CKAN vs Prismo

CKAN helps Kerbal Space Program players find, install, and manage mods through a client connected to an online registry. Users can refresh the registry and search by mod name, identifier, author, or relationships. CKAN uses mod metadata to select mods for the game version, install dependencies, and identify conflicts or incompatibilities. By default, a mod must be marked compatible with the exact game version; users can choose additional compatible versions, and an All filter can display incompatible mods. The client provides graphical, console, and command-line interfaces. It runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux, with installation options for several Linux distributions. The executable can manage game installations from any folder; placing it in a game folder supports portable use. Mod authors can contribute or correct metadata. CKAN is open source and MIT-licensed, and is free. On macOS 10.15 and later, the console interface is the default because the graphical interface depends on a 32-bit WinForms application in Mono.

Prismo publishes Zephyr, a free, open-source desktop mod manager for Linux, macOS, and Windows. Zephyr lets users browse, install, update, and organize mods for about 200 games. Built-in access combines Thunderstore and CurseForge browsing. Users can create and switch between profiles for each game, then share a profile through a code or link. Optional cloud synchronization uses Discord sign-in to synchronize profiles across devices. The app also includes an Archipelago multiworld randomizer with a bundled Python runtime, a configuration editor, gamepad navigation, and seven languages. Without sign-in, profiles, configuration files, and preferences remain on the device, while public mod metadata is requested anonymously. Cloud-enabled profile archives and metadata are stored with Prismo Studios’ hosting provider in France. Zephyr is licensed under GPL-3.0, with source code on GitHub. Installers include Windows .exe, Linux AppImage and .deb, and macOS .dmg files.