As mentioned in the Introduction, the guide assumes that you have a familiarity with modding Cyberpunk 2077 before beginning this guide. However if you are a newcomer to the scene then here is the rundown:
In your main Cyberpunk 2077 game directory there are a few folders of note:
Archive
bin
engine
mods
r6
red4ext (Added by an external mod later)
99% of mods have their file structures setup correctly so all you typically need to do is drag and drop the files from a mod into the main directory and it will be installed. A few don't do this but usually have installation instructions on where to place their files so follow them
If the guide updates and you wish to bring it up to the latest version here are some steps you should keep in mind:
If a mod is added ensure you find the relevant mod and install it
If a mod is updated ensure you find the relevant mod files, remove the old version and install the new version
If a mod is removed ensure you find the relevant files from that mod and remove them
Typically you DO NOT need to start a new game after every guide update. I will notify if a new game is required in the changelog
Some steps need to be taken to ensure little to no issues arise:
Create a backup of your Steam/GOG version of Cyberpunk 2077 so that if you mess up badly you can revert to the backup without having to reinstall the entire game from scratch
Ensure that your installation of Cyberpunk 2077 is clean. This means no leftover mod files. If you're unsure then do a game file validation to clean the files or if you want to be extra careful then reinstall the entire game
Ensure you have a tool like 7zip or WinRAR at hand. This is because some mods require one of these tools to be opened and have their files extracted
Ensure you have downloaded and installed all the free dlc and REDMod as some mods require these
Make sure you run the game at least once before starting the guide so that it generates some necessary files
With all that said, enjoy the guide and never stop fighting!