CKAN 101

Don't know what a CKAN is? Never fear, here's a very very brief crash course.

Table of Contents

• What does CKAN do?
• How does CKAN work?
• How do I set CKAN up?
• How do I install a mod from CKAN?
• Why shouldn't I allow CKAN to install recommendations/suggestions?
• What if there's an AD instead of a checkbox?
• I have more questions.

What does CKAN do?

CKAN is an easy way to manage a bunch of interconnected mods in the same KSP GameData folder. It gives you a way to quickly install a lot of mods at the same time, and make sure you've got the right versions for your version of KSP, and make sure you have the right versions of whatever other mods they depend upon.

How does CKAN work?

Mod authors tell CKAN about their mods. CKAN goes to, for instance, their GitHub and gets and downloads and correctly places the mod for you in your GameData folder.

How do I set CKAN up?

Download CKAN and then point it at your KSP folder. Here're some instructions if you get stuck.

How do I install a mod from CKAN?

You click the checkbox(s) for the mod(s) you want. Then you press the big green "apply changes" button. It will say what mods it's going to install and why.

What if there's an AD instead of a checkbox?

To prevent from overwriting your changes, CKAN will not overwrite a mod folder that you installed/modified manually. If you added or messed with a mod folder it will display AD ("Auto Detected") instead and prevent you from modifying that mod through CKAN.

I have more questions.

There's a good CKAN wiki. Go read that.

• CKAN Wiki Home
• Troubleshooting
• User Guide
• Installation
  • On Windows
  • On MacOS
  • On Ubuntu
• And many more pages.