Editing Minecraft modding (section)

==History==
{{Update section|date=December 2022}}
The first ever version of ''Minecraft'' was released in May 2009,<ref name="PcGamerFirstMoments">{{Cite web |url=http://www.pcgamer.com/the-first-moments-of-minecraft/ |title=The First Moments of Minecraft |last=Smith |first=Graham |date=6 February 2012 |website=PC Gamer |publisher=Future plc |access-date=12 February 2016 |archive-date=10 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310072221/http://www.pcgamer.com/the-first-moments-of-minecraft/ |url-status=live }}</ref> but client-side modding of the game did not become popular in earnest until the game reached its [[Software release life cycle#Alpha|alpha stage]] in June 2010. The only mods that were released during ''Minecraft''{{'s}} Indev and Infdev development stages were a few client-side mods that had minor changes to the game.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

===Alpha===
With the release of Minecraft Alpha, the first server-side mods began to appear. One of them was hMod,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lock this thread (hMod thread) - Server Support and Administration - Support - Minecraft Forum - Minecraft Forum |url=https://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/support/server-support-and/1891855-lock-this-thread-hmod-thread |access-date=21 April 2023 |website=www.minecraftforum.net |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421201846/https://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/support/server-support-and/1891855-lock-this-thread-hmod-thread |url-status=live }}</ref> which added some simple but necessary tools to manage a server. Michael Stoyke, also known as Searge<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michael Stoyke video game credits and biography |url=https://www.mobygames.com/person/125826/michael-stoyke/ |access-date=21 April 2023 |website=MobyGames |language=en |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421201846/https://www.mobygames.com/person/125826/michael-stoyke/ |url-status=live }}</ref> (who would later go on to work for Mojang), created Minecraft Coder Pack (MCP).<ref>{{Cite web |title=https://twitter.com/SeargeDP |url=https://twitter.com/SeargeDP |access-date=21 April 2023 |website=Twitter |language=en |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420064131/https://twitter.com/SeargeDP |url-status=live }}</ref> This was later renamed to Mod Coder Pack, keeping the same acronym. MCP<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.modcoderpack.com/ |access-date=21 April 2023 |website=www.modcoderpack.com |title=Archived copy |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421201848/http://www.modcoderpack.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> (succeeded by MCP Reborn<ref>{{Citation |last=Hexeption |title=Hexeption/MCP-Reborn |date=21 April 2023 |url=https://github.com/Hexeption/MCP-Reborn |access-date=21 April 2023 |archive-date=21 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421201846/https://github.com/Hexeption/MCP-Reborn |url-status=live }}</ref>) was a tool that decompiled and deobfuscated ''Minecraft'' code. MCP would recompile and obfuscate new and changed classes, which could be injected into the game. However, if multiple mods modified the same base code, it could cause conflicts resulting in an error. To solve this problem, Risugami's {{sic|Mod|Loader}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=Risugami's Mods - Updated. - Minecraft Mods - Mapping and Modding: Java Edition - Minecraft Forum - Minecraft Forum |url=https://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/mapping-and-modding-java-edition/minecraft-mods/1272333-risugamis-mods-updated |access-date=21 April 2023 |website=www.minecraftforum.net |archive-date=20 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230420034823/https://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/mapping-and-modding-java-edition/minecraft-mods/1272333-risugamis-mods-updated |url-status=live }}</ref> was created to prevent any conflicts from occurring due to multiple mods modifying the same base classes or game resources.

===Beta===
Towards the end of 2010, ''Minecraft'' was preparing to move into its [[Software release life cycle#Beta|beta development phase]], and popular mods such as ''IndustrialCraft'', ''Railcraft'' and ''BuildCraft'' were first released. As opposed to their predecessors, these mods had the potential added substantial new content and mechanics instead of simply tweaking minor aspects of it.<ref name="packtpub history">{{Cite web|last=Mills|first=Aaron|date=3 June 2015|title=A Brief History of Minecraft Modding|url=https://www.packtpub.com/books/content/brief-history-minecraft-modding|access-date=11 February 2016|website=Packt Publishing|archive-date=25 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160225042033/https://www.packtpub.com/books/content/brief-history-minecraft-modding|url-status=dead}}</ref> 

Bukkit, a server-side mod intended to replace CraftBukkit, a server software that implemented the Bukkit API, was also released, it allowed server owners to install plugins to modify the server's way of taking input and giving output to the player without players having to install client-side mods.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}}

[[CurseForge]], a website that hosts user-generated content for games, added forums and a section for Minecraft mods in mid-2011.<ref>{{Citation |title=Games |url=http://www.curseforge.com:80/games/ |website=CurseForge |access-date=25 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820080718/http://www.curseforge.com:80/games/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=20 August 2011}}</ref> At first, CurseForge mainly linked to Bukkit plugins hosted on Bukkit's website.<ref name=curseforge>{{Citation |title=CurseForge is now hosting Forge Mods! |author=ahamling27 |website=CurseForge |date=21 June 2013 |url=http://www.curseforge.com/announcements/curse-forge-is-now-hosting-forge-mods |access-date=25 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513190522/http://www.curseforge.com/announcements/curse-forge-is-now-hosting-forge-mods |archive-date=13 May 2015}}</ref>

===Release===
[[File:@jeb talking at the modders panel @ MineCon 2012.jpg|thumb|In 2012, Mojang organized a panel on modding at [[MineCon#2012|MineCon 2012]], where ''Minecraft''{{'s}} lead developer [[Jens Bergensten]] held a talk.]]

Around November 2011, the Forge {{sic|Mod|Loader}} and Minecraft Forge were released. Forge allowed players to be able to run several mods simultaneously, utilizing Mod Coder Pack mappings. A server version of Forge was also released, which allowed players to create modded servers. Forge ended the necessity to manipulate the base source code, allowing separate mods to run together without requiring them to touch the base source code. Forge also included many libraries and hooks which made mod development easier.<ref name="packtpub history" />

After ''Minecraft'' was fully released in November 2011, the game's modding community continued to grow.<ref name="packtpub history" /> In February 2012, Mojang hired developers of Bukkit to work on an official modding [[Application programming interface|API]], allowing mod developers easier access to the ''Minecraft'' game files.<ref name="ModdingAPIEurogamer">{{Cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-29-mojang-hires-bukkit-server-mod-team-to-make-official-minecraft-api |title=Mojang hires Bukkit server-mod team to make official Minecraft API |last=Purchese |first=Robert |date=29 February 2012 |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=13 February 2016 |archive-date=27 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327044736/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-02-29-mojang-hires-bukkit-server-mod-team-to-make-official-minecraft-api |url-status=live }}</ref> Bukkit was then maintained by the community.

A fork of CraftBukkit, called zSpigot which was backward compatible with plugins started to be developed.  In 2012, Spigot released a server software, called BungeeCord, made to link many servers together via a proxy "linking" server. BungeeCord had a separate plugin API from Spigot where Spigot plugins could work side by side. Many popular Minecraft servers use BungeeCord to link up Minecraft servers together.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BungeeCord: Turning Minecraft Servers into a Networks {{!}} Minecraft.Buzz |url=https://minecraft.buzz/post/bungeecord-introduction |access-date=21 June 2022 |website=Minecraft Buzz |language=en |archive-date=2 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702165350/https://minecraft.buzz/post/bungeecord-introduction |url-status=live }}</ref> A programmer by the name of "minecrafter"<ref name="WaterfallGit">{{Cite web |date=23 November 2021 |title=First Waterfall Commit |url=https://github.com/WaterfallMC/Waterfall-Old/commit/a27f55af963bf9502dd5c69ca89c9ada6a65e0b6 |access-date=23 November 2021 |website=GitHub |archive-date=23 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123120418/https://github.com/WaterfallMC/Waterfall-Old/commit/a27f55af963bf9502dd5c69ca89c9ada6a65e0b6 |url-status=live }}</ref> released a modified version of BungeeCord called Waterfall, which included optimizations that were not present in BungeeCord. This was later continued by Andrew Steinborn (Tux) when he created the Velocity proxy.<ref name="VelocityWebsite">{{Cite web |date=23 November 2021 |title=Comparing with Other Proxies |url=https://velocitypowered.com/wiki/users/comparisons-to-other-proxies/ |access-date=23 November 2021 |website=VelocityPowered Website |archive-date=23 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211123120420/https://velocitypowered.com/wiki/users/comparisons-to-other-proxies/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2013, Forge would surpass Risugami's {{sic|Mod|Loader}} as it wasn't being updated in time by its developers.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} 

In early 2014, a server software named Sponge was released with a very powerful plugin API compared to Bukkit and support for Forge mods. Sponge also introduced [[mixin]]s, an alternative to modifying byte code.

===Microsoft's acquisition===
{{Refimprove section|date=January 2023}}
Concern arose following Microsoft's acquisition of Mojang in mid 2014. Members of the modding community feared that ''Minecraft''{{'}}s new owners would put an end to Mojang's established practice of giving free rein to mod developers.<ref name="BloombergEdu">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-19/microsoft-turns-a-minecraft-mod-into-an-education-business |title=Microsoft Turns a Minecraft Mod Into an Education Business |last=Brustein |first=Joshua |date=19 January 2016 |website=Bloomberg L.P. |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=13 February 2016 |archive-date=20 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170520030021/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-01-19/microsoft-turns-a-minecraft-mod-into-an-education-business |url-status=live }}</ref> Despite the concerns, Microsoft did not announce any changes to Mojang's policies, and modding was unaffected.<ref name="BloombergEdu" />

In April 2015, Microsoft announced that it was adding a ''Minecraft'' Mod Developer Pack to [[Microsoft Visual Studio]], granting users of the application creation software an easier way to program ''Minecraft'' mods.<ref name="GeekVisualStudio">{{Cite web |url=http://www.geek.com/microsoft/microsoft-embraces-minecraft-modding-with-new-visual-studio-tools-1621890/ |title=Microsoft embraces Minecraft modding with new Visual Studio tools |last=Mathews |first=Lee |date=1 May 2015 |website=Geek.com |publisher=Ziff Davis Media |access-date=13 February 2016 |archive-date=27 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180227215348/https://www.geek.com/microsoft/microsoft-embraces-minecraft-modding-with-new-visual-studio-tools-1621890/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> Microsoft released the new pack open source and free of charge, amidst a drive to push towards more open source software.<ref name="GeekVisualStudio" /><ref name="MicrosoftOpenSource">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/08/microsoft-moves-toward-open-source-linux-fills-cloud/ |title=Microsoft Moves Toward Open Source as Linux Fills Its Cloud |last=Metz |first=Cade |date=12 August 2015 |magazine=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast Publishing |access-date=14 February 2016}}</ref>

A server software for 1.12.2 named Magma was released, which allowed using PaperMC plugins and Forge mods together.<ref>{{Citation |title=magmafoundation/Magma |date=4 February 2023 |url=https://github.com/magmafoundation/Magma |publisher=Magma Foundation |access-date=11 February 2023 |archive-date=11 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230211135829/https://github.com/magmafoundation/Magma |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 4 July 2015 a "[[Windows 10]]" version of ''Minecraft'' was announced. This, unlike the previous versions, was to be programmed in [[C++]].<ref name="ViceModding" /> This announcement sparked concern amongst the game's fanbase that the Java-based versions would end up being phased out entirely, which would hamper the production of mods as [[C++]] is not as "reverse engineerable" as Java is known to be. However, [[Mojang Studios|Mojang]] developer Tommaso Chechi reassured fans on [[Reddit]] that modding was "too important" to ''Minecraft'' for the Java-based versions to be discontinued.<ref name="ViceModding" />

In April 2017, Mojang announced the upcoming creation of the ''Minecraft Marketplace'', where players would be able to sell user-created content for the Windows 10 version of the game (Running on the Minecraft Bedrock codebase).<ref name="PcGamesMarketplace" /> This new digital store would specialize in adventure maps, skins, and texture packs. ''PC World'' noted that this addition would move the Windows 10 version "a bit closer to the moddable worlds familiar to classic players" of the original ''Java Edition''.<ref name="PcWorldMarketplace">{{Cite web |last=Hachman |first=Mark |date=10 April 2017 |title=Minecraft pulls Pocket users closer to Windows with paid DLC and Paint 3D support |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/3188093/gaming/minecraft-pulls-pocket-users-closer-to-windows-with-paid-dlc-and-paint-3d-support.html |access-date=27 April 2017 |website=PCWorld |publisher=IDG |archive-date=3 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703185235/http://www.pcworld.com/article/3188093/gaming/minecraft-pulls-pocket-users-closer-to-windows-with-paid-dlc-and-paint-3d-support.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2018, Forge underwent a large rewrite, partially because of the large changes in ''Java Edition'' version 1.13 and to create a new long-term support system for upcoming versions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1.13 Announcement. |url=https://gist.github.com/LexManos/76765455e6938892aed59544a9061321 |access-date=12 January 2022 |website=Gist |language=en |archive-date=13 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220113093133/https://gist.github.com/LexManos/76765455e6938892aed59544a9061321 |url-status=live }}</ref> This made many modders use 1.12.2 as their primary version.{{citation needed|date=April 2020}} The Mod Coder Pack also stopped receiving updates past 1.12.2. 

In December 2018, a new modding toolchain and mod loader called Fabric was released. Fabric aimed to be lightweight and modular. It devised its own set of free mappings to use instead of Forge's Mod Coder Pack mappings and supported Sponge's mixins. Unlike others, Fabric normally worked across different Minecraft versions, including development versions.<ref>{{Citation |title=Fabric Announcement |date=10 December 2018 |url=https://fabricmc.net/2018/12/10/announcement.html |work=Fabric |access-date=23 August 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

{{As of|2023|08|23}}, 21% of mods hosted on CurseForge have a Fabric version while 63 are Quilt-only.<ref>{{Citation |title=Mods - Minecraft |url=https://legacy.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods |work=CurseForge |access-date=23 August 2023}}</ref> Meanwhile, 66.9% of mods hosted on Modrinth have a Fabric version while 21.5% are Quilt-only.<ref>{{Citation |title=Search Mods |url=https://modrinth.com/mods |work=Modrinth |access-date=23 August 2023 |language=en-US}}</ref>