dreams have become way more weird than ever. :facepalm:

 

[Face]

If not, my dreams have become way more weird than ever. :facepalm:

No, seriously... I tried <hangarurl>/api - being almost standard for ReST-APIs - to no avail. There is also no documentation about this. It also looks like most of it is PHP scripted, so I doubt it is ReSTfull at all. Any pointers?