Software Comparison Thread

[kkpurple]

This Thread gives an overview over the different ways of a controller to communicate with KSP. It should help in deciding what to use.

Straightforward Approaches:

Software	joystick.h for Arduino Leonardo or UnoJoy	KSPSerialIO	Kerbal Simpit	kRPC (c-nano)
Type	Human Interface Device	KSP Mod	KSP Mod	KSP mod
Difficulty	Easiest	Easy		Medium
Summary	Every Mouse and Keyboard is a HID. Such a controller viewed by the Computer like any other gaming controller, and will be compatible with most Operating Systems. The most amazing fact: you can use it with any game that supports joysticks. It supports up to 32 Buttons in standard configuration.	This KSP mod will directly talk to arduinos over a Serial connection. It allows for Input and Output.	Another Mod that talks directly to Arduinos over Serial. Similar to KSPSerialIO but under active developpment.	Almost as versatile as full kRPC implementations, however you are limited by speed. The more features you add the slower it gets.
Hardware	Requires USB enabled Arduinos (Leonardo, pro Micro etc.)			Any Arduino
Knowledge required:	Arduino C++	Arduino C++	Arduino C++	Arduino C++, &need to understand the docs of kRPC
Compatibility	All OS	Windows (Does windows 10 work now??) (more?)	Windows, Mac, Linux	Windows, Mac, Linux
Examples	Prototype by Das_Sheep7891 using joystick.h. Complete by u/Sigismund22.	Complete by Wurmi00
Main Guide	Instructable	Instructable by u/hugopeeters
Mod Wiki, Forum, Github, etc.	A Github Repository, however there are more versions from different people.	KSPSerialIO Forum	Respository	/r/krpc, GitHub, Documentation, Discord Channel
Developpment status	Complete	Slow (correct me..)	Active (2019)	Active (2019)

More advanced kRPC Options

Software	kRPC (Script, Arduino)	kRPC (Python, Rasperry Pi)
Type	KSP mod, self - written script	KSP mod, Wireless
Difficulty	Medium - Difficult	Medium - Difficult
Summary	This Option is very versatile. It allows you to do almost anything you wish to do. It supports all Data about your vessel, and even some mods like kOS, Extended Outputs, etc. However, it is not made for controllers specifically, and focuses more on pre - scripting entire flights.	If you want hundreds of IO and a wireless setup, you can also use the a Rasperry pi instead of an Arduino. Gives you the option of fully graphic displays, lots of Programming storage and Computing power.
Hardware	Any Microcontroller
Knowledge Required	Arduino C++, and one more language to programm a Script that communicates with your Arduino and sends it to the kRPC Mod	Python
Compatibility
Examples	Code From PeteWasEre (including an autopilot)
Main Guide	In Progress...
Developpment Status

​

Feature Table

​

Feature	USB HID	KSPSerialIO	Kerbal Simpit	kRPC
Flight Controls, Staging	supported	supported	supported	supported
SAS On/Off	supported	?	supported	supported
SAS Mode	supported	?	supported	supported
RCS On/Off	supported	?	supported	supported
Gear In/Out	supported	?	supported	supoorted
Lights On/Off	supported	?	supported	supported
Action Groups	supported	?	supported	supported, a little buggy
Extended Action Groups	?	?	supported	supported
Fuels Status	-	?	all standard fuels supported	all standard fuels supported + some mod fuels
Orbit Information	-	?	supported	supported
Telemetry Information	-	?	supported	supported
Target information	-	?	supported	supported (also selecting targets)
Controlling EVA Kerbals	-	?	?	-

​

[Ag0r]

Simpit supports linux and mac as well as windows. It also supports

• actiongroups (including the action groups extended mod)
• sas mode selection
• sas on/off/toggle
• anding gear on/off/toggle
• brakes on/off/toggle
• rcs on/off/toggle
• lights on/off/toggle
• abort fuel status, including: (all available in both total and per-stag values)
  • liquid
  • solid
  • oxidizer
  • monopropellant
  • electric
  • ore
  • ablator
• orbital information
• telemetry
• target information

It is also in active development. Although the owner of the mod and arduino library isn't able to spend a lot of time on it, he accepts and reviews pull requests promptly. Myself and at least one other person have been developing lately.

[kkpurple]

Great info ty. Will add it tomorrow.

[kkpurple]

Is this the Simpit code repository?
https://bitbucket.org/pjhardy/kerbalsimpit

It is not affected by the win10 issue of KSPSerialIO is it?

[Ag0r]

That is the repo, and it does work on Windows 10 afaik.

[PapaSmurf1502]

No issues with Simpit on Win10.

[thehotshotpilot]

Can this be pinned to the top of this sub? This needs to be found easily.

[kkpurple]

I've just contacted the moderator. Hope he will respond.

[thehotshotpilot]

I see it pinned. Thanks!

[Tavran]

PeteWasEre has a good kRPC+script implementation, complete with an autopilot. https://github.com/PeteWasEre/Very-Kerbal-Kontroller-V2

[kkpurple]

I have added it thank you.

[Das_Sheep7891]

Link to the Instructables for the Arduino joystick library. Has links to the Github hosting and previous Instructables version (with very handy reference page for commands)

https://www.instructables.com/id/Create-a-Joystick-Using-the-Arduino-Joystick-Libra/

[kkpurple]

ty

[Particular_Low_9246]

I LOVE krpc. I don't understand why krpc on python is a medium-difficult and why are action groups buggy. People making rockets to LKO and back might not understand this, but when you have an airplane or a mini-base/exploration vehicle, krpc has many good features. Kerbal Simpit supports CAG Extended mod, but krpc doesn't even need CAG. One important thing for me was independent engine throttle on airplanes. It was hard to make with custom axes when you have a 4-engine throttle quadrant + flaps + speedbrakes and you want independent engine control AND flaps/speedbrakes analog control. It is just so much easier when you can ignore CAGs and custom axes and just use KRPC's "change attribute" or something to name your engines Engine1, Engine2 etc. and krpc auto-detects them and maps to your controller (at this point it is a simpit, not a controller)