Latest version of Rust Rewards will not load

Downloaded and updated to the latest version  (3.1.0) and get the following in console (tried deleting the config file to start fresh):

Quote

RustRewards was compiled successfully in 2316ms

[RustRewards] Creating new config file.

Failed to initialize plugin 'RustRewards v3.1.0' (JsonReaderException: Unexpected character encountered while parsing value: {. Path 'Settings', line 2, position 15.) at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonTextReader.ReadStringValue (Newtonsoft.Json.ReadType readType) [0x00366] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonTextReader.ReadAsString () [0x00000] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.ReadForType (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContract contract, System.Boolean hasConverter) [0x00077] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.PopulateDictionary (System.Collections.IDictionary dictionary, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonDictionaryContract contract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty containerProperty, System.String id) [0x00262] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateObject (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContract contract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty member, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContainerContract containerContract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty containerMember, System.Object existingValue) [0x002a8] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateValueInternal (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContract contract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty member, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContainerContract containerContract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty containerMember, System.Object existingValue) [0x0006d] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.Deserialize (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType, System.Boolean checkAdditionalContent) [0x000d9] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer.DeserializeInternal (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType) [0x00053] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer.Deserialize (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType) [0x00000] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject (System.String value, System.Type type, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializerSettings settings) [0x0002d] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject[T] (System.String value, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializerSettings settings) [0x00000] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject[T] (System.String value) [0x00000] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Oxide.Core.Libraries.Lang.GetMessageFile (System.String plugin, System.String lang) [0x00067] in <bae5f1223fce49c493b01571c99dce02>:0 at Oxide.Core.Libraries.Lang.RegisterMessages (System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2[TKey,TValue] messages, Oxide.Core.Plugins.Plugin plugin, System.String lang) [0x00032] in <bae5f1223fce49c493b01571c99dce02>:0 at Oxide.Plugins.RustRewards.Init () [0x00077] in <38295286ac574a3596fcefdd5d19b84a>:0 at Oxide.Plugins.RustRewards.DirectCallHook (System.String name, System.Object& ret, System.Object[] args) [0x00083] in <38295286ac574a3596fcefdd5d19b84a>:0 at Oxide.Plugins.CSharpPlugin.InvokeMethod (Oxide.Core.Plugins.HookMethod method, System.Object[] args) [0x00079] in <09575a60985045248bcb43b20faeeb99>:0 at Oxide.Core.Plugins.CSPlugin.OnCallHook (System.String name, System.Object[] args) [0x000d8] in <bae5f1223fce49c493b01571c99dce02>:0 at Oxide.Core.Plugins.CSPlugin.HandleAddedToManager (Oxide.Core.Plugins.PluginManager manager) [0x00043] in <bae5f1223fce49c493b01571c99dce02>:0

Unloaded plugin RustRewards v3.1.0 by Steenamaroo

Rolling back plugin to last good version: RustRewards

Failed to initialize plugin 'RustRewards v3.1.0' (JsonReaderException: Unexpected character encountered while parsing value: {. Path 'Settings', line 2, position 15.) at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonTextReader.ReadStringValue (Newtonsoft.Json.ReadType readType) [0x00366] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonTextReader.ReadAsString () [0x00000] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.ReadForType (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContract contract, System.Boolean hasConverter) [0x00077] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.PopulateDictionary (System.Collections.IDictionary dictionary, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonDictionaryContract contract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty containerProperty, System.String id) [0x00262] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateObject (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContract contract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty member, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContainerContract containerContract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty containerMember, System.Object existingValue) [0x002a8] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateValueInternal (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContract contract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty member, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContainerContract containerContract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty containerMember, System.Object existingValue) [0x0006d] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.Deserialize (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType, System.Boolean checkAdditionalContent) [0x000d9] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer.DeserializeInternal (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType) [0x00053] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer.Deserialize (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType) [0x00000] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject (System.String value, System.Type type, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializerSettings settings) [0x0002d] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject[T] (System.String value, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializerSettings settings) [0x00000] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject[T] (System.String value) [0x00000] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 at Oxide.Core.Libraries.Lang.GetMessageFile (System.String plugin, System.String lang) [0x00067] in <bae5f1223fce49c493b01571c99dce02>:0 at Oxide.Core.Libraries.Lang.RegisterMessages (System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2[TKey,TValue] messages, Oxide.Core.Plugins.Plugin plugin, System.String lang) [0x00032] in <bae5f1223fce49c493b01571c99dce02>:0 at Oxide.Plugins.RustRewards.Init () [0x00077] in <3373ac71ae794e99b919a8dbc4a3239f>:0 at Oxide.Plugins.RustRewards.DirectCallHook (System.String name, System.Object& ret, System.Object[] args) [0x00083] in <3373ac71ae794e99b919a8dbc4a3239f>:0 at Oxide.Plugins.CSharpPlugin.InvokeMethod (Oxide.Core.Plugins.HookMethod method, System.Object[] args) [0x00079] in <09575a60985045248bcb43b20faeeb99>:0 at Oxide.Core.Plugins.CSPlugin.OnCallHook (System.String name, System.Object[] args) [0x000d8] in <bae5f1223fce49c493b01571c99dce02>:0 at Oxide.Core.Plugins.CSPlugin.HandleAddedToManager (Oxide.Core.Plugins.PluginManager manager) [0x00043] in <bae5f1223fce49c493b01571c99dce02>:0

Unloaded plugin RustRewards v3.1.0 by Steenamaroo

I made changes to the config file but deleted it from the server and tried to reload the plugin.  You can see in the above that it tried to recreate the config file:

Quote

[RustRewards] Creating new config file.

Here are the steps I just went through:

1. Delete RustRewards.cs from oxide/plugins/ on the server via ftp
2. Delete RustRewards.json from oxide/config/ on the server via ftp
3. Download the latest version of RustRewards.cs from codefling (here)
4. Upload RustRewards.cs to /oxide/plugins/ on the server via ftp
5. RustRewards.cs ATTEMPTS to load and the following is generated in WebRCON.
6. Note that the NEW RustRewards.json config file that is generated is 2 bytes in size on the server??? (see screenshot and attached resulting file)

Is it possible that the config file being generated by the plugin itself is bad?

Failed to initialize plugin 'RustRewards v3.1.0' (JsonReaderException: Unexpected character encountered while parsing value: {. Path 'Settings', line 2, position 15.)
  at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonTextReader.ReadStringValue (Newtonsoft.Json.ReadType readType) [0x00366] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 
  at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonTextReader.ReadAsString () [0x00000] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 
  at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.ReadForType (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContract contract, System.Boolean hasConverter) [0x00077] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 
  at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.PopulateDictionary (System.Collections.IDictionary dictionary, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonDictionaryContract contract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty containerProperty, System.String id) [0x00262] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 
  at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateObject (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContract contract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty member, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContainerContract containerContract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty containerMember, System.Object existingValue) [0x002a8] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 
  at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.CreateValueInternal (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContract contract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty member, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonContainerContract containerContract, Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonProperty containerMember, System.Object existingValue) [0x0006d] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 
  at Newtonsoft.Json.Serialization.JsonSerializerInternalReader.Deserialize (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType, System.Boolean checkAdditionalContent) [0x000d9] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 
  at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer.DeserializeInternal (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType) [0x00053] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 
  at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer.Deserialize (Newtonsoft.Json.JsonReader reader, System.Type objectType) [0x00000] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 
  at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject (System.String value, System.Type type, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializerSettings settings) [0x0002d] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 
  at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject[T] (System.String value, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializerSettings settings) [0x00000] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 
  at Newtonsoft.Json.JsonConvert.DeserializeObject[T] (System.String value) [0x00000] in <271c58b7a8684db5a2c92be17a81f252>:0 
  at Oxide.Core.Libraries.Lang.GetMessageFile (System.String plugin, System.String lang) [0x00067] in <bae5f1223fce49c493b01571c99dce02>:0 
  at Oxide.Core.Libraries.Lang.RegisterMessages (System.Collections.Generic.Dictionary`2[TKey,TValue] messages, Oxide.Core.Plugins.Plugin plugin, System.String lang) [0x00032] in <bae5f1223fce49c493b01571c99dce02>:0 
  at Oxide.Plugins.RustRewards.Init () [0x00077] in <3373ac71ae794e99b919a8dbc4a3239f>:0 
  at Oxide.Plugins.RustRewards.DirectCallHook (System.String name, System.Object& ret, System.Object[] args) [0x00083] in <3373ac71ae794e99b919a8dbc4a3239f>:0 
  at Oxide.Plugins.CSharpPlugin.InvokeMethod (Oxide.Core.Plugins.HookMethod method, System.Object[] args) [0x00079] in <09575a60985045248bcb43b20faeeb99>:0 
  at Oxide.Core.Plugins.CSPlugin.OnCallHook (System.String name, System.Object[] args) [0x000d8] in <bae5f1223fce49c493b01571c99dce02>:0 
  at Oxide.Core.Plugins.CSPlugin.HandleAddedToManager (Oxide.Core.Plugins.PluginManager manager) [0x00043] in <bae5f1223fce49c493b01571c99dce02>:0 
Unloaded plugin RustRewards v3.1.0 by Steenamaroo
Previous version of plugin failed to load: RustRewards

RustRewards.json

Looks like the screenshot did not attach... you can see the filesize in the attached though.

I did try using my backup. I first started getting an error on my config this week (I believe after the 2nd to last Oxide update). I thought perhaps by regenerating a new config file, I could compare my code to the one generated and work my way back to a good state. As you can see, I'm unable to generate a new config file, though I cannot tell why. I sent you my old config file via discord.

Thanks again, @Steenamaroo!!