Minecraft
A "sandbox" three dimensional world to create, survive, and interact. Single player and multi-player. Offline or online.
Contents
- 1 Play Minecraft for free
- 2 Windows
- 3 Linux
- 4 Mac / Macintosh
- 5 Gameplay
- 6 Brief List of some Recommended Mods
- 7 Programs and Editors
- 8 File Locations
- 9 Save / Restore Player Data
- 10 Online Resources
Play Minecraft for free
A cracked launcher downloads the offical libraries from Mojang/Microsoft and the game runs in “offline mode” and doesn’t authenticate. Most are able to play online in any "cracked" server but not the official Mojang/Microsoft servers.
Update December 2017: Terramining_Launcher_v9.2.jar compatible with Minecraft 1.12.2 using Java8.
Update April 2017: Terramining Launcher works, tested and verified with version 1.8.9
- using: Terramining_Launcher_v9.2.jar
Update February 6 2016: Mineshafter no longer works. All tested solutions fail.
Minecraft was purchased by Micro$oft. When you pay to play Minecraft you are no longer supporting an independent developer. Do not pay for Minecraft because you will be paying Micro$oft.
Use Mineshafter. This allows you to play Minecraft on a PC for free with most of the features and latest version.
Update June 2020: Terramining_Launcher is still valid. It somewhat relies on Internet connectivity.
Another launcher for free Minecraft is called TLauncher. https://tlauncher.org/en/
April 2017
Working on a new solution for playing Minecraft. Goals:
- must work offline / does not use any external connection or authentication
- must support lan server / multiplayer
- must support Minecraft 1.8.9 or newer
RESOURCES:
- http://www.mpgh.net/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=335
- http://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/mapping-and-modding/minecraft-tools/1262734-minecraft-custom-name-offline-servers
- http://terraminingmc.com/Launcher.html
- http://www.planetminecraft.com/blog/offline-modecracked-servers---what-are-they/
June 2020
A launcher that works well with Forge and newer versions of Minecraft.
TLauncher: Latest version: Minecraft 1.16.1 (July 2020) Windows, Mac, Linux
How safe is TLauncher? Unverified. Russian made. Contains Ads.
The Google Play store has a Tlauncher App that has been approved. It does contain Ads.
Windows
Troubleshooting
Everything is Black or Invisible
Black shaders. This is a condition where the visual elements appear black or invisible. It is due to corruption in the shader elements in the Minecraft cache. All your minecraft data settings are stored in:
%appdata%\.minecraft\
By deleting the contents of that folder you will reset everything stored locally including all the visual element cache and graphic settings. This is known to resolve the black and missing shader issue.
Minecraft World is Too Dark
Day or night, with the brightness up, you note that the world still seems dark or there is not enough contract between objects. This is related to graphic card compatibility.
In the game try:
- Press Esc
- Click Options
- Click Video Settings
- Turn Smooth Lighting "Off"
This will improve the "contrast" issue. It may not resolve the lack of brightness or gamma.
To improve gamma which will allow you to see things better, try the following:
Close the game. In Windows at the start menu
- Start -> Run -> type "%appdata%\.minecraft\" or "~/.minecraft" and press enter
- Locate the file "options.txt" and open in notepad
- In the options.txt file locate the line "gamma:0.90140843". Just search for the word "gamma" as the number in the parameter may be different on yours.
- Change the number to a larger number. save. exit.
You can experiment with different fraction and whole number values. Apparently the highest number value, according to oliversmith7 of planetminecraft.com is 1000.0
Linux
Ubuntu / Mint Client
The minecraft launcher works well with OpenJDK 8 and Oracle JDK 8
It does not seem to get along well with OpenJDK 11
You can have more than one JDK version on the system.
- See also: Default Java on Mint Linux
minecraft game ended with bad state linux
Some different things can cause this, such as an invalid character in your windows username that creates a problem for Java in accessing your home folder. However, I have never experienced that. What it always comes down to for me is the wrong blasted version of Java. OpenJDK 11 aka java-11-openjdk-amd64 aka Fake Java hates minecraft. After upgrading to Linux Mint 19.2 minecraft refused to run. To fix the problem it was necessary to install OpenJDK 8 aka java-8-openjdk-amd64 aka less crappy fake java.
Another way it was solved successfully was to install real Java... from Oracle. However the folks over at Oracle are butts and make you jump though a heap of registration hoops before they let you download their precious Oracle Java. If you get your hands on jre-8u181-linux-x64.tar.gz from Oracle, it works well for minecraft. See also: Oracle Java for Linux
Yet, like I said before, other things can also cause the bad state exit, which is just minecraft saying that something is wrong. You will have to do some digging in logs if the Java version was not the culprit of the problem for you.
Set up Minecraft server on Ubuntu
First install Oracle Java
Run the following commands in this order to add the PPA, update the source list and then install java:
sudo apt-add-repository ppa:webupd8team/java sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install oracle-java7-installer
Then run this to check what version you have installed:
java -version
Start server
java -Xms1G -Xmx1G -jar /usr/local/minecraft/minecraft_server.1.8.8.jar nogui
You will see
[11:41:12] [Server thread/INFO]: Starting minecraft server version 1.8.8 [11:41:12] [Server thread/INFO]: Loading properties [11:41:12] [Server thread/WARN]: server.properties does not exist [11:41:12] [Server thread/INFO]: Generating new properties file [11:41:12] [Server thread/WARN]: Failed to load eula.txt [11:41:12] [Server thread/INFO]: You need to agree to the EULA in order to run the server. Go to eula.txt for more info. [11:41:12] [Server thread/INFO]: Stopping server [11:41:12] [Server Shutdown Thread/INFO]: Stopping server
The latest version has a stupid eula hoop you have to jump though
vi eula.txt
change
#By changing the setting below to TRUE you are indicating your agreement to our EULA (https://account.mojang.com/documents/minecraft
_eula).
#Wed Aug 05 11:41:12 CDT 2015 eula=true
The eula.txt was created by the server the first time you tried to run it. Now that you changed the value to "true" save the text file, get out, and run the server again.
When the server is up and running you’ll see a stream of notices in the console window. You can execute commands that control the serer and players.
SERVER MODS: You can inject Forge mod loader into the Minecraft server. Within the folder, run the "forge.*.universal.jar" file. You need to accept the EULA. Open up the freshly created EULA.txt and edit the false to true. Remember, vanilla clients can’t join modded servers. Join a matching version number installation of Minecraft with Forge installed, but without any mods loaded, which will mirror the state of the server. Everyone that joins your server will need to have those mods installed; the /mod/ folder of the client and the/mod/ folder of the server should be mirrors of each other.
upgrade minecraft server to latest version
first make a backup of minecraft server.
tar -sp -zcvf minecraft1-8-8.tgz /usr/local/minecraft
We are going to upgrade from 1.8.8 to 1.12.2. Download the latest minecraft server from JAVA EDITION SERVER downloads.
- Navigate to the path of the minecraft server and download with wget
cd /usr/local/minecraft wget https://s3.amazonaws.com/Minecraft.Download/versions/1.12.2/minecraft_server.1.12.2.jar
- fix owner and permissions with chown and chmod
- update runme script
java -Xms1G -Xmx1G -jar /usr/local/minecraft/minecraft_server.1.12.2.jar nogui & #java -Xms1G -Xmx1G -jar /usr/local/minecraft/minecraft_server.1.8.8.jar nogui &
Minecraft server 1.12.2 requires Java 8 or higher. If you see this error:
Unsupported major.minor version 52.0
Then the java version on the server is too old. The newer java needs installed along with updating some simlinks.
add-apt-repository ppa:webupd8team/java apt-get update apt-get install oracle-java8-installer
If this doesnt resolve the problem then check the symlinks with the whereis java command.
Install Java RTE on Mint
The OpenJTE seems to work well enough. OpenJDK and not Oracle (Sun) Java.
sudo apt install openjdk-8-jre
ref: https://sites.google.com/site/easylinuxtipsproject/java#TOC-Install-JRE-64-bit-
Troubleshooting
low fps
Minecraft running slow - my linux minecraft was running on 12 to 14 fps. i have installed hava 7,java 8, openjdk 7 and everything requires but minecraft stil slow
This command should tell you what is currently providing the Java virtual machine (java) and the Java compiler (javac):
file /etc/alternatives/java /etc/alternatives/javac
This assumes the "alternatives" system is working properly, which might not be the case, depending on how Java has been "messed up" in the past. To check this, run:
file `which java javac`
If the alternatives system is working correctly and being used by Java, then you should see:
/usr/bin/java: symbolic link to `/etc/alternatives/java' /usr/bin/javac: symbolic link to `/etc/alternatives/javac'
Fullscreen (F11) fails to redraw Minecraft window contents
Reported as a bug here: https://bugs.mojang.com/browse/MC-46669
Similar to this: https://bugs.mojang.com/browse/MC-69793
Only known fix: Keep pressing F11. Just keep pressing it. After 5 - 20 times it will eventually display. Don't press to fast.
Particular player crashes server shortly after joining
Symptoms: The specific player joins the minecraft server. The server starts throwing errors like:
[00:00:09] [Server thread/WARN]: Can't keep up! Did the system time change, or is the server overloaded? Running 25677ms behind, skipping 513 tick(s)
or
[00:07:15] [Server thread/WARN]: Invalid statistic in ./world/stats/217011de-e1ae-3ef0-ba2a-91e3677f1313.json: Don't know what achievement.cookFish is
An incompatibility with the player profile due to corruption in the .dat file or data in the .dat file being from a different version of minecraft can cause this.
Player .dat files are the player profile data including inventory, achievements, and related that are stored on the server.
minecraft/world/playerdata
The .dat files look like:
217011de-e1ae-3ef0-ba3a-91e3607f1313.dat
If you are able to identify which .dat file goes to the offending player, and after deleting it the server no longer crashes, then you have found the problem. You might have to backup and delete all .dat files for a test run. Matching a dat file to a player is difficult without 3rd party tools. It can be done based on time/date or by process of elimination.
Mac / Macintosh
Where is the .minecraft folder?
/Users/username/Library/Application Support/minecraft
Mods
/Users/username/Library/Application Support/minecraft/mods
Gameplay
Here is the very basic crafting and play guide. This game has a great deal of crafting that is not covered. You can get started with the principles necessary to learn the game and from there explore the more complex aspects on your own.
Printable Basic Crafting Table
Color Basic Crafting Table (more detailed)
Redstone Circuit
Redstone power can be transmitted to devices which will then do something in response. Most types of blocks can become powered. If you push a button, two blocks become powered: the block containing the button, and the block the button is attached to. The button is the power source. A lever or pressure plate is a power source. A block of redstone is always powered, it is a constant power source. A button is a momentary power source.
In general, opaque blocks can be powered by redstone while any transparent blocks and non-solid blocks can't. Consider three basic Minecraft power sources:
- lever
- button
- redstone torch
With a daylight sensor, you can create a circuit that opens your door during the day, and it closes at night. This automatic daylight door would keep mobs out at night. There are several items that can provide an input charge into redstone. These are levers, pressure plates, redstone torches, redstone blocks, buttons, detector rails, tripwire hooks and daylight sensors.
Transmit power with redstone wire. Place redstone dust on the floor to make a "wire trace" on the surface of the ground, much like a printed circuit board. Redstone wire becomes powered when it is adjacent to a powered block. Redstone power runs along the redstone wire, powering the blocks underneath the wire, or near it at certain aspects.
Power will travel 15 blocks from a redstone torch through redstone wire to a block. Most power components provide power level 15, but a few provide a variable amount of power. Redstone dust transmits power to adjacent redstone dust, but its strength decreases by 1 for each block of redstone dust traveled. A repeater block will be required to transmit power further away. This is similar to DC power. A repeater block can also add a preset delay of up to 4ms.
To learn how to use redstone power there is a good beginner redstone circuit video tutorial by those fine folks at Minecraftopia Videos.
1. Blocks 2 away- redstone power
- Redstone Comparator
- Redstone Dust
- Redstone Repeater
- Redstone Torch
2. Attached blocks- redstone power
- Button
- Detector Rail
- Lever
- Pressure Plate
- Trapped Chest
- Tripwire Hook
- Weighted Pressure Plate
3. Attached blocks- switched power
- Activator Rail
- Daylight Sensor
- Tripwire
- Piston and Sticky Piston
- Powered Rail
- Rail
Using redstone you can create basic logic circuits using logic gates in Minecraft. This is a good introduction to logic gates for younger people. It is also a good introduction to how DC circuits function.
Examples of Logic Gates
- NOT Gate
- AND Gate
- NAND Gate
- OR Gate
- NOR Gate
- XOR Gate
- XNOR Gate
- ONLY Gate
Diode functions in Minecraft
- Repeater based diodes
- Torch repeater
- Glowstone, Stairs, and Slab utilities
Command Block
The Command Block is a redstone powered block that will execute commands primarily used on multiplayer servers and in custom maps. This block cannot be crafted and only server administrators are allowed to place them.
Command blocks can only be obtained when cheats are activated, and can only be used in creative mode, preventing survival players in a server from accessing "staff" abilities. Command blocks are invincible outside of creative mode. With Command blocks you can preform commands that players can not preform.
To get a command block using cheats, type
/give @p minecraft:command_block <amount>
Server Operational Commands
At the server command console there are commands to impact players and environment behavior.
/weather clear make it stop raining or storming for a duration /effect <player> speed 255 3600 walk at maximum speed (255) for a duration of 1 hour (3600) /effect <player> clear clear effects /fill x y z x y z water fills a square area with water using coordinates /fill x y z x y z stone 2 fills with granite, which is considered stone #2 by the game. /tp <player1> <player2> teleport player1 to the position of player2 /op <player> /give @p planks 1 4 give nearest player qty 1 of acacia planks /effect @p 6 1 5 give full health to nearest player
Fill an area with acacia slabs, first example has slab in lower position, second in upper. (4) and (12) both are codes for acacia wood, only having the different orientation.
/fill 519 72 1471 525 72 1481 wooden_slab 4 /fill 519 72 1471 525 72 1481 wooden_slab 12
Some can be used with command_block depending on the nature of the command
Brief List of some Recommended Mods
Spigot, Forge, and otherwise. Tested.
- Realistic Horse Genetics : Forge : Microsoft Ruined Minecraft Horses with the release of 1.13 and while looking for a mod to restore the beautiful horses of the past this particular mod was found. It will restore the old models but it does more, it provides many colors and breeds to be more realistic. However, it DOES NOT RESTORE the horse mouth animations of pre-1.13
Programs and Editors
AMIDST
- Open Source, Cross Platform, Java
Basic overview map viewer. Stronghold and villages finder. AMIDST is an acronym. Advanced Minecraft Interface and Data/Structure Tracking. Will _not_ show your modifications to the world.
Cartograph
Cartograph is not compatible with Beta v1.3's new save format. Use Cartograph_G
These are not maintained anymore.
Chunky
- Open Source, Cross Platform, Java
Chunky is a Minecraft mapping and rendering tool. Create detailed 3D or basic 2D maps. Can create maps real-time. Can run alongside Minecraft.
Mapcrafter
- Open Source, Cross Platform
Works with Minecraft 1.8.8. High Performance Minecraft Map Renderer - Renders Minecraft worlds to high detail maps with isometric 3D and/or 2D topdown perspectives viewable in any webbrowser. Four rendering rotations, day/night/cave render modes, world cropping and many more features available.
Minecraft Overviewer
Uses many tiny data files so it is difficult to manage on the file system level.
Minutor
- Cross Platform
- Tested, Verified - works very well to generate world map and export PNG. Compatible with Minecraft 1.8 and multiplayer maps.
- http://seancode.com/minutor/
YSelfTool/MapRend
- Open Source, Cross Platform, Java
MapRend renders a top down map of Worlds. This is a very raw tool and requires a lot of things to be set into place before it can render maps. Roll up your shirt sleeves...
To run the program, you need to open a terminal window and type:
java -jar MapRend.jar
There are some things you need to setup before you can render a map. See: https://github.com/YSelfTool/MapRend/issues/1
You can use the default Minecraft textures for the ressource pack. Extract them from the minecraft.jar-file.
.minecraft\versions\1.8.1\minecraft.jar
NBTExplorer
Available for Windows, Linux, and Mac. Open player .dat files to view contents, determine player name, and etc.
uNmINeD
Map viewer and Google Maps generator.
Requires .Net
File Locations
This is just a reference. The following shows common file locations related to the game and server. Configurations may vary. use only as reference.
- C:\Documents and Settings\derek\Application Data\.minecraft
- C:\wa\minecraft\Mineshafter-launcher.jar
- /home/mythbox/minecraft
- /home/username/Desktop/Terramining_Launcher_v9.2.jar
- /usr/lib/jvm/java-7-oracle/bin/java
- /usr/local/minecraft/world/playerdata
- /home/stanley/.minecraft/launcher_profiles.json
Save / Restore Player Data
Use a UUID lookup tool, like http://minecraft-techworld.com/uuid-lookup-tool to determine the UUID of the player. This tool works for registered online players.
The UUID (Universally Unique Identifier) replaces your Minecraft username to verify your identity.
I think that /home/username/.minecraft/launcher_profiles.json is the file that needs modified by injecting the UUID string to restore access to the player profile. The player profile itself is on the server. Here we need to point it that-a-way.
Offline Mode: Offline UUID and usernames are stored in
- minecraft/usercache.json
Each players profile is stored as a file named by the UUID with the .dat extension located in
- minecraft/world/playerdata
Replace "world" with the name of your world. The playerdata files DO NOT contain the username. If you are trying to determine which offline server player the file belongs to, knowing only the UUID, you will need to reference usercache.json
You can delete usercache.json without consequences to your world.
If an op player gets a custom head another user created, even though the owner of the head has never joined your world an entry will be created in the usercache.json file.
Usernames of a different case, such as Nicole and nicole will generate different UUID player files. Usernames are case sensitive.
system migration
cp -adv /home/nicolep/.minecraft /mnt/xxx cp /home/nicolep/Desktop/Terramining_Launcher_v9.2.jar /mnt/xxx
Online Resources
- Minecraft 1.8 Mods These require Minecraft Forge
- TerraminingMC: Cracked Minecraft Launcher
- JourneyMap Also requires Minecraft Forge