AddOn Spotlight: Ace
by Elizabeth Harper 
Jan 13th 2008 at 9:15PM
Ace was created because many different mods have to use the same types of basic functions. With ordinary mods, these basic functions would be written and included with each addon. With Ace, this basic functionality is packaged into a single library that all Ace mods use. What this means to non-programmers is that Ace mods use fewer system resources, because they all use a the standard Ace code, which is loaded once for all of the Ace mods you have. If you're using non-Ace mods, these basic functions are loaded seperately for each addon you have -- and the more addons you have, the more this adds up. (On the flip side of this, if you only use one Ace addon, you don't gain any benefits, but if you use all Ace addons, a little efficiency improvement in each can result in a big difference.) For the programmers in the audience, Ace means you can write your addon quickly, because you have immediate access to basic Ace functionality (you don't have to reinvent the wheel -- you only have to write code for what you want to do).
Want to get started with Ace? Read on for a list of some of the best Ace addons out there.
To grab the latest version of any of the addons listed here, go to their page on the WoW Ace wiki (linked below), and click on "Betas" under the link section. Scroll down to the latest download, click, and enjoy!Decursive: The mod to keep track of all of your decursing needs.
One Bag: Combines your bags into a single convenient inventory display.
One Bank: Combines your bank bags into a single convenient bank display.
SimpleCombatLog: Cleans up the default combat log into something more easily readable.
Elkano's BuffBar: A replacement for Blizzard's default buff display.
Dr. Damage: Calculates approximate damage and healing done by your abilities, based on gear.
FuBar: Same concept as Titan Panel. This is just the base model -- for plugins, you're on your own!
ClosetGnome: Allows you to select different gear setups with a single click.
Cartographer: The only map mod you'll ever need.
oRA2: A CT_RaidAssist alternative.
BigWigs: Boss encounter warnings.
Grid: Raid frames.
Clique: Click-casting mod.
AG UnitFrames: A simple replacement for Blizzard's default unitframes.
PitBull: An advanced, and more customizable replacement for Blizzard's default unitframes.
Omen: The threat-meter of choice.
Chronometer: Ability cooldown tracking.
And for those of you playing on a PC, Ace users can update all of their mods on patch day using the WowAceUpdater application. How's that for convenience!
Filed under: Add-Ons, AddOn Spotlight
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dread Jan 24th 2008 2:41PM
@12
Do you even know who clad is?
Matthew Rossi Jan 13th 2008 9:38PM
Enhancer is an excellent WoW Ace addon for shammies, especially enhancement shammies.
Dave Jan 13th 2008 9:49PM
http://www.wowace.com/wiki/ClassTimer
ClassTimer is pretty essential for me, it'll track all your debuffs across all targets. Reallyreallyreallyhandy for anyone. It's the best way I've found to keep track of a CC on a mob you're not targeting or focused on, among other things.
Flambeau Jan 13th 2008 9:52PM
the problem with Ace is exactly what it means. the reliance on teh ACE library code, and the requirement that it meet the specifications of WOW. Amazingly ACE is pretty fast at updating, pretty much daily, but this works two ways, both that it updates fast and is usually less broken when patches happen, but also that some addons (OMEN) are so updated that they loose backwards compatability and force re downloading every update where as some people especially in a lot of the screenshots use trinketmenu and titan which is so far out of date yet still work effectively.
Also with Ace comes certain elitism, like the previous poster in which they only go for Ace addons, and more than not miss out on a lot of other addons that are available.
not withstanding the great Fubar/Titan Debate, but going to the ACE website there is a list of ace addons that "mimic" previously created/current mods. so there is a chance the "efficiency" you mentioned can be achieved via the list. sometimes these are better as original, sometimes better as aced up, but mostly it's more of what can ace beat blizzard to the punch.
Dave Jan 13th 2008 10:22PM
Well, I think that the reliance on the Ace frameworks (and there are multiples in the core of Ace addons) is actually the biggest benefit.
When a change happens that fundamentally affects a function that many mods use, instead of updating 100 mods you're only really needing to update the library that they all access, as far as functionality goes. The authors may need to reimpliement the particular function hooks and calls, but for the most part it's just the library that needs to change and not every single mod having to be significantly fixed by each individual author. Any adjustments from the affected mods is a really simple change.
It's a real bummer when your favorite mod breaks with a patch and the author is too busy to fix it. Ace mods have less of these problems, since a library change can fix things without having to trouble the author.
Plus there's the idea that library use reduces memory usage with the fact that multiple mods using the same library is better than 10 mods with their own functions and individual libraries. I'm not sure if it works out as well as it could most of the time, but it's a good concept.
greghacke Jan 13th 2008 9:55PM
Additionally, there are Auto-Updaters for Mac OSX (10.5 Leopard) at :
http://www.lsmason.com/software/wowaceupdater/
irishstu Jan 14th 2008 7:48AM
I've tried a few mac ace updaters and this is the best by far
PeeWee Jan 13th 2008 10:46PM
I use a lot of ACE addons, and I need to put a small word in here. Regardless of how good the ACE library is, just because an addon uses it, it doesn't automatically make that specific addon greater or better than a non-ACE equivalent. It's all down to the coder. If the guy that makes the addon is crap at what he does, the addon will be shite, regardless of its dependancies.
So, if you're not sure which to use, try them all. And use what works best for you. No one else can tell you that.
'nuff said.
Koskun Jan 13th 2008 11:04PM
One thing to mention, not all the mods you mention are Ace. Fubar for instance is made on the Rock foundation, not Ace. also, a lot of these are also Ace2.
Also, if you want to read about the Ace/Rock addons go to the page listed, but to get them get WoWAceUpdater. Faster, easier (say YES to with externals to keep your addon folder clutter down), and just works well. Available in Windows, OSX, and Java flavors.
Mike Jan 13th 2008 11:26PM
I use almost entirely Ace/Ace2 addons, and have for the last 6 months or so. I replaced almost all my old addons with their ace counterparts.
It took some effort but was worth it. I have never encountered problems on patch day since then. I update all my addons every few days with the click of a button using the updater application (I would say I have 50+ addons counting fubar plugins, and updates only take a few seconds.
After years of searching for updates for HOURS on patch day, I am sticking with ace from now on.
I recommend downloading the updater and searching for updates through it. It will show you a big list of addons, you click the box next to one you want to try and install it. If you don't like it, just right click it and select "uninstall".
A few of my favorites that weren't mentioned:
JasonQuest - Lets you browse other JQuest users quest logs and see their quest status on your screen. Great for duos.
Autobar - Takes all those consumables and quest items in your bag and creates an action bar that automatically updates itself based on your inventory
Bartender, CyCircled and SimpleMiniMap - Want a spiffy custom UI? These three addons will do almost everything you need. I recommend using with Autobar and Pitbull for a really nice custom UI.
Aloft - Lets you customize the nameplates that appear over people's heads
Cartographer Mining (all gathering professions) - Shows you the location of nearby nodes, speeds up gathering professions incredibly
ClearFont2 - Make the screen easier to read, great for your eyes: I don't get headaches anymore
EQCompare - Compares your currently equipped item with your mouseover item
Fubar DurabilityFU - Shows your current durability and autorepairs at capable vendors
SellJunk - Adds a button to vendors that lets you sell all grey instantly
TinyTip - Tooltip enhancement, lets you color based on class and move the tooltip to where your mouse is
scrantinax Jan 14th 2008 2:17AM
Clique is no longer an ace addon and hasnt been for atleast a year or more
Cladhaire Jan 14th 2008 3:00AM
Correct, Clique is no longer an Ace addon, because Ace is too horribly bloated to get anything accomplished efficiently.
Seph Jan 14th 2008 8:37AM
@12
Do you even understand how ace works? The whole point of it is less bloat and proper libs to make everything more efficient. But I guess random troll posting not explaining your misconception and lack of basic understanding of the code is just as good for some. heh
Mike Griffin Jan 14th 2008 12:34PM
I try to use Ace addons whenever possible, but there are some out there that Ace just doesn't compare. A perfect example is Clique. I tried Click2Cast this weekend just to see how it compared, and there was no comparison. Clique is by-far more superior.
Cladhaire Jan 25th 2008 5:45PM
Actually, I was a member of the Ace development team, and one of the designers of Ace2 before it grew into what it's become. I'm not just trolling, and perhaps you could have done some research before assuming as such.
I wrote Clique.
I set up the WoWAce SVN, and the file area of the site.
I'm the author of Dongle, PerfectRaid, LightHeaded, TomTom and a bunch of other addons.
None of that makes me special, or better than anyone else, but it does make me qualified to make the comments I made.
There was some good constructive discussion here.
Cheers
- Cladhaire
ng5.forums Jan 14th 2008 1:09PM
Nice piece. Just a quick note, Mac users can use JWoWUpdater from http://code.google.com/p/jwowupdater/ to update ACE addons from FileAce. The latest edition also will update specified non-ACE add-ons.
Download and simply double-click the JWowUpdater.jar file.
Can't recommend it enough (and I am not affiliated to the author in anyway)
Zghuk Jan 14th 2008 3:53AM
Every time I use the ace updater some addons are broken... grrr
Thorn Jan 14th 2008 4:05AM
You really should warn people that by using the Ace updater, they will be getting beta versions of the addons (at best). At some point, one (or more) will not work, and you probably won't know why.
It's always better to try and get the release-quality versions that get uploaded to WowInterface/Curse/etc. unless you know what you're doing and willing to take that risk.
Slarti Jan 14th 2008 1:05PM
Definitely an important point! There's too many people already out there who screwed their addon setup by blindly downloading beta versions from the ace SVN. And most of them didn't even know that they were downloading beta stuff there, they were blinded by the convenience offered by the updater.
I really don't have any idea why the ace guys don't implement "stable" branches into their SVN so that addon authors could tag one revision as "stable", while still being able to upload any single code change that came to their mind while sitting on the toilet. The users could then choose between "stable" versions and "cutting-edge" beta/alpha versions, with "stable" as default. That would even serve to seriously lower the traffic on the servers, because updates wouldn't happen that frequently (which in turn would decrease the money drain on the ace guys' pockets).
LostOne Jan 14th 2008 7:06AM
I'm looking for a wowace updater that DOESN'T HAVE THE ADS. The ads are so lame! God knows what spyware they could be downloading, as I doubt the (I think) open source application is 100% secure.