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KerbalX.com - Craft & Mission Sharing

katateochi

By katateochi
in KSP1 The Spacecraft Exchange

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katateochi

katateochi

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Now with Mission Hosting!
KerbalX is a site for craft sharing that automatically detects which mods a craft uses when it is uploaded.

26,000+ craft hosted / 1.8 million+ craft downloaded

About   Custom Hangars   Find Craft   User ModPacks   Site Stats 
Upload from in game with the KerbalX Mod
 

Easy Drag & Drop craft upload
Drop your craft on the site and KerbalX will detect which mods it uses
Customizable Craft Pages
Craft pages are fully customizable with text, pics, videos and automatically generated info
Powerful Craft Search System
Search for craft by a range of attributes and by the mods they use
Create Custom Hangars
Share custom collections of yours and other users' craft by putting them into hangars
Share your Mod Setup
KerbalX ModPacks make it easy so share the mods you use
CKAN integration
Download .ckan files for craft, hangars and modpacks for automatic mod installation
Upload .ckan files to quickly create modpacks or search for compatible craft
Mod and Part Lookup
Use KerbalX's database of mods and parts to find which mod a part belongs to
see examples of craft that use a particular mod and find where to download mods.

 

Need Help?
Send me a PM or ask your question here 		Found a Bug?
Report it on github or post about it here

 

Basic Use
KerbalX is a stand-alone service, you don't need to install anything, just sign up (it's free)
Once logged in an "upload craft" bar will appear under the site's header, drag a craft towards it (or click on it) to open the upload area and then drop your craft onto it.  When the craft has uploaded and been scanned the site will let you fill in some basic info about the craft and then take you to the page where you can customize how you want to display the craft.  

The site has a header bar which will always remain at the top of the page. Click the left side to return to the home page, click your username on the right to access the site menu and the center of the bar will change depending on where you are to give you context relevant links.

Customizing Your Craft Page
Spoiler

Each craft page is made up of a number of 'containers', each container is essentially just a text box into which you can write using BBcode and github/reddit style markdown.  You can drag the containers about and resize them to position them how you want.  You can set different background and font colors and adjust the overall font size on a container via a menu that appears in the top right when you hover the mouse over it.

To add new containers drag one of the container types from the top of the page and drop it where you want.  The basic "text container" is just an empty container that you can put whatever into, the image/video container will prompt you to enter a url to an image or video and then it will create the markdown formatting for you.  The other 3 types will add pre-made info about your craft.  There is nothing special about these other types of container, they are essentially just text boxes that come with pre-formatted text.
To add images, you will need to first upload the image to an image hosting site and then use the url that the site gives you.

The page will auto save a few seconds after the last change you make, if you start making another change before it saved it will wait for you to make the change before attempting to save.  You can see when the page is about to save by the progress bar under the save button.

If you've added multiple images to the page, you can select which one will be used as the thumbnail for the craft by clicking the thumbnail image in the header.

You can always return to the edit page for your craft, click on your craft and then click the "edit craft" link in the header bar.


Searching for Craft
Spoiler

The search feature on the main page lets you search for craft by a whole range of craft attributes, including which building (SPH/VAB) they were made in, what style (Ship, Spaceplane, Lander etc), part count, science parts and more.  

You can also filter the craft according to the mods they use; click the "mod filters" button and then select some mods. By default this filter will find craft that "Include" the mods you selected but which will probably also use other mods.  Switch to "With" mode and it will find craft that are compatible with the selected mods, those found will either use all or a subset of the selected mods.  You can also filter for craft which "Only" use the selected mods, those found will use all the selected mods and no others (this is a very restrictive filter).

When using the mod filter you can save your currently selected mods as a modpack, load an existing modpack and you can also drop any .ckan metapackage file onto the mod search area to automatically select the mods it lists.

You can also save searches so you can load them again or turn them into a url so you can share a particular search.


Hangars - Private, Public-Closed and Public-Open
Spoiler

Hangars let you create groups of craft, either your own craft or craft made by other users.  You will always have two hangars, your "favourites" and your "downloads" but you can create any number of additional hangars.  

You can set hangars to be private or public, and public hangars can be either "open" or "closed".  By default they will be closed which means only you can add craft to that hangar.  If you set a hangar to be "open" that will allow other users to add their craft into your hangar - useful as a way of letting users submit craft to you.

Hangars that have modded craft in them will have their own modpack that is generated with all the mods used by the craft in the hangar.


ModPacks
Spoiler

Mod packs are simply collections of mods, you can create any number of modpacks and add whichever mods you like into it.  You can then share them with others or load them when doing searches for craft.  

To create a modpack go to https://kerbalx.com/mod_packs and click create and give it a name, then you will be able to search for mods to add to it.  If you use CKAN you can drop a file that CKAN automatically creates (installed-default.ckan) or any .ckan file onto the page to automatically select those mods.  You can also create a modpack from the site menu (menu -> My Stuff -> ModPacks). If you create a mod pack while on a modded craft's page, it will automatically have the mods that craft uses added to it.

You can also set a modpack to be your "current setup".  The Modpack that is your current setup will have the url `https://kerbalx.com/<your_username>/installed_mods`, so you can post a link to your current setup (ie in your sig) and if you switch to a different setup you won't need to update the link.  It also lets KerbalX know which mods you use and you will see a "compatible" badge on the header of craft which will work with your current setup.

All modpacks let you download a .ckan "metapackage" file, which you can give to CKAN to automatically install the listed mods.


Using CKAN with KerbalX
Spoiler

If you use the CKAN mod manager, you can very quickly tell KerbalX which mods you have installed, either to run a search for compatible mods or to create mod pack.  CKAN automatically creates a .ckan file called 'installed-default.ckan' in the CKAN folder in your KSP install.  Grab that file and drop it onto the Mod Filter part of the search interface or when creating a mod pack drop it onto the page and the mods you have installed will be read from the file.

Every modded craft, hangar with modded craft and modpack will let you download a .ckan file that lists the required mods.  To use that file to tell CKAN to automatically install the required mods, open CKAN, click on file and then click 'install from .ckan'. see more info here


Parts of the site
Spoiler

Everything that you can share on the site will have a url that starts with your username.  Your profile page for example is just your username ie: https://kerbalx.com/katateochi, the list of all your craft has /craft after your username ie: https://kerbalx.com/katateochi/craft

Each of your craft will have a url starting with your username with /<the-crafts-name> ie: https://kerbalx.com/katateochi/DragonX-Replica
Here's a list of all the user specific urls: just replace <username> with your or another user's username.

Page Url structure Public / private
Your Profile `https://KerbalX.com/<username>` Public
All your Craft `https://KerbalX.com/<username>/craft` Public
Your Hangars `https://KerbalX.com/<username>/hangars` Public
Downloads hangar `https://KerbalX.com/<username>/downloads` optional public
Favourites Hangar `https://KerbalX.com/<username>/favourites` optional public
Your ModPacks `https://KerbalX.com/<username>/mod_packs` Public
Current setup ModPack `https://KerbalX.com/<username>/installed_mods` Public

You can post links to any of those locations.  These three are private and only accessible when logged in;

Page Url
Dashboard https://KerbalX.com/dashboard
Settings https://KerbalX.com/settings
View/Edit who you follow https://KerbalX.com/subscriptions

The other key locations on the site can all be access via the drop down menu in the top right of the header;

Page Url Function
Public Hangars https://KerbalX.com/hangars view all public hangars
ModPacks https://KerbalX.com/mod_packs view modpacks created by the community
Mods https://KerbalX.com/mods search for the mods in KX's database
Parts https://KerbalX.com/parts search for parts in KX's database
Users https://KerbalX.com/users view/search for other users of KerbalX

 

 

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Example Craft Pages1QLk8GLm.jpg
Search with some filters selected
WVZbC8Sm.jpg
Search with the mod search interface

Help Support KerbalX
patreon.png
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Over the last year KerbalX has had an uptime of 99.6%

 

Edited by katateochi
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OverloadUT

OverloadUT

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Fantastic! I've never been someone to download other people's crafts before, but this site may change that for me!

One suggestion: it would be lovely if planes/SSTOs could be flagged with which aerodynamic model they were designed for. I know you can't detect this because FAR/NEAR don't add any parts that you could parse, but perhaps it's something the user could set optionally upon uploading?

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katateochi

katateochi

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Fantastic! I've never been someone to download other people's crafts before, but this site may change that for me!

One suggestion: it would be lovely if planes/SSTOs could be flagged with which aerodynamic model they were designed for. I know you can't detect this because FAR/NEAR don't add any parts that you could parse, but perhaps it's something the user could set optionally upon uploading?

Thanks!!

Yes adding more attributes to craft is in the plans. dV is an obvious one to add too, but I'm holding off on that because I need some mathematically gifted person on here to explain to me how to calculate that from the craft file (must be possible right?) and I'd much rather have that as a "true" value rather than a user entered one (sorry developer hat on; never trust the user!).

So there will be some other "set" attributes. I was also wondering about flexible attributes that users can define themselves, but that gets interesting when it comes to searching in that data. Alternatively it could just be used to provide information on the crafts page and not used in the search.

I don't use FAR (yet), can you give me an example of what you'd want to search for to find the right aerodynamic model.

This is an awesome idea! I too really didnt download craft files much (mostly cause of the hassle of mod associations) So this site will be useful

Bookmarked!

Oh wow, this is fantastic! Love the layout. I too didn't downloaded craft files much since I usually build my own. This and KerbalStuff is great! I also like the little animated rocket on the right to go to the top of the page. :)

Thanks guys!!

You know, funny thing, I don't ever download craft either! In all my KSP life I've only ever flown one rocket that was made by someone else (and they emailed it to me).

Er, so why the hell did I make this site then?

Because I (as I'm sure you guys do) come at this from the supply end of things. I love to share craft and infact I got really into playing pure stock, simply because it made sharing easier. But that's not right! It should be easy to share modded craft. But I can never remember what mods I've used on a particular craft and then you tell me I've got to sit down and write up a list complete with download links. No!! Enough I say, I want to just post craft and be done with it! So that's the direction I'm coming from!

Re the little rocket on the right;

I laughed so much when I got that working!!! It's just 5 html divs, some css styles and transitions with a bit of javascript to set the timings up! It works a bit differently in different browsers, oddly enough it works best in IE (although sometimes the legs come flyng off, how Kerbal)!!

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Justin Kerbice

Justin Kerbice

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quite impressive, and you go very deep in your explanations :).

One issue: two crafts files can be uploaded at the same time, only the first seems to be considered. So either allow only one file or loop on each files (might be complicated).

EDIT: looks like we can, need to try this again.

For dV calculation, maybe you can take a look at the tools which do the maths (MJ, KER, ...).

EDIT: your mods recognition is not "smart" enough, mod base directory is not good enough to have a match. MAybe something like <unknow part>=<ask user for a name + a download link> in web UI.

Edited by Justin Kerbice
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katateochi

katateochi

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Looks good! Do you need/want a logo for the site? I'd be happy to make one, I'm the guy who made the current Kerbal Stuff logo. :)
katateochi: Did you make this website? Nice work! Do you want me to find you logo? I can help you find it with a link in your private messages.

ooo, multiple logo offers!

Yes I do want a logo, don't really know what I want yet, aside from that I'm kinda going for a SpaceX kinda thing. Yes CDK, I did make it and the "art work" but doing the art stuff is really not my area of skill so input on that would be great.

As well as a logo, I need a simple set of base images for craft that don't have pictures. Currently if you post something and don't put a pic then you get a pic of something exploding (intended as an incentive to put your own pic). Think I need something a bit nicer thou.

A search by author would be nice. Such as Mulbin or his company name apogee. Or even youtuber name.

I did wonder about a search by author in the main search but I decided against it because it would it possible to influence the search results. For example someone could call themselves SSTOmaster and then all their craft would be returned in any search with the word SSTO.

But your right, finding people is something that is needed. So there will be a search for user, just not as part of the main craft search. Currently if you click on the menu in the header and then click on Find it will open a sub menu and from there you can go to Users (or parts or mods). Currently /users /mods and /parts are just dumb lists, but they will each get a search dialog at the top.

Each user has a "profile" page. You can get to your profile page from the header menu or goto kerbalx.com/profile or you can goto kerbalx.com/<a users name> to see someone elses profile.

There is also kerbalx.com/<a users name>/craft to list and search within the craft from a particular user. ie http://kerbalx.com/katateochi/craft

You profiles are very basic atm and unless you upload anything it doesn't show anything. I will be adding more attributes to your accounts so you can put links to forum profile, youtube channel, twitch and anything else you guys can suggest.

quite impressive, and you go very deep in your explanations :).

One issue: two crafts files can be uploaded at the same time, only the first seems to be considered. So either allow only one file or loop on each files (might be complicated).

For dV calculation, maybe you can take a look at the tools which do the maths (MJ, KER, ...).

The upload of multiple craft should work. The first one to complete should display its dialog, but the other should carry on uploading, even if you change page. It will then appear in your header, it should say something like "1 new upload", clicking that should take you to the next craft that uploaded.

Yes I was thinking I'd have to look at how those two do it. Hopefully I can get some help from their developers cos that sounds like eye-watering kinda maths!

Edited by katateochi
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katateochi

katateochi

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snip

EDIT: your mods recognition is not "smart" enough, mod base directory is not good enough to have a match. MAybe something like <unknow part>=<ask user for a name + a download link> in web UI.

I noticed that your craft (Fuel Station base +ms6) didn't have all its parts detected. And then you uploaded a part-map (nice 1 btw, thanks). But it was still showing the craft as missing parts.

What you didn't know, (cos there is nothing to indicate to you to do this) is you need to tell KerbalX to re-scan the craft. Go to the crafts edit page and at the bottom of the page there is a link to re-scan the craft (only on craft with "missing parts")

I've done it for you as I was poking around the he DB at the time and its not showing as missing any parts now.

I already uploaded 2 planes I have... The seaplane is realy nice... Polar Bear is only for the Pros... :P

Polar Bear is awesome! I saw it listed as stock craft and on first glance I thought my code had messed up, that's not stock I thought, but on closer inspection I see that your insane!

Looks like you tried to put a vid on that page and it didn't work. The format for inserting a vid is [vid:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tp6yj2k0Fpc] or [vid:Tp6yj2k0Fpc]

[edit]

Re craft the have missing parts.

Currently if you upload a craft and not all its parts are detected then it is labelled as "missing parts". When you (or someone else) uploads a new part-map that contains the missing parts the system does not automatically re-scan all craft with missing parts. You have to manually ask it to re-scan the craft. This is temporary, that process will get automated.

Edited by katateochi
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katateochi

katateochi

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So couple minor updates have gone up;

- I've changed the name for the (probe, rover, ship...etc) group. That is now the craft's "class" (it was the craft's style before, what was I thinking).

- I've reduced the threshold for mods appearing in the search. Because I'm sure at some point someone will upload a part-map with rubbish, there is a threshold that means mods that have only been reported by one user don't show up in the mod selector in the search interface. But for now as things are still new and most mods have only been reported by one user I've turned that threshold off.

btw the order that mods appear in the mods selector is based on the number of people who have reported that mod. So Squad and NASAmission will always be at the top as everyone reports them. Then it should be an order that reflects the mods popularity.

Typing into the "filter by mods" field will filter what the mod selector shows.

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katateochi

katateochi

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I'm having some problems to describe the action groups. Sometimes they save, sometimes not.

Is that when editing them after the craft is posted, or in the set of questions you get directly after uploading it?

I'm having a look at that now. Of all the actions its one of the simplest, so why its not working, Jeb only knows!

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BinaryBad

BinaryBad

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Totally get this. Was searching for a site exactly like this when I got Karbonite mod. Just to better help me see how the new parts interacted. And sometimes it's great to just .... around in something you haven't spent hours on, like crashing another dude's car, and they don't mind.

- - - Updated - - -

Totally get this. Was searching for a site exactly like this when I got Karbonite mod. Just to better help me see how the new parts interacted. And sometimes it's great to just .... around in something you haven't spent hours on, like crashing another dude's car, and they don't mind.

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katateochi

katateochi

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the editing one sometimes works.... the uploading one didn't worked at all...

I can't replicate this. Either way works fine for me, in a couple different browsers. What browser are you using?

Great, but if i click download at any vessel i tried.....site is not available

Do you get an error message of any kind?

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