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Getting Started with Module Development

Step-by-step guide to creating your first CS2-SimpleAdmin module.

Prerequisites​

Before you begin:

  • C# knowledge (intermediate level)
  • .NET 8.0 SDK installed
  • Visual Studio 2022 or VS Code
  • Basic understanding of CounterStrikeSharp
  • CS2 dedicated server for testing

Step 1: Create Project​

Using .NET CLI​

dotnet new classlib -n MyModule -f net8.0
cd MyModule

Using Visual Studio​

  1. File → New → Project
  2. Select "Class Library (.NET 8.0)"
  3. Name: MyModule
  4. Click Create

Step 2: Add References​

Edit MyModule.csproj:

<Project Sdk="Microsoft.NET.Sdk">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <TargetFramework>net8.0</TargetFramework>
    <ImplicitUsings>enable</ImplicitUsings>
    <Nullable>enable</Nullable>
  </PropertyGroup>

  <ItemGroup>
    <Reference Include="CounterStrikeSharp.API">
      <HintPath>path/to/CounterStrikeSharp.API.dll</HintPath>
      <Private>false</Private>
    </Reference>

    <Reference Include="CS2-SimpleAdminApi">
      <HintPath>path/to/CS2-SimpleAdminApi.dll</HintPath>
      <Private>false</Private>
    </Reference>
  </ItemGroup>
</Project>

Step 3: Create Main Plugin Class​

Create MyModule.cs:

using CounterStrikeSharp.API.Core;
using CounterStrikeSharp.API.Core.Capabilities;
using CounterStrikeSharp.API.Modules.Commands;
using CS2_SimpleAdminApi;

namespace MyModule;

public class MyModule : BasePlugin, IPluginConfig<Config>
{
    public override string ModuleName => "My Module";
    public override string ModuleVersion => "1.0.0";
    public override string ModuleAuthor => "Your Name";
    public override string ModuleDescription => "My awesome module";

    private ICS2_SimpleAdminApi? _api;
    private readonly PluginCapability<ICS2_SimpleAdminApi> _pluginCapability =
        new("simpleadmin:api");

    public Config Config { get; set; } = new();

    public override void OnAllPluginsLoaded(bool hotReload)
    {
        // Get SimpleAdmin API
        _api = _pluginCapability.Get();
        if (_api == null)
        {
            Logger.LogError("CS2-SimpleAdmin API not found!");
            return;
        }

        Logger.LogInformation("MyModule loaded successfully!");

        // Register features
        RegisterCommands();

        // Register menus when ready
        _api.OnSimpleAdminReady += RegisterMenus;
        RegisterMenus();  // Also call for hot reload
    }

    private void RegisterCommands()
    {
        if (_api == null) return;

        foreach (var cmd in Config.MyCommands)
        {
            _api.RegisterCommand(cmd, "My command description", OnMyCommand);
        }
    }

    private void RegisterMenus()
    {
        if (_api == null) return;

        _api.RegisterMenuCategory("mymodule", "My Module", "@css/generic");
        _api.RegisterMenu("mymodule", "mymenu", "My Menu", CreateMyMenu, "@css/generic");
    }

    [CommandHelper(1, "<#userid or name>")]
    [RequiresPermissions("@css/generic")]
    private void OnMyCommand(CCSPlayerController? caller, CommandInfo command)
    {
        var targets = _api!.GetTarget(command);
        if (targets == null) return;

        foreach (var player in targets.Players.Where(p => p.IsValid && caller!.CanTarget(p)))
        {
            player.PrintToChat($"Hello from MyModule!");
        }

        _api.LogCommand(caller, command);
    }

    private object CreateMyMenu(CCSPlayerController admin, MenuContext context)
    {
        return _api!.CreateMenuWithPlayers(
            context,
            admin,
            player => player.IsValid && admin.CanTarget(player),
            (admin, target) =>
            {
                target.PrintToChat("You were selected!");
            }
        );
    }

    public void OnConfigParsed(Config config)
    {
        Config = config;
    }

    public override void Unload(bool hotReload)
    {
        if (_api == null) return;

        // Unregister commands
        foreach (var cmd in Config.MyCommands)
        {
            _api.UnRegisterCommand(cmd);
        }

        // Unregister menus
        _api.UnregisterMenu("mymodule", "mymenu");

        // Unsubscribe events
        _api.OnSimpleAdminReady -= RegisterMenus;
    }
}

Step 4: Create Configuration​

Create Config.cs:

using CounterStrikeSharp.API.Core;
using System.Text.Json.Serialization;

public class Config : IBasePluginConfig
{
    [JsonPropertyName("Version")]
    public int Version { get; set; } = 1;

    [JsonPropertyName("MyCommands")]
    public List<string> MyCommands { get; set; } = ["css_mycommand"];

    [JsonPropertyName("EnableFeature")]
    public bool EnableFeature { get; set; } = true;
}

Step 5: Build and Deploy​

Build​

dotnet build -c Release

Deploy​

Copy files to server:

game/csgo/addons/counterstrikesharp/plugins/MyModule/
└── MyModule.dll

Restart Server​

# Server console
css_plugins reload

Step 6: Test​

  1. Join your server
  2. Open admin menu: css_admin
  3. Look for "My Module" category
  4. Test command: css_mycommand @me

Next Steps​

Common Issues​

API Not Found​

Error: CS2-SimpleAdmin API not found!

Solution:

  • Ensure CS2-SimpleAdmin is installed
  • Check that CS2-SimpleAdminApi.dll is in shared folder
  • Verify CS2-SimpleAdmin loads before your module

Commands Not Working​

Check:

  • Command registered in RegisterCommands()
  • Permission is correct
  • Player has required permission

Check:

  • OnSimpleAdminReady event subscribed
  • Menu registered in category
  • Permission is correct
  • SimpleAdmin loaded successfully

Resources​