SMAPI/docs/README.md

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**SMAPI** is an open-source modding framework and API for [Stardew Valley](https://stardewvalley.net/)
that lets you play the game with mods. It's safely installed alongside the game's executable, and
doesn't change any of your game files. It serves eight main purposes:
1. **Load mods into the game.**
_SMAPI loads mods when the game is starting up so they can interact with it. (Code mods aren't
possible without SMAPI to load them.)_
2. **Provide APIs and events for mods.**
_SMAPI provides APIs and events which let mods interact with the game in ways they otherwise
couldn't._
3. **Rewrite mods for crossplatform compatibility.**
_SMAPI rewrites mods' compiled code before loading them so they work on Linux/Mac/Windows
without the mods needing to handle differences between the Linux/Mac and Windows versions of the
game._
4. **Rewrite mods to update them.**
_SMAPI detects when a mod accesses part of the game that changed in a game update which affects
many mods, and rewrites the mod so it's compatible._
5. **Intercept errors.**
_SMAPI intercepts errors, shows the error info in the SMAPI console, and in most cases
automatically recovers the game. That prevents mods from crashing the game, and makes it
possible to troubleshoot errors in the game itself that would otherwise show a generic 'program
has stopped working' type of message._
_That also includes automatically fixing save data when a load would crash, e.g. due to a custom
NPC mod the player removed._
6. **Provide update checks.**
_SMAPI automatically checks for new versions of your installed mods, and notifies you when any
are available._
7. **Provide compatibility checks.**
_SMAPI automatically detects outdated or broken code in mods, and safely disables them before
they cause problems._
8. **Back up your save files.**
_SMAPI automatically creates a daily backup of your saves and keeps ten backups, in case
something goes wrong. (Via the bundled SaveBackup mod.)_
## Documentation
Have questions? Come [ask the community](https://smapi.io/community) to get help from SMAPI
developers and other modders!
### For players
* [Player guide](https://stardewvalleywiki.com/Modding:Player_Guide)
### For modders
* [Modding documentation](https://smapi.io/docs)
* [Mod build configuration](technical/mod-package.md)
* [Release notes](release-notes.md)
### For SMAPI developers
* [Technical docs](technical/smapi.md)