Question about how KSP loads resources, and trying to save on memory usage.

[Nnimrod]

I'm making a tech tree mod, and placing and balancing every part. For balance reasons I don't want any parts there that I haven't put there, and for memory reasons I don't want the game loading any resources it won't be using. How should I handle mods that add many parts that I won't use, but which add some parts that I absolutely want? Like for instance BDB. The point being that I don't want to load a bunch of textures and models that I won't be using.

 

Option 1. Don't use those mods, and instead redistribute only the assets required within my mod. The issue with this is that not all mod's licenses/authors allow for this. Although it definitely saves memory.

Option 2. Include a patch that deletes all parts except those from my mod. I make the other parts mods dependencies and I don't redistribute any art. This is maximally compatible, but is KSP going to waste memory loading resources for parts that aren't even being loaded?

 

 

Perhaps something could be done with Janitor's closet? It's late and I'm sure I'm missing something, but I figured since I'm considering the possibility that I might actually publish it, I ought to do things right this time.

[hemeac]

Congrats on starting the modding journey!  It's my understanding that any texture file and model (mu file) that is in the Gamedata folder is loaded irrespective of a config file and you won't be able to change that with MM patches alone.  I've never tried permaprune for Janitor's Closet, so I don't know how that would work in practice or whether you can share your config.  The biggest issue that I envision for this mod is that you have a very specific experience that you want to impart onto other players.  That can be a dual-edged sword.  Think you will have a few people who will skip your description as TL;DR and then wonder why their favorite part from a mod is not available.  So I would just be ready for that conversation a few times with users.  But otherwise, I like the idea of a curated experience as it can really create a new aspect to the game.  If it's any help, I have been making myself a tool to help to help place and balance parts for my update to the Kiwi Tech Tree.  You can find it here: https://github.com/hemeac/kiwiTechTree/blob/dev/Source/TechTree_040121.xlsx?raw=true. There will be things in it that won't be applicable such as the part upgrades, but that should be able to be stripped out. 

I also highly recommend LGG's DataDump:

And PartInfo

 

[linuxgurugamer]

6 hours ago, Nnimrod said:

Perhaps something could be done with Janitor's closet? It's late and I'm sure I'm missing something, but I figured since I'm considering the possibility that I might actually publish it, I ought to do things right this time.

Janitor's Closet renames files when permapruning, so that won't work for you.