GTA 5 Modding FAQ 1
What is a plugin? A plugin is a software component that adds a specific feature to an existing computer program. When a game like GTA5 supports plug-ins, it enables modding and customization of the game.
What is a dll? A DLL is a library that contains code and data that can be used by more than one program at the same time. For example, in Windows operating systems, the Comdlg32 DLL performs common dialog box related functions. Each program can use the functionality that is contained in this DLL to implement an Open dialog box. It helps promote code reuse and efficient memory usage. It stands for Dynamic Link Library.
What is an API? API is the acronym for Application Programming Interface, which is a software intermediary that allows two applications to talk to each other. Each time you use an app like Facebook, send an instant message, or check the weather on your phone, you’re using an API.
What is dinput8.dll (Directinput8)? The dinput8.dll is an executable file on your computer's hard drive. This file contains machine code. If you start the software DirectX on your PC, the commands contained in dinput8.dll will be executed on your PC. For this purpose, the file is loaded into the main memory (RAM) and runs there as a Microsoft DirectInput DLL for DirectX 8 process (also called a task). The dinput8.dll file should be located in the folder C:\Windows\System32\dinput8.dll. Alexander Blade created a modified version of the same name, packaged with Script Hook V.
What is DirectX? Very simply DirectX allows games to "talk" to video cards. Microsoft DirectX is a collection of application programming interfaces (APIs) for handling tasks related to multimedia, especially game programming and video, on Microsoft platforms. Originally, the names of these APIs all began with "Direct", such as Direct3D, DirectDraw, DirectMusic, DirectPlay, DirectSound, and so forth. The name DirectX was coined as a shorthand term for all of these APIs (the X standing in for the particular API names) and soon became the name of the collection.
What is a hook? A hook, or hook library like Script Hook V, allows you to add hooks called by the game engine, allowing multiple scripts to modify game function. In other words it allows you to extend and mod the game itself.
What is a native function? A native function is a one of the functions exposed by the RAGE engine to be called from a script. In other words, native functions are the programming code in the engine allowing everything from spawning a ped or vehicle to creating animations etc.
Some abbreviations
DLC: downloadable content
rpf: rage package format, some call it rage package file. An RPF file is a game archive used by Grand Theft Auto (GTA) IV and V, action-adventure video games published by Rockstar Games. It contains game data files, such as 3D character models, texture graphics, and game audio. Modders often modify RPF files' contents to customize GTA IV and V. It is generally compressed and encrypted. GTA5 uses RPF7 version which is implemented into OpenIV.
RAGE: The Rockstar Advanced Game Engine (RAGE) is a proprietary game engine developed by RAGE Technology Group. Can also refer to a mod called the RAGE Plugin, similar to Scripthook V.
FILE TYPES. For more information about the GTA5 files, see this post.
