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kOS processor options for mods

The Embedded kOS Kirkuits mod defines a number of different processor options that can be easily added to a part by just setting the EmbeddedKOSProcessorType entry to the corresponding value in a MM patch that executes before LAST[EmbeddedKOSKirkuits].

The EmbeddedKOSProcessorType entry can be present either in a PART, a MODULE[kOSProcessor], or an UPGRADE node. In the latter two cases, the kOSProcessor specific values will be set (or changed) to the values defined by the processor type setting.

Another setting EmbeddedKOSProcessorInclude (which can only be set on a PART node) controls whether the kOSProcessor module is

  • always added to the part (value always)
  • added to the part if it will fit into the mass and cost budget of the part (value if_in_budget, see below for details)
  • is never included (never).

if EmbeddedKOSProcessorInclude is if_in_budget, the specified processor core is only included if it fits within the mass and cost budget of the part. The mass budget for a processor option is specified by the baseModuleMass and massBudgetFactor of the corresponding EMBEDDED_KOS_KIRKUITS/PROCESSOR node. The embedded kOS processor will fit into the mass budget of a part if baseModuleMass * massBudgetFactor is not greater than the total mass of the part. Cost budget works the same way, but uses baseModuleCost and costBudgetFactor.

Examples:

// Include the most powerful kOSProcessor on myProbeCore that the mass and cost budget allows.
@PART[myProbeCore]:NEEDS[EmbeddedKOSKirkuits] {
    EmbeddedKOSProcessorType = modern_large
    EmbeddedKOSProcessorType = modern_medium
    EmbeddedKOSProcessorType = modern_small
    EmbeddedKOSProcessorInclude = best_fit
}

// Add a "default" type kOSProcessor to myLargerProbeCore that can later be upgraded to
// a "modern_medium" processor
@PART[myProbeCore]:NEEDS[EmbeddedKOSKirkuits] {
   MODULE[kOSProcessor] {
       EmbeddedKOSProcessorType = default
       UPGRADE {
           name__ = modern_processors
           EmbeddedKOSProcessorType = modern_medium
       }
   }
}

processor option early_basic

This option defines a kOS processor that is comparably heavy, has very little permanent memory ("disk space" in kOS parlance), uses a lot of electricity to run and costs quite a bit of funds. Corresponds conceptually to early guidance systems, but this is a pretty loose match because it is a programmable digital computer which almost all of the real-world early guidance systems were not.

In-game, this is the option for early in the tech tree, and it has by design too little storage space for more than the simplest flight scripts (in-game inspiration for this is the kOS processor on the USI sounding rockets probe cores).

processor option early_advanced

This option is similar to the early_basic option, but has more storage space - at the cost of increased mass, price and electricity consumption. Corresponds to early digital guidance computers in real life (think Apollo Guidance Computer.

processor option default

This is the mainstream, standard option and has the same price, disk space and resource consumption to the "KR-2042 b Scriptable Control System", but less mass. Can be thought of as an "KR-2042 b" stripped of its blinkenlights and housing and installed directly into a probe core.

All of the "early" options have less storage, consume more resources and are more expensive, and at least the early_advanced option has more mass as well.

Think "1990s era flight computers" for the real-world role model.

processor option advanced

Another mid-game option, this time modeled after the "CX-4181 Scriptable Control System".

Think "1990s era flight computers" for the real-world role model.

processor option modern_small

This option defines a small and cheap processor with very low resource needs but not much storage space. Think "modern micro controller".

Storage space is just a bit more than the early_basic option as a challenge for the player, but resource usage and price is negligible to make the challenge attractive.

processor option modern_medium

This option is a bit more expensive than the modern_small option and needs a bit more electricity, but has considerably more storage space. Think "contemporary small to medium embedded computer" for the real-world inspiration.

In-game, this is comparable to the default option in terms of storage space, but is cheaper and uses less electricity. This is the go-to option for most computing needs in the last third of the tech tree.

processor option modern_large

This option is more expensive and a bit heavier than the modern_medium option and needs some more electricity as well, but has basically unlimited storage space. Think "powerful contemporary computer" for the real-world inspiration.

In-game, the option for advanced ships in last third of the tech tree when a single modern_medium part is not enough.

processor option unlimited

Exactly what the option name says. Basically unlimited storage, and negligible cost and resource usage.

This is the late-tech-tree future option where you no longer have to think about computing resources because computing has become ubiquitous.