Config Studio

Config Studio turns your ASA plugin configs into a simple form with help under every setting, timestamped backups, and one click restore when things go wrong.

I built Config Studio for server owners who are tired of breaking a config over one missing comma. It reads the same two files every plugin already ships and turns them into a clean form, with the help text right under each setting. Every save writes a backup first, so you can see what changed and roll back with one click. It is one small Windows exe with nothing else to install.

Supported Features

• A form instead of raw JSON: every toggle, number, list and text setting becomes a simple control, so you never count commas again.
• It finds your plugins on its own: point me at your ArkApi/Plugins folder and I list every plugin config under it.
• Help under every setting: I read each plugin's config-commented.jsonc, so the explanation sits right under the box you are typing in.
• Auto save: a change saves itself a moment after you stop clicking, a small note confirms it, and you can switch auto save off.
• A backup before every save: I write a timestamped copy of the old file first, so no save can cost you a working config.
• One click restore with a diff: pick any backup, see exactly which lines differ from the file right now, and bring it back with one click.
• A real color picker: color settings get a picker instead of four bare numbers, in both the string and the array shape plugins use.
• Nothing is ever dropped: a setting I do not know yet is kept and shown, never deleted from your file.
• Cloud settings lists: I fetch the newest settings list for each plugin from the cloud, so an old config still shows every new setting. A cached copy covers you when you are offline.
• It updates itself: when a new build is out, one click downloads it, checks the file, and reopens the app on the new version.

Requirements

• Windows 10, or Windows Server 2019 or newer.
• A Config Studio license key from NordBots.cc.
• Nothing else to install. No .NET setup, the app is one exe with its dll files next to it.
• Internet now and then for the license check and the cloud settings lists. The license keeps working offline for 72 hours.

Installation

1. Download the Config-Studio zip and unzip the whole thing into its own folder.
2. Keep the dll files next to NordBotsConfigStudio.exe. The app needs them to start.
3. Run NordBotsConfigStudio.exe and enter your license key when it asks.
4. Point it at your server's ArkApi/Plugins folder.
5. Click a plugin, change a setting, and watch the saved note pop up. You are done.

Support & Help

Stuck on the license, or found a setting that shows up wrong? Join the Discord and I will sort it out with you: https://discord.gg/8GGaEzWk9p

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Config Studio do?

Config Studio is a dark theme Windows app that edits the config files of your ARK Survival Ascended server plugins through a clean form. It reads the config.json and the config-commented.jsonc a plugin ships, shows every setting with its help text, and writes your changes back safely with a backup first. You never have to open raw JSON again.

How do I install Config Studio?

Unzip the download into its own folder, keep the dll files next to the exe, and run NordBotsConfigStudio.exe. Enter your license key, then point Config Studio at your server's ArkApi/Plugins folder and it finds every plugin config on its own. There is nothing else to install, not even .NET.

What happens if a save goes wrong?

Config Studio writes a timestamped backup of the old file before every save, so a working config is never lost. Open the backups list, pick one, and it shows you exactly which lines differ from the file right now. One click restores it.

Does Config Studio work offline?

Mostly, yes. Config Studio needs the internet now and then for the license check and to fetch the newest settings lists, but the license keeps working offline for 72 hours, and the settings lists fall back to a cached copy, then to your local files. Editing and backups always work from your own disk.

Was any AI content used in the making of this?

The source code itself was fully created by myself. I do use ChatGPT occasionally to generate product images, and I do use ChatGPT to generate the website descriptions. I do this because I don't speak native English perfectly. I am natively from Sweden, so I use GPT to help translate and write product descriptions. I also will sometimes use GPT to write better English logs. Majority of my Free plugins are open source, so you can review the code yourself and freely fork and edit it to your liking.