Would it be possible to introduce some form of button/functionality to the mods management user interface that would allow player (modpack developer) to download all missing dependencies for the mod(pack) with a single click?
The main use-case for this would be the ability to easily work with unpublished/local/development releases of a modpack. When working on new mods/modpacks, normally I have a git repository with the mod(pack) files symlinked into Factorio's "mods" directory. However, because it is "installed" outside of Factorio mod management, this does not automatically pull in all the necessary dependencies. My current workaround is:
- Install currently published version of modpack via game (so I would not have to install dependencies one by one).
- Exit from the game.
- Remove the modpack zip file from mods directory.
- Symlink the git repository into the mods directory.
- Deal with eventual missing dependencies one by one (in case my local copy has additional mods listed in info file).
- Ability to test local changes starting with a clean state (no mods installed etc). This kinda cascades into all other use-cases.
- Ability to test changes to dependency specification.
- Ability to test releases prior to their upload.
Branko