NewbieShield glossary

Setting up a plugin for ARK: Survival Ascended comes with its own vocabulary. These are the terms used across the NewbieShield guides, explained in plain language. They are general definitions, not claims about NewbieShield itself.

Terms covered: Server plugin, Mod framework, AsaApi (ServerAPI), Config file, Permission, Server console, Reload, Cluster, Server-side and client-side, Semantic versioning, Changelog, SHA-256 checksum, Hosting panel and FTP and SFTP.

Terms

Server plugin

Code that runs inside the game server and adds features, without players downloading anything. Plugins are loaded by a mod framework and usually come with a config file, commands and permissions.

Mod framework

The layer that lets a game server load plugins. It has to be installed first and kept up to date, because game updates often break it before they break the plugins on top of it.

AsaApi (ServerAPI)

The server API used to run plugins on ARK: Survival Ascended dedicated servers. Plugins live in their own folders under ShooterGame/Binaries/Win64/ArkApi/Plugins.

Config file

A text file the resource reads its settings from. Editing it changes behaviour without touching code; a backup before editing is your undo button.

Permission

A named right such as plugin.use that a server checks before letting someone use a feature. Permissions are granted to players or to groups.

Server console

The live text output and command line of the game server. Startup errors appear here first, which makes it the first place to look when something does not load.

Reload

Loading a changed plugin or config without restarting the whole server, so players stay connected. Not every game or resource supports it.

Cluster

Several linked servers that share player transfers and sometimes data, common on ARK. Resources must support clusters to keep data consistent across them.

Server-side and client-side

Server-side resources run only on the server, so players install nothing. Client-side ones must also be installed by each player, and versions usually have to match.

Semantic versioning

Version numbers in the form major.minor.patch. A patch fixes bugs, a minor release adds features, and a major release may change how things work or are configured.

Changelog

The creator's notes on what each release changed. Read every entry between your version and the newest before updating.

SHA-256 checksum

A fingerprint of a file. If the checksum of your download matches the published one, the file is exactly what the creator released.

Hosting panel

The web dashboard a game server host gives you to start, stop and configure the server. Panels often override config files with their own settings.

FTP and SFTP

Ways to upload files to a rented server. SFTP is encrypted; both handle large files better than a browser file manager.

Back to the NewbieShield overview.