Question Saving a file from a hotlink for temporary use

[RustyMasamune]

Hello, does VAM allow to create a plugin that will download a file from a hotlink, like GoogleDirve or Pixeldrain, to temp folder so I can use it and delete when user closes the scene?

 

[SlimerJSpud]

What you're describing could be a major security risk. It would probably be disallowed.

 

[Origin69]

That does bring up a cool concept to add to the in game hub as a download option though.

If you could have a temp addonpackages folder that was session specific, you could test out a new resource with a copy of all the dependencies, with a "temp download" option that paths to the temp folder. If you won't be using it again, it just deletes everything you downloaded for the session when you close it. If you like the scene/look etc., you could click on the menu and save it to your main AssetPackages folder to keep it permanently. That would save on so much bloat in AddonPackages and speed up everyone's vam.

It's hard to get rid of vars you won't use again the way things are, because of the dependencies that come with it.

 

[SlimerJSpud]

That does bring up a cool concept to add to the in game hub as a download option though.

If you could have a temp addonpackages folder that was session specific, you could test out a new resource with a copy of all the dependencies, with a "temp download" option that paths to the temp folder. If you won't be using it again, it just deletes everything you downloaded for the session when you close it. If you like the scene/look etc., you could click on the menu and save it to your main AssetPackages folder to keep it permanently. That would save on so much bloat in AddonPackages and speed up everyone's vam.

It's hard to get rid of vars you won't use again the way things are, because of the dependencies that come with it.

You can always use a clean install to "audition" scenes with a heavy dependency list. If you don't like it, flush the whole thing. If you like it, move the new downloads into the regular Vam.

 

[Origin69]

You can always use a clean install to "audition" scenes with a heavy dependency list. If you don't like it, flush the whole thing. If you like it, move the new downloads into the regular Vam.

I tried that for scene creation to test out the Vars I make to share. It was so fast loading that it soon became my main vam and I'm back to square one. I can't be trusted not to fill up my addonpackages folder with shiny things.

I still think the idea has merit.

 

[RustyMasamune]

Initially I thought to do it for temporaly downloading music in scenes where it is needed (especially dance scenes). Putting copyrighted music in your paid VARs is not the best idea (although considering the size of the VMA community and the income of most authors, the chance of a lawsuit is ridiculously small, but still). Yes, we can pack music into AssetBundle, but it will still be in the archive. Or we can use WebBrowser, although it is terribly inconvenient and weird

Also, this could be used for some randomization - the user could select the option "download random textures/items" and each time he opens a scene they would be different, and then they would be deleted, so as not to clutter the disk with dozens of copies in VAR.

This would also solve the problem of dependencies over 500 MB - the HUB does not accept them even if they are free, and we have to provide links to third-party sites. This could also be combined with this plugin for heavy dependencies autodownlaod.

Although as far as I understand, this does not work now - VAM does not have public functions for downloading files outside the HUB, and web requests themselves are prohibited. Sad.

 

[SlimerJSpud]

I think you guys are still overlooking the security issue. We need to hear the mods' take on this. Licensing and convenience are the least of your issues if it's simply not allowed to fetch something from the internet on scene load. Paging @AshAuryn or @DJ to the scene...