Minecraft Minecraft comes in a number of different flavors with each Edition having something unique that it brings to the table. We’ve collected some information on the Editions and modding environments commonly used at WinterNode that you might find helpful.
Minecraft has different types of servers other than vanilla. Some of them have their own special additions. You can install a different edition of the server in Configuration → Server Actions. By selecting the server edition you want and the Minecraft version you need.
Name | Special | Description |
|---|---|---|
Vanilla | The default version of Minecraft with no modifications at all, provided by Mojang. | |
CraftBukkit | Plugins | CraftBukkit is a lightly modified version of the Vanilla software allowing it to be able to run Bukkit plugins. |
| Spigot | Plugins | Spigot is a modified version of CraftBukkit with improvements and optimizations. |
| Paper | Plugins | Paper is a fork of Spigot that expands its API, improves, and patches bugs. |
| PurPur | Plugins | PurPur is a fork of Paper that expands it’s API even further and increases the configuration options available to server owners. Allowing for more control over the server including enabling a number of the bugs that were hard-patched in paper. |
BungeeCord | Proxy | BungeeCord is not Minecraft software and cannot run worlds. Instead, it is a proxy that connects other servers into a network by redirecting players from the Bungee server to a backend server. In order to have worlds on your BungeeCord server, or network, you need to purchase a separate server to connect to the BungeeCord server. |
| WaterFall | Proxy | Waterfall is a fork of the BungeeCord software, with improved Forge support and more features. |
GeyserMC Standalone | Proxy | Geyser is not Minecraft software and instead it is a proxy that allows bridging Bedrock Edition players to Java Editions servers. |
| Forge | Mods | Forge allows running Forge mods that modify Minecraft’s code. Users are also required to run Forge Mods to enter the server. |
NeoForge | Mods | Neo-Forge is a fork of Forge, and is the defacto replacement for Forge post 1.20. For more information, read this Blog post. |
| Fabric | Mods, fast updates | Fabric allows running Fabric mods, it’s lightweight and faster than Forge, and updates faster than Forge/Neo-Forge allowing for mods to be developed on snapshots of Minecraft and sometimes not require updates between versions. |
| SpongeForge | Plugins | SpongeForge is not a server type but rather a Forge mod that allows running Sponge plugins on a modded server. |
Cardboard | Plugins + Mods | Cardboard (formerly Bukkit4Fabric) is a Fabric mod that adds support for Bukkit plugins. Support for every plugin isn’t guaranteed, but some more popular ones like CoreProtect, Multiverse, and WorldGuard are actively supported by the Cardboard devs. |
Checking your Server Version
Using the command /version, found in Spigot based server, gives you info about the what software the server is running, such as its name and version. This command is not available in the vanilla server.
For Vanilla, Forge, Fabric, and other non-Spigot servers, you can check the first few lines of the latest.log file, located in your server’s logs folder, for the line Starting minecraft server version 1.xx.x. You’ll find it within the first few lines and it will tell you what vanilla version of Minecraft you’re running. You should also see a line mentioning the build of whatever 3rd parts software you’re using.
Spigot/Paper - Optimized and allows for the loading of Plugins, but doesn’t allow for any modification that also requires modification for the Client, like adding blocks or entities.
Forge/NeoForge - Allows for the loading of Forge and NeoForge mods, which can be for both the Client and Server.
Fabric/Quilt - Allows for the loading of Fabric and Quilt mods, which can be for the Client and Server. Also updates much faster than Forge/NeoForge.
Bedrock Edition - A separate edition of the game released by Mojang that’s available on more platforms.
Mods/Modpacks - Modifications made by 3rd party developers that are loaded by modloaders like Fabric or Forge, and can be collected into “packs” for any loader type.