Dependency Downloader

[superchad]

Im not sure if this is the right place to put this

Anyways i came up with the idea of a dependency downloader, people are sick of dependency hunting, and while yes it is easier if there are links in the readme, they can still be hard to find, especialy if the dependency has been merged into a pack and the link no longer works

so my idea is a Dependency downloader tool here is the basics of how it would work

When you download custom content, it comes with a file, lets say its dependencies.dep as an example
instead of clicking links in the read me, and downloading and installing every dependency needed, you double click the file, Dependency Downloader opens, prompts you for a username and password to say the LEX or a linked exchange,

the .dep file contains a database of what is needed for the file, the downloader connects to the exchange and looks for these files in servers dependency database the .dep database would have an ID Number for each dependency that would correspond with an ID number on the server

merged dependencies would have there ID Number link to the mega pack they are in, so merged dependencies could be found easily

then the downloader would automatically download and install dependencies into there respective folders or could provide links to them so the user could easily install them

it could also scan installed dependencies and see if there up to date, and update as needed, this could be done by having either Version numbers attached to them along with an dependency ID number, and it would scan to see if updated versions are avalible, or the ID number would have a suffix, say the ID is DEP 56798:A45 with A45 being the suffic, and the updated file is ID DEP 56798:A50 (the ID is the same, but the suffix is not, therefore the larger number suffix is the newer version)

its a rough idea but what do you think? would make the game much simpler to customize, and remove most dependency issues, as well as making updating a snap.

[Biriali]

Something like this has already been developed. It's called Cleanitol, but it isn't as automatized as the one you're suggesting.
Cleanitol can be found here. Remember to read the read-me!

(also, you can find a complete list of all merged dependency packages on this site under the tab "boxes?")

[Diggis]

Another problem is the definition of dependency.  You see, any file that another file needs is a dependency.  So potentially ANY file uploaded to the exchange is a dependency. 

The boxes link is a list of every prop and texture pack up to some point last year when I last updated it.  It's easy to keep a list of which ones you have so you don't double download.  I rarely have to download dependencies any more as I have them all already. 

[superchad]

yea but this system makes it easier to obtain, and update, especially for the less technically inclined

i have tried cleanitol before and don't care for it, though that was a while ago, id rather have a system that automatically checks for updated files and missing dependencies, would make life easier.

now if dependency packs had an auto installer that scanned for dependencies that are included in them, or old versions and removed them that would also make things simpler.