[Rseding] [0.17.72] Doesn't allow loading Industrial Revolution mod

[mrvn]

The Industrial Revolution mod can't be enabled (colored red) but no reason is given why:

mod-bug.png (514.43 KiB) Viewed 2236 times

The reason why it can't load is:

"(?)deadlock-beltboxes-loaders >= 2.2.1",

But (?) dependencies seem to not be shown in the GUI.

[Bilka]

Ooooooh the issue is that belt boxes is too low of a version.

[Deadlock989]

Hidden dependencies in hidden shocker.

[Rseding91]

I guess I could change it so if the hidden required dependency isn't met it still shows. But I don't know if that's an appropriate "fix" since the mod author made it hidden for a reason.

Basically I don't have a perfect solution. Maybe hidden required dependencies don't make sense? But they exist as a thing right now and seemingly people are using them.

[DaveMcW]

hidden required dependencies don't make sense

I agree.

[Deadlock989]

hidden required dependencies don't make sense

I agree.

This is a hidden optional dependency. The version number is only there because the mod relies on a feature provided by that version, back in June, that isn't in previous versions. The worst that can happen is that some massively out of date version of the optionally-required mod prevents it loading. Big deal, update your mods.

But Marvin has edited the mod version in question from some ancient version from months and months ago, so I'm guessing they don't want to overwrite it with the updated version that IR requires. (They could have just changed the mod name if they were going to fork it and avoid all of these shenanigans, but no, better to make a name-and-shame bug report to Wube about it I guess.) If the version requirement wasn't there, the game wouldn't even load if some decrepit version of the mod is still installed.

If the game did warn people about hidden dependencies which are below the version required, that would be fine. I only use hidden dependencies to control loading order because there's no other choice. The reason they are hidden is that players seem to think that optional dependencies are recommendations. They are not. As long as there is that widespread perception error, I will continue to use hidden ones if I'm only interested in loading order, or until they're suddenly taken away again on a whim.

[valneq]

I believe the mod UI could communicate this case better. As Deadlock says: hidden optional dependencies make perfect sense, especially with minimal version requirements. If the requirement is installed, but in an incompatible version, why not list something like "Incompatible with: beltboxes<2.2.1".

Wube could decide to show this incompatibility for all optional dependencies with minimal version number, or only for the optional dependencies that are both installed and activated. Either choice might be reasonable.

But then again: I don't understand why anyone would not keep their mods up to date.

[steinio]

Why not disable the mod with the wrong version intead of the requesting mod?

[valneq]

Why not disable the mod with the wrong version intead of the requesting mod?

I think it is more helpful for the user if the mod UI communicates "Please update beltboxes to at least version 2.2.1 in order to activate industrial revolution" in some way, instead of just deactivating beltboxes for being out of date, or refusing to activate industrial revolution.

[mrvn]

It's not about why one mod is kept at a lower version or which mod to update or disable.

The problem is: THE GUI DOES NOT SHOW THE CONFLICT.

An optional dependency with a minimum version is considered a conflict with a lower version.

I guess I could change it so if the hidden required dependency isn't met it still shows. But I don't know if that's an appropriate "fix" since the mod author made it hidden for a reason.

Basically I don't have a perfect solution. Maybe hidden required dependencies don't make sense? But they exist as a thing right now and seemingly people are using them.

Showing when a hidden optional depends is in conflict is the appropriate "fix". That's all that is needed really. The user can then decide to disable one of the mods or update them or whatever.