Quick launching various mod development configurations for Arma through a simple CLI.
ArmaQDL is a command-line tool designed to streamline mod development workflows for Arma 3 by quickly launching various configuration setups.
Key Features:
Easy access to preset mod configurations through identifiable location groups.
Mission loading options, including specifying mission names or profiles.
Build tools integration for compiling mods with optional settings.
Quick access to the latest log file for debugging purposes.
Customizable profile selection and configuration management.
Support for dedicated server and headless client launching with automated mission setup.
Audience & Benefit:
Ideal for Arma 3 mod developers and testers who need a fast, flexible, and developer-friendly CLI tool to manage their workflows efficiently. The tool simplifies mod testing, configuration management, and deployment processes while supporting advanced features like glob pattern matching for mod selection and optional file handling.
ArmaQDL can be installed via winget on Windows or through PyPI for Python users.
README
ArmaQDL
Quick launching various mod development configurations for Arma through a simple CLI.
Through easily-identifiable preset locations, this program can provide a fast and developer-friendly CLI with some additional optional features, such as building mods and opening the last log file. It is designed around easily modifiable location groups and build tools.
Features
Easy mod launching from different preset locations
Load mission via mission name only or specifying profile name
Build development mods
Open the last log file
Select the profile to start with
Toggle file patching, script errors, signature check and windowed mode
Mod location wildcards (glob pattern matching)
Easy dedicated server and headless client launching
Load mission on dedicated server (by manipulating server.cfg)
Join server
Installation
ArmaQDL is distributed on PyPI as well as a Standalone executable (Windows only).
Note: Add location directory to PATH environmental variable to use it directly.
PyPI
Installation as a user is recommended to avoid permission issues with CLI script installation.
$ pip install --user ArmaQDL
Note: Add pip installation directory to PATH environmental variable to use it directly.
Setup
Open Command Prompt, PowerShell or any other terminal application, and run ArmaQDL once to generate the configuration files (this will not launch Arma).
# WinGet / CMD / PyPI if in PATH
$ armaqdl
# PyPI as a Python module
$ python -m armaqdl
Note: Add .exe if armaqdl is not enough to find the executable.
You should modify the default settings to your needs. Launching without setup may create a new profile and result in failed launches.
Settings file can be found in your operating system's standard configuration directory, usually:
Windows: %AppData%\ArmaQDL\settings.toml
Linux: ~/.config/ArmaQDL/settings.toml
Settings are in TOML format and can be edited with any text editor.
Dedicated Server
Loading a mission on dedicated server automatically requires server.cfg to be present next to arma3_x64.exe with at least the following mission and Headless Client entries.
// Automatically load the first mission in rotation
class Missions {
class Test {
template = "mission.vr";
};
};
// Allow Headless Clients from local machine
headlessClients[] = {"127.0.0.1"};
localClient[] = {"127.0.0.1"};
// Allow multiple connections, unsigned mods and file patching (as needed)
kickDuplicate = 0;
verifySignatures = 0;
allowedFilePatching = 2;
ArmaQDL copies the mission from used profile's missions folder and updates the mission name in server.cfg to make the server automatically load it.
Usage
ArmaQDL is a CLI script, view all the options with the --help flag.
$ armaqdl -h
Note: All examples use armaqdl to launch ArmaQDL, replace it appropriately depending on your install.
Example 1:(launching and building mods)
Launches Arma with CBA from main location, ACE3 from Workshop install and ACRE2 from local development folder. Additionally builds ACRE2 mod and opens the latest log file. Loads Arma directly into the editor using the specified mission from the "Soldier" profile.
Launches Arma Server with CBA from local development folder and loads specified mission from default profile's missions folder, copying it to the server in the process.
$ armaqdl dev:cba -m test.vr -s
Launches Arma with CBA from local development folder and connects to the given server with the given password (-j defaults to the settings file).
$ armaqdl dev:cba -j 192.168.1.1:2302:test
Example 3:(glob and skipping)
Launches Arma with all mods in a folder modpack from main location, skipping ACE3 in the same folder and instead loading ACE3 from a local development folder. This is useful for replacing a subset of mods from a bigger modpack.
Launches Arma with mods from local development folder, CBA using HEMTT release build, ACE3 using automatic launch type determination and ACRE2 using non-HEMTT build. Available launch types are dev, build, release for HEMTT or none for non-HEMTT addons/. Automatic determination uses HEMTT if .hemttout folder exists with launch type as specified in settings file, or dev if not specified.
$ armaqdl dev:cba:trelease dev:ace dev:acre2:t
Build type for HEMTT can also be specified using the same flag in addition to build flag.
Note: Only optionals inside optionals folder in a full @mod folder structure (such as HEMTT produces) are supported.
Launches Arma with Theseus Services from local development folder and its MELB Variants optional skipping the prefix using glob pattern matching. @ must still be used for each optional (or pattern) specified.
$ armaqdl dev:TheseusServices:o@*variants_melb
Glob pattern matching may also be used to match multiple optionals.
$ armaqdl dev:TheseusServices:o@*variants*
Development
ArmaQDL uses Hatchling as a build backend and flake8 as a style guide.
$ pip install --user -e .
Hatch is the primary project manager of choice, but any project adhering to PEP 621 (pyproject.toml specification) can be used.
# Run development build
$ hatch run armaqdl
# Lint with flake8
$ hatch run lint
# Test with pytest
$ hatch run test
# Bundle with PyInstaller
$ hatch run static:bundle
Limited Linux support exists for testing purposes, but launching Arma or opening the last log file is not supported. Contributions are welcome!
