How can I create a variable length cable for hoisting an object?

Perhaps you could change the linear constraint limits on the fly and just have a cable as a visual thing between the constrained points. I’m not sure how well just changing constraint limits would work. I also tried adding force between the points towards each other if they got too far from each other, which wasn’t perfect, but it sort of worked even with my messy attempt at creating a rope that bends around obstacles.