PitCrew

PitCrew is a mod loader automating certain tasks making modding more accessible for the game.

To achieve it's goal of making modding more accessible for both users and mod makers, it mainly does the following two things:

Allowing smaller mod files

By hooking into the game's file list, PitCrew is able to add mods DAT archives to the list. Meaning rather than having to replace the files of the game, modders can simply make new DAT archives with only the changed files inside them. This prevents the need to replace (and potentially lose) the original game's files while having downloads be much smaller since there is no need to re-add any of the original game's files.

Merging Binaries/Databases

The game relies on auto generated binaries and databases of hashes and values for the majority of things that can be edited such as in-game radio listings, physics, vinyl listings, and more. Some of these files are quite large housing a load of variables together, with three in particular having a huge majority of the game's settings inside it. Because the game can only load one instance of these files at a time, it would lead to all mods that plan to use those three files file for example incompatible with each other. By making a pseudo binary diff format, modders can once again simply include only their changed data with the location they want the data to be changed at. This lets mods have more compatibility with each other while also letting modders isolate their work in smaller, more manageable files.

GUI and CLI

PitCrew comes in two forms. PitCrew, the main GUI application, provides ease of access when it comes to mod installation and comes with a conflict manager letting you know which mods will likely not work together.

PitCrewCompiler is the command line version, providing a way to compile game instances without needing to touch the GUI. More information can be found at the GitHub