Faster start sequence / Update check / Load order

[ssilk]

This is about changing the order of the game-start. Currently it does first basic initialization, then loads the mods, then checks for updates.

There are some issues with it:
- all mods needs to be loaded, before the game starts (a modder needs to restart the game every time he changes his mod)
- the update check is after the complete startup
- while updating, there could be more information displayed

Dependend on this are the configuration of the mods.

https://forums.factorio.com/forum/vie ... f=6&t=8004 Check for updates first, load assets later
https://forums.factorio.com/forum/vie ... =6&t=15441 Read changelog while downloading updates
https://forums.factorio.com/forum/vie ... =6&t=16128 Update first on factorio launch BEFORE all other loading.

Related is the runtime loading of mods:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=9584 Mod support: reload data.raw related mods
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=13243 Mod reloading at "runtime"
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=28342 Suggestion: Wait to Load Mods
viewtopic.php?f=5&t=33866 Restart after Mod Change
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=38754 Faster startup (e.g. for iterating on mod code)
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=48029 Check for updates before loading all the data


and concepts that enable a "better installation of the mods" which includes in consequence that the mods can be auto-installed and auto-updated
https://forums.factorio.com/forum/vie ... =6&t=15524 Mod Packages
https://forums.factorio.com/forum/vie ... =6&t=15405 Separate Launcher for Mods

... this stuff is planned! See roadmap:
https://forums.factorio.com/forum/vie ... ?f=3&t=678

Centralized mod portal and its integration in the game
Allow loading games with different mod settings (and automatically download the mods if necessary)

There is a tool, that helps installing and configuring:
https://forums.factorio.com/forum/vie ... 37&t=13327 Factorio Mod Manager

Far related is how the mods are able to handle problems with other mods:
https://forums.factorio.com/forum/vie ... =6&t=16457 Mod support: info.json option for conflicting mods
https://forums.factorio.com/forum/vie ... =6&t=16567 Table of mods for data/control scripts. (read only table?)

viewtopic.php?f=80&t=16136 Faster start sequence / Update check / Load order