Security Notice:

For those downloading mods from a server. Please read the listing of the files that are being downloaded. Practice good cybersecurity and read before accepting updates.

What is NarcoNet?

NarcoNet is a powerful synchronization framework for SPT that automatically keeps all clients perfectly in sync with your server’s mod setup. No more manual file copying, no more “why isn’t this working?”, and no more mismatched versions causing mysterious bugs.

When a player connects to your server, NarcoNet automatically:

• Detects what mods and configs are missing or outdated
• Downloads required files directly from the server
• Removes incompatible or outdated mods
• Restarts the game (if needed) to apply changes seamlessly

It’s like having a personal dealer who always delivers exactly what you need, when you need it.

Key Features

Automatic File Synchronization

• Smart Change Detection - Uses a Git-like changelog system to track file additions, modifications, and deletions
• Incremental Updates - Only downloads what changed since last sync (no re-downloading everything)
• Fallback Support - Automatically falls back to full hash comparison if incremental sync fails
• Real-time Progress - Clean progress UI shows exactly what’s being synced

Configurable Sync Paths

• Server-Side Mods - Sync your SPT server mods automatically
• Client-Side Mods - Keep BepInEx plugins, patchers, and configs in sync
• Custom Paths - Add any directory you want to synchronize
• Exclusion Patterns - Use glob patterns to exclude specific files or directories
• Per-Path Control - Set paths as optional, enforced, silent, or restart-required

Intelligent Update System

• Live Updates - Non-restart-required mods apply instantly (like config changes)
• Restart Management - Core mods trigger automatic game restart with updater exe
• Background Updater - Standalone updater handles file operations while game restarts
• Integrity Checking - Fast file hashing ensures nothing gets corrupted

Zero-Configuration Client Experience

• Just Connect - Clients simply join the server, NarcoNet handles the rest
• Update Prompts - Clean UI shows what will be synced before proceeding
• Optional vs Required - Server can mark certain paths as optional for client choice
• Silent Mode - Server can push updates silently without user prompts

Server-Side Control

• YAML Configuration - Easy-to-edit config file for all settings
• Version Migration - Automatic config upgrades between NarcoNet versions
• Flexible Enforcement - Choose which paths are mandatory vs optional
• Startup Change Detection - Detects all file changes since last server startup
• Changelog Pruning - Automatically cleans up old changelog entries (configurable retention period)

How It Works

Server

1. On startup, NarcoNet scans configured sync paths and detects changes since last run
2. Builds a changelog of all added/modified/deleted files with sequence numbers
3. Exposes HTTP endpoints for clients to query current state and download files
4. Serves files directly from the SPT server installation

Client

1. On game launch, connects to server and checks current changelog sequence
2. If client has sync state, requests incremental changes since last sequence
3. If no sync state (first run) or incremental fails, falls back to full hash comparison
4. Downloads required files with progress tracking
5. For non-restart paths: applies changes immediately
6. For restart-required paths: stages files in NarcoNet_Data/PendingUpdates/ and launches updater

Updater

1. Waits for game process to exit
2. Applies pending file operations (copy/delete) from update manifest
3. Relaunches the game automatically
4. Clean error handling with retry logic