CKAN vs RimSort

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.

RimSort is a free, GPL-3.0 community mod manager and sorter for RimWorld, with Windows, macOS, and Linux support. It orders mod lists from mod data, community rules, and Steam data, while detecting conflicts and warning about missing dependencies or incompatibilities. Lists can be imported, exported, saved, and appended. SteamworksPy connects with the Steam client and can launch the game through the Steam API; the Steam Browser downloads Workshop mods through SteamCMD or the client, even without a Steam RimWorld copy. RimSort also handles Git-based mods and databases, shares logs through 0x0.st, and shares mod lists through Rentry.co. Its todds DDS encoder offers three texture-optimization presets. Database tools build, compare, merge, publish, and edit rules. Optional external metadata databases require separate configuration. Releases may trigger antivirus false detections, and Snap-installed Steam is unsupported on Linux.