Mod creation resources?

[Rutabaga22]

I was wondering if there were any good resources on ksp mod creation. I really want to learn to create part mods, but have no experience with any of it.

[Pehvbot]

In short:

• Start simple
• Have specific goals
• Look at how others have solved the same problem
• Ask specific questions

It's a big topic with lots of different areas.  The easiest way to start is to learn ModuleManager patching first.  Begin by modifying existing parts to do what you want.  Look at other mods that do more or less what you want, read up on how patching works (this site and the MM wiki), etc.

Next learn about 3d modeling.  Blender is free and there are plenty of tutorials.  It's a steep learning curve so be prepared for some frustration.  With KSP you first create the 3d model, then you prepare it for the game using the Unity tools, finally you create a configuration file that defines all it's game attributes.  There's a more or less current thread with some good pointers.  Start with simple parts, even just a cube with attachment points can be a bit of a challenge at first.

If you find you want to dive into the programming side, that's an even steeper learning curve, especially if you don't have a programming background.  Personally I learned by picking apart other people's code and modifying it, asking specific code questions here, etc.