What is a .KS file?
A .KS file is a type of computer file that is used with the game called Kerbal Space Program, which is a game where you can build and fly your own spaceships. The ".KS" stands for Kickstart File, and it's a special kind of file that contains instructions written in a programming language called KerboScript. This programming language is used by a part of the game called the Kerbal Operating System, or kOS for short. kOS is something extra that players can add to the game, which lets them write programs to control their spaceships automatically, instead of flying them by hand.
So, when someone creates a .KS file, they are writing a set of instructions, or a script, that tells the game how to fly a spaceship all by itself. These instructions can be simple, like just making the spaceship take off, or they can be very complex, like controlling the spaceship's path after it has launched.
To use these .KS files in the game, players need to have the kOS mod installed. Once they have that, they can put their .KS files in a specific folder inside the game's files, and then the game will be able to use those files to fly the spaceships automatically according to the instructions in the script.
If someone wants to create or change a .KS file, they can use several different programs. Some of these programs are specifically designed for working with code, like Microsoft Visual Studio Code, GNU Emacs, and, although it's no longer being updated, GitHub Atom. But because .KS files are essentially just text files, you can also use any basic text editor to make changes to them. This means you don't need any special software to start writing your own spaceship flight scripts for Kerbal Space Program.
Verification
Our goal is to help people find the most up-to-date information about file extensions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. We researched over 10,000 file extensions and their respective programs that open those files. If you want to suggest edits or updates about .KS file formats, example files, or programs that are compatible. Please contact us.