Free
Plugin Libraries & APIs · Developer Tool · by KyoriPowered
A user-interface library for Minecraft Java Edition: text components, colours, sounds, titles and boss bars.
Paper
Open source
Plugin Libraries & APIs
Libraries that plugin developers build on, and what each is for.
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Resources
3 resources, newest first
- Free
Plugin Libraries & APIs · Developer Tool · by dmulloy2
Read and write access to the Minecraft protocol for Bukkit-family plugins.
Paper · Spigot · Bukkit
Open source
- Free
Plugin Libraries & APIs · Developer Tool · by retrooper
A protocol library for Minecraft Java Edition that makes processing and sending packets easier, across many platforms.
Paper · Spigot · Velocity · +5MC 26.3 · 26.2
Folia support · Open source · +1
About Plugin Libraries & APIs
Paper's API covers most of what a plugin does, but some features need more. Two kinds of library fill the gaps.
Packet libraries read, modify and send the network packets between the server and clients. PacketEvents and ProtocolLib both do this. PacketEvents is designed to support many platforms from one API, including Paper, Fabric, Velocity and Sponge. ProtocolLib focuses on Bukkit-family servers. Plugins use them for custom NPCs, holograms, anticheat and visual effects.
Text libraries handle the formatting of chat, titles and books. Adventure is the user-interface library for Minecraft Java; it provides text components, colours, sounds and boss bars, and it is built into Paper, so plugins on Paper can use it without shipping their own copy. Its MiniMessage format lets you write formatted text as a readable string.
Choose carefully. Packet code is tied to protocol details that change between Minecraft versions, so a plugin built on one needs updates when the protocol changes. When the Paper API already offers a feature, use it; reach for a packet library only when nothing else will do.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to shade Adventure into my plugin? On Paper it is provided by the server. Check Paper's documentation for the version you target before bundling it.
PacketEvents or ProtocolLib? Pick the one your target platforms and your team's experience support. Read each project's documentation for the Minecraft versions it covers.