Config Packs - Any Interest?

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Okay, after yet another 'herp derp we don't need no steenkin' permission' mod packs that someone attempted to advertise on another forum I happen to frequent, I gave it a brief looksie and said to myself "Hmm... you know, I could probably write a config pack for that, and it would work out nearly identical, other than the end-user having to manually download the mods themselves, all nice and legal-like". Which really gave me an idea.

Lots of people don't like GregTech because they do not like how it changes IC2 recipies. I could probably offer config packs for various custom settings (such as turning all the altered recipes back to IC2 standard) that people who don't like them can use, and those who do like them can point to them as an alternate solution for those who don't. In other words, pretty much putting the whole debate to rest.

Now then, just to clarify:

A Config Pack is from MultiMC. Basically, it saves all of the .cfg settings. You can then freely distribute these config packs because it's just the .cfg settings, not the mods themselves, you still have to (hopefully legitimately) obtain copies of the mods themselves. The advantage of a config pack over a mod pack are; 1) You aren't distributing code or mods, so no need for permissions (although I'd like a mod to pop in and verify that this is okay before I begin, just to be sure), 2) It's just the .cfg files, whose size is measured in KB rather than MB, so it's some thousand times quicker download. Saves a lot on the storage space too.

Config Packs have been around since MMC4.0, around the release of 1.3.2, and was a major point in DW20's App Spotlight. However, I really haven't heard of anyone using them much. So my question is... does anyone care about them? Would anyone actually be interested in obtaining config packs, either as replacements for mod packs being distributed without permissions or as tweaks for FTB mod packs?

 

[raiju]

Assuming it's all fine with the mods it sounds great. I assume this would just be a download executable for the less IT-capable to run so they don't need to touch the file size of minecraft at all?

 

[Belone]

Well I think it's a good idea, but you might still want to check with the mod creators, even if it is just out of courtesy, after all the config files are still part of their hard work. But yeah, there could definitely be a market for this.

 

[ItharianEngineering]

I like the idea. It could help standardize the configurations of people who typically turn off X mod or add Y to the pack. I didn't realize this was a function that MMC had and it will help when I play with friends because I have added a lot of mods to the pack as well as updating it. It is at least a better solution then telling them to get all the mods and then change X mod's config to this and Y's to that so they can play on a friend's server.

 

[ShneekeyTheLost]

Assuming it's all fine with the mods it sounds great. I assume this would just be a download executable for the less IT-capable to run so they don't need to touch the file size of minecraft at all?

No, it's not an executable, it's a config pack file. Basically, you run MultiMC, tell it to Import Config Pack (from the Create New Instance icon, click on the arrow for the drop down menu). As long as the mods are in your MultiMC/mods folder, you're good. If not, it'll tell you which mods you need, and which versions of those mods you need.

Well I think it's a good idea, but you might still want to check with the mod creators, even if it is just out of courtesy, after all the config files are still part of their hard work. But yeah, there could definitely be a market for this.

Definitely. I did put in the caveat that I would want moderator approval before starting the project, because I had figured they would know if the mod authors would have an issue with it. However, specifically getting a green light from mod authors, or at least their opinion on the project, would probably be the way to go.

I like the idea. It could help standardize the configurations of people who typically turn off X mod or add Y to the pack. I didn't realize this was a function that MMC had and it will help when I play with friends because I have added a lot of mods to the pack as well as updating it. It is at least a better solution then telling them to get all the mods and then change X mod's config to this and Y's to that so they can play on a friend's server.

Yea, config packs are great for server play. As a matter of formatting, I'd probably link the website of any mods which are supposed to be included, to make sure people get it from the correct source. So, for example, if I made an FTB config pack that included Valve Pipes, I'd probably link back to the Valve Pipes thread on the minecraft forums so they can go download it there.

 

[b0h]

Basically, it's just a copy of the config folder. I see no harm in sharing that.