View source for Getting Started/1.16

'''Minecraft Forge''' is a modding framework, designed to allow different mods to load and work together to be compatible. Through the years, there has been many changes in the Forge tooling to make working with mods as seamless as possible. It is now easier than ever to start making your own mod.

== The Mod Development Kit ==
The '''Mod Development Kit''' or '''MDK''' is a downloadable archive that contains the basic skeleton for starting a new mod. It contains the following files and folders:

{{Tree list}}
* '''The Mod Development Kit'''
** <code>gradle/wrapper/</code> - The folder containing the [https://docs.gradle.org/6.9/userguide/gradle_wrapper.html Gradle wrapper]'', Forge uses Gradle '''6.9'''''
** <code>src</code> - The sources folder
*** <code>main</code> - The <code>main</code> source set
**** <code>java</code> - The java sources for the <code>main</code> source set
***** ...
**** <code>resources</code> - The resources for the <code>main</code> source set
***** <code>META-INF</code> - The folder for '''metadata inf'''ormation files<ref>[https://stackoverflow.com/a/6075320/14416954 StackOverflow answer]: ''... Basically, if it was stored in META-INF, it was Meta-data Information...''</ref>
****** <code>mods.toml</code> - The [[Proper Mod Structuring#The mods.toml file/1.16|<tt>mods.toml</tt> file]], where mods are declared
***** <code>pack.mcmeta</code> - File used by Minecraft to [[mc:Data Pack#pack.mcmeta/1.16|identify data and resource packs]]
** <code>.gitattributes</code> - Used by [[wikipedia:Git/1.16|Git]] for specifying attributes for files<ref>[https://git-scm.com/docs/gitattributes Official git documentation on <tt>.gitattributes</tt>]</ref>
** <code>.gitignore</code> - Used by Git for specifying intentionally untracked/ignored files<ref>[https://git-scm.com/docs/gitignore Official git documentation on <tt>.gitignore</tt>]</ref>
** <code>build.gradle</code> - The Gradle buildscript, which defines the project and tasks<ref>[https://docs.gradle.org/6.9/userguide/tutorial_using_tasks.html Gradle User Guide for 6.9: ''Build Script Basics'']</ref>
** <code>changelog.txt</code> - The Forge version changelog
** <code>CREDITS.txt</code> - Forge's credits/''thank you'' file
** <code>gradle.properties</code> - The Gradle properties file, for defining additional variables and options<ref>[https://docs.gradle.org/6.9/userguide/build_environment.html#sec:gradle_configuration_properties Gradle User Guide for 6.9: ''Build Environment § Gradle properties'']</ref>
** <code>gradlew</code> - The *nix shell file for executing the Gradle wrapper
** <code>gradlew.bat</code> - The Windows batch file for executing the Gradle wrapper
** <code>LICENSE.txt</code> - File containing the licensing information for Forge and libraries
** <code>README.txt</code> - Readme file with basic setup instructions
{{Tree list/end}}

== Basic MDK Setup ==
# Download the MDK from the [https://files.minecraftforge.net/ official Minecraft Forge download site] and extract the MDK into an empty folder.
# Open your IDE of choice, and import the project as a Gradle project.
#* For '''Eclipse''': <tt>File > Import > Gradle > Existing Gradle Project</tt>, select the folder for the <tt>Project root directory</tt>, click <tt>Finish</tt>
#* For '''IntelliJ IDEA''': <tt>File > Open</tt>, select and open the folder, select the <tt>build.gradle</tt> file, click <tt>OK</tt>, click <tt>Open as Project</tt>
# Wait for the setup process to complete and the Minecraft sources are decompiled.
# Generate the run configurations for your IDE using the appropriate Gradle task. <br>These tasks can be run on the command line using ''(Windows)'' <code>gradlew gen***Runs</code> or ''(*nix)'' <code>./gradlew gen***Runs</code>.
#* For ''Eclipse'': the task is <code>genEclipseRuns</code>; to run in the IDE directly, open the <tt>Gradle Tasks</tt> tab on the bottom panel, ''wait until the tasks have loaded'' then expand the folder, expand the <tt>fg_runs</tt> folder, then double-click <tt>genEclipseRuns</tt>.
#* For ''IntelliJ IDEA'': the task is <code>genIntellijRuns</code>; to run in the IDE directly, open the <tt>Gradle</tt> on the right, expand the project folder, double-click <tt>Tasks > fg_runs > genIntellijRuns</tt>.
#* For ''Visual Studio Code'': the task is <code>genVSCodeRuns</code>

{{Tip|The most popular IDEs used by Forge and mod developers are [https://www.eclipse.org/eclipseide/ Eclipse] and [https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/ IntelliJ IDEA]. While Visual Studio Code has a run generation task, because of its relative unpopularity as an IDE for Minecraft modding, the user will have to self-diagnose any issues that may arise from their use of it.}}

== Customizing the MDK ==
The MDK provides default values for the buildscript and <tt>mods.toml</tt> file. These values should be replaced with your own mod's information.

All edits should be done below the <code>apply plugin: 'net.minecraftforge.gradle'</code> line. The lines above it are required for the Forge MDK to work correctly, and should not be modified without proper knowledge.
* All references to <code>examplemod</code> in the buildscript should be replaced with your modid.
** Use your IDE's find-and-replace function to quickly replace these values.
** Pick a unique and memorable modid. The modid must be between 2 and 64 characters, and must consist of lowercase letters, numbers, underscores (<code>_</code>) and hyphens (<code>-</code>). The recommendation is to avoid using acronyms and abbreviations.
* Change the <code>archivesBaseName</code> variable to your modid. This is used as the base name for the JAR file when you build your mod, and as the <tt>artifactId</tt> of your mod's [https://maven.apache.org/pom.html#Maven_Coordinates maven coordinates].
* Change the <code>group</code> to your [[Proper Mod Structuring#Packaging/1.16|unique root java package]]. This is used as the <tt>groupId</tt> of your mod's maven coordinates.
* In the <code>jar</code> task, change the values of the <code>Specification-Vendor</code> and <code>Implementation-Vendor</code> keys to your username/brand name or other form of identification.
* ''Optional suggestion: '' Change the <code>version</code> variable to have a 0 as the major version (ex. <code>'0.1'</code>. This is to follow [[Semantic Versioning#During Development/1.16|semantic versioning guidelines]] for versions in active development.

== Building and Testing ==
You can test your mod in the development environment using either your IDE's run configurations and built-in debugging utilities, or by running the <code>run*</code> task as defined by the buildscript's run configurations.

There are three default run configurations with the MDK:
* <code>runClient</code>, for starting the client.
* <code>runServer</code>, for starting the dedicated server. ''You will need to accept the EULA through the <tt>eula.txt</tt> after running the server for the first time.''
* <code>runData</code>, for starting the client in [[Datageneration/1.16|data generation]] mode.

{{Tip|Always test your mod in both the client and the dedicated server, even if you are making a one-sided mod. Mods should not crash when running on both sides, and one-sided mods should not crash if they run on the wrong side.}}

You can build your mod's final JAR using the <code>build</code> task. The resulting JAR will be located in the <code>build/libs</code> folder under your project directory.

[[Category:Getting Started/1.16|Category:Getting Started]]


[[Category:Beginner Topics/1.16|Category:Beginner Topics]]