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5. Simops MSFS Panel

  • Date: 2024-04-24
  • Status: Work in progress

Context​

We need a panel in the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 game (the "In-Game panel"). This panel will display information to pilot, like flight information, procedures and documentation.

This panel uses the Coherent GT renderer that enables the display of HTML content.

A Package contains the package definition, the PackageSource folder that contains source files (HTML/JS/CSS, icons, etc) and a Package that is generated after a build. This Package part is what is deployed (or copied) to the Community folder of MSFS to be loaded by the game.

To display content in the panel, several options are available:

  • Construct a webpage (HTML, JavaScript and CSS files) directly in the PackageSource;
  • Construct a React website in the same repository, separated from the PackageSource of the package, but built and deployed in PackageSource.
  • Use a simple container HTML page that uses a IFrame to load an external website deployed as a standalone client.

Construct a webpage​

The main advantage of constructing a webpage directly in the panel is the simplicity by itself. It can be more complicated to share code and styling of the main webpage. We have whole control over Coherent GT changes and specifics that can be applied to this integrated in panel website.

Decision​

There are pros and cons to consider.

  • Auth (device)
  • Testing (deployed as standalone product)
  • Deployment (MSFS package no need to change)
  • Dependencies (easier on a standalone project)

Consequences​