Compatibilities, Compatibilities, Compatibilities..

Harmsway! · 07-15-10, 08:08 PM

I think you have a misunderstanding on how mods are coded. There is not a compatible way and an incompatible way. Any mod will be incompatible with another if it overwrites the same file as the other mod. There is no way to plan for this unless the mods are made with each other in mind.

For example if one mod changes the HUD color while another changes the HUD commands the two will be incompatible unless the two modders share each others work. You can't expect dozen of coders to know what dozen of others are doing. Truth is though there is a lot of collaboration going on. I for one am very appreciative for that.

Without the foreknowledge of what other coders might be doing the only way to write code that has a chance of being compatible when touching the same file is if you can append the code to the file leaving the preexisting code untouched. This normally is not done because it requires special installers to be written for the user. And there is still the chance that one append could be in conflict with another. Such as both mods wanting to change the HUD color. One has to win over the other or crash.

07-15-10, 08:08 PM	#19
Harmsway! XO Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Florida Posts: 400 Downloads: 126 Uploads: 0	I think you have a misunderstanding on how mods are coded. There is not a compatible way and an incompatible way. Any mod will be incompatible with another if it overwrites the same file as the other mod. There is no way to plan for this unless the mods are made with each other in mind. For example if one mod changes the HUD color while another changes the HUD commands the two will be incompatible unless the two modders share each others work. You can't expect dozen of coders to know what dozen of others are doing. Truth is though there is a lot of collaboration going on. I for one am very appreciative for that. Without the foreknowledge of what other coders might be doing the only way to write code that has a chance of being compatible when touching the same file is if you can append the code to the file leaving the preexisting code untouched. This normally is not done because it requires special installers to be written for the user. And there is still the chance that one append could be in conflict with another. Such as both mods wanting to change the HUD color. One has to win over the other or crash.