[1.6.4] Including an API that may not exist on the server

[lexwebb]

So i need to include the buildcraft API to be able to transform power in my mod. I can reference and use the API fine in my workspace. But the way its currently implemented, it will not work if buildcraft is not installed. I am aware that i will probably need to use reflection, however i am unsure about how i would go about reflection interfaces that need to be implemented..

 

Does anyone have any example code, or a guide anywhere? I can't seem to find anything on Google.

[Draco18s]

1) Check to see if buildcraft is active first.  There's a Forge method for this, I keep forgetting what it's called.

(Reflection can do the same thing, here's one I use because I keep forgetting said Forge method:

try {
Class.forName("com.xcompwiz.mystcraft.api.MystObjects");
} catch(ClassNotFoundException e) {
return;
}

 

2) Check to see that the API has instanciated its values.

Eg. here's what do

if(MystObjects.book_lectern != null) { ... }

 

3) Once both of these pass, then access the API and do API related calls.

[lexwebb]

Awesome, both replies will fulfill all my needs . I have one question regarding @Optional though. If i am using an API i.e buildcraft power; would i use the api name where the modId is required. For example

 

@Interface(iface = "IPowerEmitter", modid = "BuildCraftAPI|power")

 

This seems to want a ModId, which im not sure if API's use in the same way.

[Draco18s]

That seems right. And the "API" is internally still a normal mod.

 

Right.  APIs do not have their own mod ID.  They're simply a package that is part of a mod that is distributed as source code.  You don't even need to include the compiled API when you distribute if you do things right.