The Creamy GUI Center: Cosmos
by Matthew Porter 
Jun 28th 2007 at 9:44PM
Each week Matthew Porter contributes The Creamy GUI Center, a column aimed at helping you enhance your WoW experience by offering an in depth guide to addons, macros and other tools we use to play WoW, along with commentary on issues that affect how we all play.
This week I continue our look at addon compilations with a breakdown of Cosmos. Like last week's CTMod, Cosmos has been a part of the addon scene since WoW's early days and as such many comparisons between the two have been made. CTMod and Cosmos enhances the default WoW interface, but Cosmos bundles addons that stand on their own to provide an assortment of features. Does this compilation hold up to today's addon environment or is it an aging dinosaur? Let's find out!
This week I continue our look at addon compilations with a breakdown of Cosmos. Like last week's CTMod, Cosmos has been a part of the addon scene since WoW's early days and as such many comparisons between the two have been made. CTMod and Cosmos enhances the default WoW interface, but Cosmos bundles addons that stand on their own to provide an assortment of features. Does this compilation hold up to today's addon environment or is it an aging dinosaur? Let's find out!
Cosmos
Cosmos is another compilation that has been around since WoW's launch. Like CTMod, Cosmos enhances WoW's default UI more so than outright replacing it, with a few exceptions. Since CTMod and Cosmos are two of the oldest addon compilations many comparisons can be made, however Cosmos takes a different approach to interfacing enhancement by offering more robust options. This can be seen as a double edged sword as some user find Cosmos to be bloated.
The Cosmos Patcher and ThottBot
The Known Cosmos
Cosmos takes a 2 step approach with its addons. Some addons enhance the default interface, while others serve as a replacement or addition. This division is shown in the options windows. The first one you'll see is a features menu which acts sort of like an application launcher. Here you can find "standalone" addons that the Cosmos team bundled together. Here's a run down of what you'll find in the features menu. Many of these addons you can find on their own, but the Cosmos team decided to include them as part of the compilation.
- Character viewer that lets you view the inventory and bank of all your toons.
- Census tool that shows the current population of your server and faction (Horde or Alliance). Find out just how popular Hunters and Gnomes really are!
- DamageMeters which shows your total damage/healing output in relation to your party or raid.
- Divine Blessing buffing tool, used mainly for Paladins but can be tailored to other classes.
- AtlasLoot Enhanced tells you the loot table of named mobs
- AlphaMap which replaces the default map with a smaller and transparent alternative.
- MobInfo2 can approximate and keep track of mobs HP as well as loot table and kill statistics.
- Notepad provides an in game scratch pad
- Party Quests adds extra features to sync up quest information.
- Key Bindings provides a sortable and full featured key binding panel
- MiniGames lets you play Tic Tac Toe, Connect 4, Orthello, Chess, and Minesweeper
The second options window, dubbed the "Khaos Configuration Manager", is where you'll find settings for addons that enhance the default interface. What a weird name to call an options panel. It's pretty easy to use with the addons listed on the left that when clicked display their options on the right side of the panel. The amount of options to fiddle might overwhelm someone taking their first plunge into the addon pool, but at least it's pretty straight forward and easy to use. Here's what all you can configure.
Cosmos is Big and Empty
Even with the assortment of enhancements and additions, Cosmos left me wanting more and yet also less. Alternatives to the default action bars and unit frames should be part of the package, while addons like AlphaMap and Divine Blessing are clunky and only take up space. It almost seems random as to which parts of the interface Cosmos wants to add to, while others feel glossed over or out dated. Compared to CTMod, Cosmos is all over the map, not knowing what it wants to be; a collection of the authors' favorite addons or an all in one enhancement to the default interface. Being able to pick and choose which addons you want to install helps, but this leads to Cosmos' final issue. Many of the addons found in Cosmos relay on "library" addons that contain functions of code that help addon authors. These addons only make other addons work, they don't provide anything to the user. If you don't install or delete one by accident then Cosmos will not work. To me this just seem to add bloat to an allready bloated compilation.
In the end I would only recommend Cosmos for people wanting more than what CTMod has to offer and want the convienance of a compilation. Other wise I would stick with choosing my own addons or try another more advanced compilation. Next week we'll look at MazzleUI, a snazzy looking compilation that offers many features all wrapped up in some eye candy. Thanks for reading!
Matthew will continue spending more time building the ultimate UI than actually playing his Mage and assorted alts in his quest for usability nirvana.
- CastTime adds information to the default cast bar.
- PopBar provides a floating action bar that can be oriented in a verticle or horizontal fashion with multiple columns and rows that hide or unhide if your cursor is over it
- Chat enhancements that color names based on class, add timestamps to messages, allow to alt-click a name to invite them to a party, and let you scroll the text box with your mouse wheel.
- ArcaneBar adds a casting bar to a players and party members name in their unit frame.
- Combat Caller will automatically emote that you're low on health or mana
- Combat Stats is a personal DPS meter
- Monitor Status shows the health and mana of yourself and party members in the middle of your playing field
- Archaeologist adds text to your unit frames showing health and mana totals and percents
- FluidFrames allows you to move and resize windows and aspects of the default interface
- Inventory tools that show free bag slots, your durability, and move the looting frame under your cursor for easier looting.
- Wardrobe lets you create equipment profiles so you can for example switch from a DPS suit of gear to a Fire Resistant suit easily.
- Map enhancements add mouse wheel zooming to the mini map and displays your X/Y location in the default map. (Note that AlphaMap is a different addon which is a total replacement for the default map.)
- Gymnast Tooltips lets you move the tooltip window
- Reagent Helper adds information to an items tooltip showing what classes and tradeskills use them.
- EquipCompare automatically shows the tooltip of what your are wearing when viewing items for that slot.
- Social Modifications allow you to attach a note to people in your friends and guild list.
Cosmos is Big and Empty
Even with the assortment of enhancements and additions, Cosmos left me wanting more and yet also less. Alternatives to the default action bars and unit frames should be part of the package, while addons like AlphaMap and Divine Blessing are clunky and only take up space. It almost seems random as to which parts of the interface Cosmos wants to add to, while others feel glossed over or out dated. Compared to CTMod, Cosmos is all over the map, not knowing what it wants to be; a collection of the authors' favorite addons or an all in one enhancement to the default interface. Being able to pick and choose which addons you want to install helps, but this leads to Cosmos' final issue. Many of the addons found in Cosmos relay on "library" addons that contain functions of code that help addon authors. These addons only make other addons work, they don't provide anything to the user. If you don't install or delete one by accident then Cosmos will not work. To me this just seem to add bloat to an allready bloated compilation.
In the end I would only recommend Cosmos for people wanting more than what CTMod has to offer and want the convienance of a compilation. Other wise I would stick with choosing my own addons or try another more advanced compilation. Next week we'll look at MazzleUI, a snazzy looking compilation that offers many features all wrapped up in some eye candy. Thanks for reading!
Matthew will continue spending more time building the ultimate UI than actually playing his Mage and assorted alts in his quest for usability nirvana.
Filed under: Add-Ons, Features, The Creamy GUI Center
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Fox Oct 22nd 2008 10:21AM
G. "...liberty if pointing..."
"...liberty of* pointing..."
^_^
Gurrash Jun 29th 2007 8:31AM
Cosmos was the first modpack I ever downloaded, and I am so glad it was. I wouldn't touch it with a barnpole now, but for someone starting out it gives you a great idea of what potential modding your UI has.
Self Cast, Cooldown Timers, Co-ords for minimap (Lifesaver!), Damagemeters and other features I couldn't play without (how sad is that..)were introduced to be because of Cosmos. And for that I love it.
Head Jun 29th 2007 8:59AM
CTMod and Cosmos seems like aging dinosaurs. I admit that they were necessary in their tie and helped open peoples eyes to what addons can do, but now there are less bloated and more feature rich addons that mimic anything they can do.
Mazzle tries, but isn't the streamlined solution it could be.
Kisark Jun 29th 2007 9:50AM
Based on your article last week, I checked out CT_Mod. I liked it but then I saw Mazzle and downloaded it. I am back now to almost a default UI. I am looking forward to your article next week on Mazzle to show some tips/tricks for it.
In the process I think I have butchered my WTF settings etc. I really like this series.
Prauche Jun 29th 2007 9:49AM
I have to agree with poster #1; Cosmos was my very first foray into the world of mods as well. It's nice for a while, helps you break into modding and helps to quash some fears about moving into more complex modding -- such as having 100+ individual mods that all must be updated by the user (/blush).
However, after a few months I dumped Cosmos and grabbed like two of the INDIVIDUAL mods within that are not dependent on others. Then I spent some time just browsing wowinterface, curse, (what is now) wowui, etc. I have never found a compilation that had enough of what I wanted -- while free of what I DON'T want -- to make it worthwhile. I just grab all the mods I want/need on an individual basis. Fortunately, WoWInsider turned me on to WUU (WoW UI Updater) which allows me to update MOST of my addons automatically. I still have a handful that require me to let my fingers to the walking, but that's the price I pay for customization.
I'm not a hardcore raider, and I don't have any healers over level 20, so I have never really used much of CT other than CTMailMod, which is WONDERFUL!
Elbows Jun 29th 2007 10:14AM
2004 called, they want their addons back. I kid! Cosmos was a godsend to me when I first started playing WoW. I used it primarily for the extra action bars.
thunder Jun 29th 2007 10:19AM
Don't be so hard on it... its the perfect modpack for beginners. because it handles everything easily with simple UI's. I graduated from this and used CT for awhile, now I've kinda got my own UI. I think cosmos is an excellent pack. you shouldnt knock it so hard... just recommend it to an addon beginner.
Manntooth Jun 29th 2007 10:37AM
There is a write up about Mazzle in AddOn Spotlight already: http://www.wowinsider.com/2007/02/07/addon-spotlight-mazzleui/
Sterling Jun 29th 2007 1:54PM
@7:
Yes, there was a blurb in AddOn Spotlight about the MazzleUI. However, in comparison to The Creamy GUI Center's take on these UI compilations, that review was a Reader's Digest version of a review after using it for a few hours. I'm hoping Matthew (or Matt ... no idea which one he prefers) is able to play with the UI for a few days to point out the quirks of it, along with the fact that Mazzle has version 1.1 in closed beta.
Since the majority of MazzleUI is Ace2 based, WAU keeps it updated for the most part. And, Mazzle has plans to replace the non Ace addons with Ace equivalent ones.
BTW, I'm not a die hard Mazzle fan. I just thought that (s)he did a good job of wrapping everything up in a mostly idiot-proof package. I have found three annoyances with it that I'm hoping get fixed in the next release: 1. When you level a character and gain so spells (or talents that act like spells), you have to do a complete re-Mazzification. 2. It doesn't remember that you put your professions or racial skills in the box that shows your hearth stone after a Re-Mazzification. 3. If you hit ESC to skip the new character intro, and MazzleUI is installed, it kills the configuration screen and you have to log off and back on to get it set up.
Enough with Mazzle ... I'll copy and paste this entry next week.
@ Blog entry:
Along with most commenters, Cosmos is definitely a great getting-to-know-what-the-hell-an-addon-is package. Jumping on the way back machine, I recall how much of a pain updating it was. Back when the updater and the UI was in constant beta status. But, because of the way it was set up at the time, I was able to see what addons I actually liked from the compilation and made my own. It also helped teach me the simplicity of changing a TOC number to get an addon to work after a patch. Anybody remember when hotfix patches required TOC number changes?
syco Jun 29th 2007 4:54PM
The main appeal I find with cosmos is that it autoupdates itself. Even after a huge patch, like 2.0.0, I know that as soon as the mods get updated, they will work again.
Nithelm Jun 29th 2007 8:51PM
I've used Cosmos since its beggings, but I too now find it a resource hog compared to ace2 mods. The only reason I still use it is really just for party quests.
Can anyone suggest an alternative to PQ? I'd like to dump cosmos alltogether, Ive really outgrown it.
Nithelm Jun 29th 2007 8:51PM
I've used Cosmos since its beggings, but I too now find it a resource hog compared to ace2 mods. The only reason I still use it is really just for party quests.
Can anyone suggest an alternative to PQ? I'd like to dump cosmos alltogether, Ive really outgrown it.
The Kitchen Sink Jul 3rd 2007 9:08PM
First off, great articles. I look forward to the review of MazzleUI.
However, it has come to my attention that you don't really proofread what you write, and it's kind of annoying. Not to be a "grammar nazi," per se, but I've taken the liberty if pointing out all that I could find incorrect with this article, English language-wise.
A. "CTMod and Cosmos enhances..."
Enhance*.
B. "Finally, one of Cosmos unique aspects is its partnership with ThottBot."
I don't know if "Cosmos" is plural or not, but there has to be some possessive there...I'll go with "Cosmos's."
C. "Verticle"
Vertical*
D. "Here in," "Straight forward," "Other wise"
You don't need spaces in any of them, they're compound words.
E. "If you don't install or delete one by accident then Cosmos will not work."
"Don't?" I assume that was accidental.
F. "Allready"
Already*
Just so you know.