best way to updating our mods???

[Queen Droxxanna]

we all know that there is an update coming to the game, sometime soon maybe. And just recently there was an update posted on NEXUS for SMAPI specifically for the long awaited 1.6 version of the game release.
In fact NEXUS is showing updates available for just about ALL of the mods I currently have installed, which in a way is good that the mods are being updated in preparation for the game update.
So I have a few questions.
1. How will the updated 1.6 game effect all our current farm save files, whether we have mods installed or not???
2, I have read that the new 4.0 version of SMAPI will tell us (how I'm not sure) which mods need to be updated, The question is will we have to immediately update said mods to get our game to work properly??
3. Whether we only have a few mods installed, or a few hundred mods installed, updating all our mods one at a time is a real pain, having to check the list, and making sure said mods have actually been updated. I personally have spend DAYS in the past keeping mods updated. Sooooo, is there, or is there going to be, a method of automatically updating our currently installed mods when we install the newest update to SMAPI 4.0 and the game 1,6.

Please note that the last major update to SMAPI caused a lot of the 300 mods I was using to no longer function and my game refused to save. This resulted in frustration and I quit playing the game entirely for most of the past year. I only recently deleted ALL the mods I had installed and started fresh with a new vanilla farm and then added a few mods at a time to make game easier to play, like the tractor and elevator mods. They too now both need to be updated for the SMAPI 4.0.

[Hiroko]

Originally posted by Queen Droxxanna:

1. How will the updated 1.6 game effect all our current farm save files, whether we have mods installed or not???

The changes should not effect vanilla save files. Modded files mostly should be fine, too, provided you you are able to update any mods that change the save file structure (which smapi lists). Those are very likely all covered in those already-updated mods. Aside from those very few, most mods can be added/removed at will, but you need to remove any items added by a mod from any inventory, and sometimes other small preparations. Check individual mod pages if needed - they usually give a warning if you need to do something before install/uninstall.

You can always make a backup of your save file, but generally speaking it should be safe to just jump in and pray nothing bricked. Don't sleep and it wont save.

Originally posted by Queen Droxxanna:

2, I have read that the new 4.0 version of SMAPI will tell us (how I'm not sure) which mods need to be updated, The question is will we have to immediately update said mods to get our game to work properly??

Updating: Smapi shows mods that can be updated in purple text. Skim through the console window for it. If you are using a mod manager, it may also tell you. Stardrop, for example, you can click the Status header to sort mods and put them all at the top (or bottom) of the list.
While this isn't strictly accurate, any mods you want to use after the 1.6 patch will need to be updated. Unlike other mod updates, this one is based on coding changes to the base game - which means the earlier versions of the mods wont work. You should be fine to run the game without mods without needing to update mods. See what I said about save files.

I can't give an answer to #3, but I doubt it

[Mysterious Sir Knight]

Personally I just disabled automatic steam updates and plan to run the game via StardewModdingAPI.exe for a while after the update drops, then once I can see most of my favorite mods are updated, I'll update my game and all the mods I can.

[Queen Droxxanna]

i have never used a mod manager, can you recommend one??
Thanks for all your other answers.

[Mysterious Sir Knight]

Originally posted by Queen Droxxanna:

i have never used a mod manager, can you recommend one??
Thanks for all your other answers.

Mod managers aren't recommended for Stardew I don't think. Make of that what you will, it's just what I've heard.

[Queen Droxxanna]

ya figured that much, guess I will need to spend some time updating again. Done it so much I am an expert now, lol. Wish I new how to make mods myself, but thats not my forte..

[Útost Alronbem]

Originally posted by Queen Droxxanna:

1. How will the updated 1.6 game effect all our current farm save files, whether we have mods installed or not???

https://stardewvalleywiki.com/Modding:Migrate_to_Stardew_Valley_1.6#Is_this_the_modapocalypse.3F
There's an exhaustive (but incomplete, but official) list of things which may break and of things which got updated.
Among other things.

Originally posted by Queen Droxxanna:

i have never used a mod manager, can you recommend one??

Not Vortex.
Probably neither classic Nexus Mod Manager.
I didn't encountered a proper mod manager which wouldn't introduce some useless or outright harmful ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ yet.
All I need is:
1. Download mods.
2. Install mods.
3. Update mods.
(4. With all relevant dependencies.)
♥♥♥♥ like mandatory reminder about paid subscription you don't need, or staging feature which TRIPLES storage space for mods with no positive impact on anything, should be optional and disabled by default.
For some reason, mod manager makers are above common sense in that regard.

[Hiroko]

Originally posted by Queen Droxxanna:

i have never used a mod manager, can you recommend one??
Thanks for all your other answers.

Stardrop (find on nexus)
Don't be discouraged from mod managers. My own experience over 2 decades is very different from what was said here. Even if it ends up not working out for you, finding 1 that does work is worth more than all of times it didn't.

[Queen Droxxanna]

thanks I will take a look at Stardrop;
now that I look at, I tried using it 2 years ago and found it very confusing. I am better off managing my mods myself, as NEXUS tells me which of my mods has an update available.

[eternaldbabe]

if you look under POSTS in NEXUS MODS, it shows a link in about the update to SMAPI and when to update it. It shows it is recommended to update it AFTER the STARDEW VALLEY 1.6 update. Anxiously awaiting this update

[Queen Droxxanna]

Originally posted by eternaldbabe:

if you look under POSTS in NEXUS MODS, it shows a link in about the update to SMAPI and when to update it. It shows it is recommended to update it AFTER the STARDEW VALLEY 1.6 update. Anxiously awaiting this update

yes I read thru it all and skimmed thru the full instructions on the the wiki too,