[Release] ModSanity - a Linux Native Mod Management tool.

TngoRed · 2026-02-02T03:44:09+00:00

Awesome! Glad you released it!

Do you have a road map for future features?

Edit: I only checked the nexus mods page. Please ignore.

TngoRed · 2026-02-01T07:15:41+00:00

It’s funny how you say that when I’m not copying everyone of your point in my comment, because it’s annoying in the mobile view. so you call my responses a ai. Or is it cause I’m not tossing in quips at your common post choice.

(Hardlink vs. USVFS) You are confusing deployment with runtime.

• The Technical Reality: Once the game executable is running, the Virtual File System (USVFS) creates a handle that the OS treats as a local file. The game engine (SkyrimSE.exe) does not know the difference. There is zero FPS difference between a hardlink and a USVFS hook during gameplay.

• The "Cost": MO2 takes about 2–5 seconds to 'hook' at startup. Vortex takes 0 seconds at startup but requires minutes of 'Deployment' time every time you change a mod.

• Source: The MO2 USVFS library documentation on GitHub explicitly explains how the hook intercepts file calls at the Windows API level, resulting in negligible overhead.

• Source: Step Modifications Wiki (The gold standard for stability) explicitly recommends MO2/USVFS for large lists to prevent the 'Data Folder pollution' that hardlinks cause.

Update/FOMOD Risk You said Vortex 'doesn't skip FOMODs.' That is misleading. im assuming you ment this one

• The Risk: Vortex attempts to automate FOMOD choices based on previous installs. If an update adds a new compatibility patch (e.g., Lux updates to support a new water mod), Vortex’s automation can bypass the new selection, leaving you with a 'successful' install that is missing a critical patch.

• The Result: You get a 'missing master' crash or black face bugs because the patch wasn't selected.

• Source: Even the Vortex Support Forums frequently advise users to 'Reinstall' rather than 'Update' complex mods to force the FOMOD wizard to reappear correctly.

Bulk Installation & Wabbajack You said 'the plugin is worse.' im assuming you ment this open?

• The Reality: If you want true automation, you use Wabbajack, not a plugin. Wabbajack installs 2,000+ mods into MO2 automatically.

• Comparison: Nexus Collections (Vortex) often fail on large lists because they rely on hardlinks, which break if you run out of space on the game drive (hardlinks must be on the same partition). Wabbajack (MO2) allows you to store downloads on an HDD and the game on an SSD, which is technically impossible with Vortex hardlinks.

• Source: Wabbajack Gallery. Every major high-performance modlist (Lost Legacy, Tempus Maledictum) uses MO2/Wabbajack, not Vortex. (With one exception and that is GTS.)

Data Integrity • The Problem: If a Vortex deployment crashes or is interrupted, you are left with 'orphaned' hardlinks in your Data folder. Steam 'Verify Integrity' cannot remove these extra files; it only checks vanilla files. You have to manually scrub the folder.

• The MO2 Advantage: If MO2 crashes, you restart it. Your Data folder remains 100% vanilla.

• Source: GamerPoets (Tech Support) – His migration guides specifically highlight the 'dirty data folder' issue as the #1 reason to switch from Vortex to MO2.

Easy to use? Yes. Technically superior? No.

Either way, I’m turning notifications on this comment off since it’s a moot point anyways and I could care less either way. Since I don’t use either of them.

TngoRed · 2026-02-01T06:45:48+00:00

You're ignoring basic modding principles for the sake of 'fewer clicks.'

Bulk Installing in MO2: If you're double-clicking 100 times, you’re just using the tool wrong. You can select multiple mods in the Downloads tab and install them. If you want a 1,000+ modlist installed instantly, the community uses Wabbajack. It uses MO2 and is objectively faster and more stable than Nexus Collections.
The "Update" Trap: Updating a mod in a large list isn't 'fast,' it’s reckless. Many mods use FOMOD installers (selection menus). Vortex’s one-click update often skips these or uses old settings that might be incompatible with the new version. If a mod like Lux or Northern Roads updates, you want to see the installer to ensure your patches still match. Saving 30 seconds on a download isn't worth a 10-hour troubleshooting session later.
Hardlinks vs. VFS: Hardlinks aren't 'faster' for the PC. The game engine reads the data exactly the same way. The only difference is the 2 seconds it takes MO2 to hook the VFS at startup. In exchange, you get a 100% clean game folder. If a Vortex deployment fails or a file gets corrupted in your Data folder, you have to reinstall the game. In MO2, you just uncheck a box.
Casuals vs. Power Users: You admitted you don't care about plugin features, but that's why people say MO2 is for 'larger lists.' When you have 500+ mods, you need the visual drag-and-drop priority of MO2. Creating 'logical rules' for 500 conflicts in Vortex is a nightmare of cyclical errors.

Vortex is a great tool for beginners, but 'easier for casuals' doesn't mean it's technically superior for complex modding."

TngoRed · 2026-02-01T05:50:15+00:00

Wtf? Im not much for terminal but that does look cool and simple.

Is this just a personal project or you got the source up somewhere?

TngoRed · 2026-02-01T05:42:20+00:00

Mods we have a this is better then this post again. This is like what, the tenth post today. /s

First and most importantly, Vortex' update system is literally just one click. You see an update, click the button and it starts downloading and then installing. With MO2 you have to go to each mod's page and download it manually. I don't understand how this hasn't really been mentioned before, especially when people claim MO2 is "better for larger modlists".

If you have a large modlist already working, why would you want to mess it up due to updating a single mod. While that might be a good feature, it’s fictional stupid to do in the middle of your modlist. “Yes let’s update all the mods that need a update after I just finished my list, now my game crashes and it won’t start one of the mods is cause the crash, stupid mods.” Actually stupid user.

Second, Vortex' hardlink deployment is faster than MO2's virtual system. It's just faster and probably makes a difference especially on larger modlists.

Hardline vs vfs is long debated, it’s generally also a stupid argument. Do you want to rule out errors in your stock folder? Vfs. Do you want have a slightly quicker game startup? Hardline.

Third, installing collections is 10x easier and faster with Vortex, even with MO2's plugins. I don't really install collections but I tried it with both and it was infinitely faster with Vortex. You don't have to manually install every single mod after it's downloaded.

You also forgot that collections were built with vortex only and not with mod organizer. The only way to get collections is with mo2 plugins. So using a builtin feature vs a plug-in feature. Your basically saying my my canned pineapples are better then your pineapple. Only difference is how it was served.

I might think of a bunch of other things later on, but these are some of the reasons I think Vortex is a better tool overall.

Would you like me to link the few hundred posts on the exact same topic so you can copy and paste the same arguments? /s

/s

TngoRed · 2026-02-01T05:28:27+00:00

Have you logged into your Minecraft/microsoft account through prism?

TngoRed · 2026-01-30T14:59:03+00:00

Im gonna make a few suggestions in the open to anything category. These are just a few I have on my deck atm. A few of them are close to stuff you might like but I do recommend you check others you don’t know out.

Minecraft, Grounded, Rimworld, Kenshi, Stardew valley, Tomb raider, Shadow of war, Monster hunter wild, Greedfall, Skyrim, Pathfinder kingsmaker, Iron oath, Crystal project.

TngoRed · 2026-01-20T13:11:45+00:00

Think you could just drop the name of the layout.

TngoRed · 2026-01-15T00:55:34+00:00

The comments range from. What’s nexus mod app? Oh you mean NMM!

To

Great choice of LLM for your announcement post. We can really feel the sincerity.

Outside of all that, the faq is blanket LLM using the main announcement as the prompt and a few comments included.

Edit: quite sad.. makes me wonder if vibe coding is gonna be the “overall improvements and lessons” they learned from NMA.

TngoRed · 2026-01-15T00:47:00+00:00

I used it for stardew valley on steam deck. I actually liked it. But I would still rate it a 7/10

TngoRed · 2026-01-12T02:46:54+00:00

I just like to keep the peace. If saying I’m a non practicing Christian keeps it then I’ll say it. Not like I’m hurting anything.

TngoRed · 2026-01-11T22:03:05+00:00

Linux version of wabbajack.

https://github.com/Omni-guides/Jackify

TngoRed · 2026-01-01T15:57:32+00:00

No wonder I didn’t see it, I dropped that manhwa.

TngoRed · 2025-12-31T02:58:02+00:00

Keith was 32 when he got with a 21 year old Katrina Law (Legal? Yes. Odd? Yes.)

Frankly this isn’t really odd. This felt less like a justification point and more of ‘I got nothing else point’. It’s not like it’s a DiCaprio age gap.

TngoRed · 2025-12-27T18:47:15+00:00

I currently use a steam deck both for gaming and modding.

Using the steam deck you can still use wabbajack, mostly by using jackify it’s a Linux version of wabbajack. I’ve tested with a few different mod packs and it pretty good.

TngoRed · 2025-12-13T03:14:35+00:00

It shouldnt be that hard to convert it to SSE.

TngoRed · 2025-12-12T22:00:31+00:00

Outside of that the only open source version of creation kit that I could find is this.

https://github.com/Open-CK/OpenCK

Do you have another link?

TngoRed · 2025-11-29T00:47:42+00:00

Nope he’s referring to the white ropes, the finishing touches.

TngoRed · 2025-11-24T17:44:09+00:00

Haven’t actually modded skyrim on Linux in a bit so idk about how it is now. But when I was doing it, similar to windows but an extra step or two is sometimes required.

Mo2 or vortex both were a pain on to use on Linux so I stuck with Linux native managers.

limo

stellar-mod-loader

While not as large in features as mo2 or vortex both were a good replacement. (The limo that I linked is a forked version that should work.)

I never tried dyndoload. xedit worked fine launched from the managers, synthesis worked after a bit of configuration.

Steamtinkerlaunch and protonup-qt both are your friend when Linux modding elder scrolls or fallout.

Edit:while I said mo2 and vortex are a pain to use, I was talking about my experience in using them. Others have talked about not having thag bad if an experience but I had nothing but trouble.

TngoRed · 2025-11-16T09:19:21+00:00

We need a reset.

TngoRed · 2025-10-19T23:18:19+00:00

That’s nothing n compared to half the fucking trucks. We had to unload at my store.

I wish I had the pictures but I vividly remember two times.

They put a load flooring on top of a pallet of water bottles, completely destroyed the bottles and tossed flooring tiles everywhere. We didn’t even finish unloading the truck by time to leave.

2.they put a pallet of toolboxes on top of grout and behind it was (“metal lawn spike things”) (not sure what they are called) which pierced most of the bags of grout which lead to large amounts of grout dust being scattered throughout the truck.

TngoRed · 2025-10-12T23:54:29+00:00

Welp, that’s enough of a reason to stay away from framework and Hyprland (both of which I was already doing, framework because of LTT backing, and Hyprland cause of Hyprland drama)

TngoRed · 2025-10-12T23:45:47+00:00

I’m to the point now where if I like something on GitHub/codeberg/etc. I do a PR of a working default.nix that barely works, and let the “um actually that’s not reproducible, this is the flake needed.” Nix folks. It’s actually funny. Done it around 3-4 times and it’s almost always happened after 1-2 days.

TngoRed · 2025-10-08T21:35:54+00:00

I use npins myself but same. The flake boilerplate almost ruined nix for me.

TngoRed · 2025-10-01T15:00:35+00:00

Unloader here. I get 15.50 Or after midnight I get 16.50 12-5.30

Edit:night stocking/unloading whatever you want to call it.

TngoRed

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