Anything inheriting WildfrostMod cannot be abstract/generic | Wildfrost | Page 1

jagged valve May 23, 2026, 5:18 PM

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Bootstrap.cs attempts to instantiate anything inheriting WildfrostMod.
Even if class is abstract or has any generic parameters.
Location: Bootstrap.CreateModInstances()

This makes it impossible to create custom base class for the mods:

public abstract class CustomModBase : WildfrostMod
{
    public CustomModBase(string modDirectory) : WildfrostMod(modDirectory)
    { /* ... */ }
}

public class CustomMod : CustomModBase
{
    // ...
    public CustomMod(string modDirectory) : base(modDirectory) { /* ... */ }
    // ...
}

Because Bootstrap.cs will attempt to instantiate CustomModBase.cs, which is not allowed (as it is abstract).

Making Bootstrap.cs ignore types with Type.IsAbstract (and probably Type.IsGenericTypeDefinition) will open the doors for very useful tooling SandlingComfy

For example - helper methods which entire community uses can be standardized and delivered as a separate mod.
(Until this point, the only way for doing so would be to ask everyone to setup a Rozlyn source code generator, but it has a lot of downsides)

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Anything inheriting WildfrostMod cannot be abstract/generic

slow jackal May 23, 2026, 9:47 PM

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I mean I’d say that was by design, but I can’t update the game anyways anymore, if u want tho u could make a mod with highest priority and override the bootstrap

slow jackal May 23, 2026, 9:49 PM

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jagged valve `Bootstrap.cs` attempts to instantiate anything inheriting `WildfrostMod`. Even ...

I mean I don’t see anything that it’d actually bring which wasn’t already possible btw

jagged valve May 24, 2026, 12:05 AM

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slow jackal I mean I’d say that was by design, but I can’t update the game anyways anymore, ...

Sad that changing it is impossible, but I will try a Bootstrap overwrite idea.

jagged valve May 24, 2026, 12:05 AM

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slow jackal I mean I don’t see anything that it’d actually bring which wasn’t already possib...

To be honest, it's mainly for adding static methods to mods:

public abstract class WildfrostMod<T> : Wildfrost where T : Wildfrost<T>
{
    public static T Instance { get; }
    public virtual string LogPrefix { get; }
    public WildfrostMod(string modDirectory) : base(mosDirectory)
    {
        if (this is not T inst)
            throw /* ... */;
        Instance = inst;
    }

    public static void Log(object value)
    {
        Debug.Log($"{Instance.LogPrefix} {value}");
    }

    public static CardData Card(name)
    {
        return Instance.Get<CardData>(name);
    }
}

public sealed class MyMod : WildfrostMod<MyMod>
{
    public override string LogPrefix { get; } = "[MMD]";
}

And now it's simpler to mod things:

// Within MyMod.cs:
Log("Hello Home!");
var temp = Card("Gnome");

// Outside MyMod.cs;
MyMod.Log("Hello World!");
var temp = MyMod.Card("Gnome");

// In methods:
// (Not the best example)
public static bool HasGnome<T>()
    where T : WildfrostMod<T>
{
    // We now have access to an instance of the mod - not only it's Type. This is the most crucial point.
    return (bool)WildfrostMod<T>.Card("Gnome");
}

// Usage:
Log(Helpers.HasGnome<OtherMod>();

Essentially, we can extend API of WildfrostMod with custom static methods, while making it as easy as adding : WildfrostMod<MyMod> at the end of regular mod.

But you are right, it doesn't do a lot of impossible things - just allows to make method usage easier, and unify more logic between mods.

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 1:52 PM

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Mod for abstract/generic base classes done SandlingComfy
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3732678865
Helper methods we will make public after refactoring CatKeyboardTyping

@slow jackal, sorry for the ping, and big thank you for the help again! SandlingFlower

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 1:56 PM

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im still not sure wht its for but good luck

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 1:57 PM

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Ha-ha-ha) konoobLUL

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 1:57 PM

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it looks like what u want is basicaly "using static classname"

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which is alr a thing in c#

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as for generics i have no ideas in what situations it can be useful

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 1:58 PM

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It's basically just so the mods can have a reference to an instance of a mod

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 1:59 PM

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they already can?

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:00 PM

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Yeah, but you need to use MyMod.Instance.MyExtensionMethod at the moment

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:00 PM

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for non static methods?

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:00 PM

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And with custom generic base class you can drop .Instance part

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Yep

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:01 PM

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i dont see how that changes anything

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:02 PM

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It's purely for sugar-coding I would say

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Globally, all that changes is that if anyone defines new base class - they can provide useful tools which everyone else can use by simply inheriting their class

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:04 PM

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all of that could have bene done with an interface as far as im aware

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:05 PM

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For example, I can write this thing in a base class:
And standard Add method

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Now only I need to CPU/RAM optimize this thing, and everyone else get the benefits of it

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:06 PM

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slow jackal all of that could have bene done with an interface as far as im aware

Yep, though interface calls a a few ns slower than using generics, but you are right on this point

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:06 PM

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interfaces would take much less space than generics

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:07 PM

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They take less space when you define then, but more in usage

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I just prefer MyMod.Method() usage than MyMod.Instance.Method() in most cases.

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:07 PM

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valid?

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:08 PM

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Yep, compiles fine

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:08 PM

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i meant

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valid as in

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youre valid for wnting that

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:08 PM

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Ah konoobLUL

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Appreciated then SandlingFlower konoobLUL

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:08 PM

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yea

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ye it just wasnt designed that way

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but u can do wtv u want

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:11 PM

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Specifically in our case, we have a Loader.cs class, which loads all PNGs from the disk in parralel.
It also combines PNGs from the disk with sprites from Addressables (Sprites and SpriteAtlases)
But it categorizes resources by WildfrostMod, so it can unload them on Events.OnModUnload

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:11 PM

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u dont need to unload asets btw

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:12 PM

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Oh, right, because Builders are not destroyed when mods are unloaded?

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And they still need those sprites

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:12 PM

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i dont remember ngl

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:12 PM

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Fair SandlingICANT

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:14 PM

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jagged valve Specifically in our case, we have a `Loader.cs` class, which loads all PNGs from...

wdym combines pngs with sprites from adressables?

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:17 PM

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jagged valve Specifically in our case, we have a `Loader.cs` class, which loads all PNGs from...

If you were to use it - you would have to load sprites like this:
Loader.GetSprite<MyMod>("Assets/{guid}/{file}.png");
Or:
Loader.GetSprite(MyMod.Instance, "file")

But with a generic base class (see image), I can simply provide a helper:
Sprite GetSprite(string name) => Loader.GetSprite(Instance.GUID, name)
With usage:
Sprite val = MyMod.GetSprite("Gnome");

It's much shorted, and also if you use OtherMod.GetSprite("Gnome") - you will access other mod's storage.
Which is neat in your case, though I feel like it conflicts with current standard with all addresses being in the same namespace, essentially.

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:18 PM

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slow jackal wdym combines pngs with sprites from adressables?

Sprites loaded from the disk simply get an address: Assets/{GUID}/{path}.png

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And you can get them using this address

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:18 PM

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uh, huh i see

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:19 PM

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jagged valve If you were to use it - you would have to load sprites like this: `Loader.GetSpr...

that can just be done with an extension method?

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:19 PM

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Not really, because you need GUID

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:19 PM

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?

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:20 PM

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jagged valve If you were to use it - you would have to load sprites like this: `Loader.GetSpr...

public static Sprite GetSprite<T>(this T mod, string file) where T : WildfrostMod

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:21 PM

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Yeah, this will work, just that the usage becomes long again konoobLUL
MyMod.Instance.GetSprite

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:21 PM

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arent static exnteion methods also a thing in like

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:21 PM

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And if you use it within your mod itself, it becomes this.GetSprite or Instance.GetSprite

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:21 PM

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new .net

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i dont really keep track of new features

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:22 PM

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Also heard about it, but haven't tried it

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If it will make it so we don't need to use Instance. or this. - that would be amazing konoobLUL

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:23 PM

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this can be omitted

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but ye tahts just sugar

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:24 PM

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slow jackal this can be omitted

Oh, is it a recent C# update?

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:24 PM

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jagged valve Oh, is it a recent C# update?

always was that way

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:24 PM

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Sandlingman

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:24 PM

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have u never tried lol?

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:25 PM

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It simply haven't worked on my side konoobLUL

slow jackal May 25, 2026, 2:26 PM

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as for omitting instance uh

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prob smth also exists

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idk

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i dont like sugar

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i prefer readable code

jagged valve May 25, 2026, 2:26 PM

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Valid point GradNCxMinaCoolA

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In any case, if we ever need custom base class for mods, be it generic or not - we now have a way 02Shrug

#Anything inheriting WildfrostMod cannot be abstract/generic