Idea: A way to have unlimited modpacks through Pastebin

[ajthemacboy]

Hi guys. As you probably all know, technic only lets you have 3 modpacks in the system at one time. I have a way around this that I'd like to propose.

 

First, some information. When a modpack is created, a page with plain text is generated, like this one.

http://www.technicpack.net/api/modpack/this-is-a-modpack-template

This is the URL you paste into the launcher to download the modpack.

 

On that page, every forward slash has a backslash before it. For example, https://www... would become https://, and dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/jc... would become dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/jc...

 

Now, here's my idea:

 

Through pastebin, create a paste with this text:

 

{"name":"","displayName":"","user":"","version":"","","minecraft":"","logo":{"url":"","md5":""},"background":{"url":"","md5":""},"solder":"","forceDir":false}

 

Then, fill in the information for your pack so it looks like this: 

 

{"name":"this-is-a-modpack-template","displayName":"This is a modpack template","user":"thejoka","version":"1.0","url":"https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/jczyn49i4yj6m9n/Minecraft%20Mod%20Creation.zip?dl=1&token_hash=AAFRBcF40sJqyVYcYmza3_DEfwDh8cZse1B8lIdtvIevxg","minecraft":"1.7.2","logo":{"url":"","md5":""},"background":{"url":"","md5":""},"solder":"","forceDir":false}

 

Then, before every forward slash, insert a backslash, so it looks like this: 

 

{"name":"this-is-a-modpack-template","displayName":"This is a modpack template","user":"thejoka","version":"1.0","url":"https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/s/jczyn49i4yj6m9n/Minecraft%20Mod%20Creation.zip?dl=1&token_hash=AAFRBcF40sJqyVYcYmza3_DEfwDh8cZse1B8lIdtvIevxg","minecraft":"1.7.2","logo":{"url":"","md5":""},"background":{"url":"","md5":""},"solder":"","forceDir":false}

 

Then save. Under the paste's name, there is a link that says 'RAW'. This takes you to a text only page.

 

Now, here are the problems. 

 

The launcher apparently only accepts input from technicpack.net urls, so the launcher will just say 'Invalid url' when you paste it in.

 

Both pages are completely identical except that the technicpack.net/api... link is 'https' instead of 'http' of pastebin. This can be solved by replacing http with https when giving people the url to the pack, because https automatically redirects to http.

 

Thus, theoretically, pasting this link into the launcher would work.

https://pastebin.com/raw.php?i=Sydenzuu

 

The only reason I can think of that there are only 3 modpacks allowed is that they don't want millions of modpacks on their system. This would allow unlimited modpacks through pastebin that would cause no additional strain to the website, since everything is done through the launcher and pastebin. Thus, if technic could just allow the launcher to use pastebin links, we could all have unlimited modpacks.

 

tl;dr: We can have unlimited modpacks through pastebin.com by using the raw paste feature and formatting our pastes to technic standards.

 

 

[Kalbintion]

This can also be done using the TechnicSolder... since the Solder allows to have a single modpack with multiple versions available, each version could theoretically contain an entirely different modpack.

[ajthemacboy]

True, but this is not what I am saying. I am suggesting a way to have infinite modpacks through pastebin, without the hastle of configuring solder and in a way that's easier overall.

[Neowulf]

The pack limit is artificial, not technical.

[ajthemacboy]

Then why is there a limit? If there is no technical reason (limited hosting space and processing power), why are there only 3? Not trying to argue here, just trying to find out information.

[Neowulf]

It was a design choice by the admins, though I can't remember the full reason. I do remember that it was specifically to prevent people from creating an unlimited number of packs.

 

Thing is, if you need more than 3 packs then you're:

A, not putting enough effort into the packs.

B, rebranding other people's work and calling it your own.

Or C, an idiot for not setting up solder and making things easier for you and your users.

[ThePagan]

I have a pack I'm working on. A pack for my daughter. and a test pack. I think 5 would be a better limit. Would be interested in purchasing modpack hosting with TechnicSolder if that ever becomes an option.

Edited September 30, 2014 by ThePagan

[Neowulf]

Solder host rentals is an idea I believe they're tossing around still (we don't exactly have company meetings). But really it's something anyone with the drive and technical skills could do.

Figure out a default solder setup, craft a web interface to create accounts with access to copies of those default instances, and throw it up in AWS or some similar web host with a pricing structure to cover costs.

[GenPage]

Hey guys, you are right. It is a design limit. As you can already tell the current site is barely functioning under the weight of all the modpacks it currently has. When the limit was set, we figured that would be enough modpacks while at the same time keeping the system healthy. We never anticipated the popularity of the system. When Platform v2.0 is released, We will debate increasing the limit to five modpacks. However, performance of the Platform comes first.

Now on that note, We will not support issues or troubleshoot launcher reports if it is discovered that this method is used to add a pack to the launcher.

We are considering paid hosted instances of Solder to ease the difficulty of setup from the end user. However since money is involved, nothing has been decided. We have already pulled our original plan for launcher ads.

[ThePagan]

Would it be possible to add in a system that unlocked more slots if a modpack got X amount of votes? Sure this could be abused, but people can currently abuse system by making multiple accounts.

[plowmanplow]

From an administrative perspective, maintaining more than a few packs as monolithic ZIP archives would be a total pain in the butt. The whole point of using Solder is to make it easier to administer, and easier for users to keep up with since changes are differential instead of full copies. Add to that the ability to keep old versions around in case things go unexpectedly pear shaped after an update and you have very compelling reasons to adopt Solder. Setting it up takes 5-10 minutes for someone who knows what they are doing. Obviously it will take a bit longer for someone who doesn't do this sort of thing often, but the reward is well worth it, especially considering that the bulk of the setup and configuration only has to be done once.

[Amaxter]

Here's my stance on the whole pack limit thing. Yes, it has technical benefits as otherwise the box/rack running Technic would explode but also have you taken a look at the Platform recently? I guarantee you at least 75% of the modpacks you come across will be in the vein of "Jimmy's Poop Adventure" or "Drug Beer Mod!". The majority of the people using the Platform are either abusing it purposely or just don't make the best modpacks (to put it lightly). Hopefully with the Platform v2 Technic will fulfill their promise of infinite modpacks for Solder users, as many of the people using my modpacks don't know that there's multiple versions available so I can't really put multiple modpacks in one with Solder.