Installation and First Steps
This guide walks administrators through installing CraftingEngine on Minecraft servers running Paper, Purpur, or compatible 1.20+ server software.
1. System & Server Requirements
Before installing CraftingEngine, ensure your server environment meets the following specifications:
- Java Runtime: Java 21 or higher (LTS).
- Server Platform: Paper, Purpur, or compatible forks running Minecraft 1.20.4 through 1.21.x (tested on 1.21.4).
- Networking / Packet Engine: PacketEvents v2.14.0+ (required for virtual ghost previews and client-side packet animations).
- Optional Integrations:
- Custom Item Plugins:
ItemsAdder,Oraxen,MMOItems,ExecutableItems,MythicMobs. - Placeholders & Variables:
PlaceholderAPI. - Economy:
Vault.
- Custom Item Plugins:
2. Installation Steps
- Download the Jar: Obtain the latest
CraftingEngine-2.8.0.jarrelease. - Deploy to Server: Place the JAR into your server’s
plugins/directory. - Ensure PacketEvents: If not already present, install PacketEvents into
plugins/. - Start the Server: Launch your Minecraft server. CraftingEngine will generate its default directory tree:
plugins/CraftingEngine/├── config.yml # Global settings, ticker rate, and language├── capabilities/ # Modular station capability definitions├── lang/ # Language bundles (en_US.yml, es_ES.yml)├── menus/ # 9xN GUI matrix templates (browser & progress)├── presets/│ ├── holograms/ # Floating TextDisplay presets│ └── placements/ # 3D Display Entity placement presets├── processes/ # Process blueprints & recipes└── stations/ # Workstation definitions (single-block & multiblocks)- Verify Startup Logs: Confirm that the console indicates successful initialization:
[CraftingEngine] Initializing CraftingEngine...[CraftingEngine] Loaded 10 capability definition(s).[CraftingEngine] Loaded 3 workstation definition(s).[CraftingEngine] Loaded 2 GUI menu template(s).[CraftingEngine] Loaded 5 process definition(s).[CraftingEngine] CraftingEngine successfully enabled & ticking (interval: 1 tick(s)).3. First Verification Commands
Once in-game or via the console, run the status and version commands:
/cfe version/cfe statusThe output will confirm:
- Engine and API versions (
v2.7.0). - Count of loaded capabilities, stations, blueprints, menus, and presets.
- Scheduler ticker state (
RUNNINGat 20 TPS).
4. Exploring Default Workstations & Blueprints
CraftingEngine generates pre-built workstations and blueprints to showcase its capabilities:
- Single-Block Station (
stations/blacksmith_anvil.yml):- Standard anvil block providing
forgingandheatingcapabilities. - Right-clicking opens the process browser GUI (
menus/process_browser.yml).
- Standard anvil block providing
- 3D Multiblock Station (
stations/example_runic_forge.yml):- 3D voxel structure featuring an anvil core surrounded by stone bricks, magma blocks, lava sources, iron bars, and soul lanterns.
- Supports 4-way cardinal rotation and PacketEvents virtual ghost previews.
- Interactive Manual Crafting (
processes/manual_iron_blade.yml):- Place 2 hot iron ingots on an anvil and strike the anvil 5 times with a pickaxe or hammer.
- Watch the 3D model transform and progress bars update in real time.
5. Hot-Reloading
CraftingEngine supports full live reloading without restarting your server or interrupting ongoing player crafts. Make changes to any configuration, station, or blueprint, then execute:
/cfe reload allYou can also reload individual subsystems:
/cfe reload config- Global settings and language./cfe reload processes- Blueprints and recipe logic./cfe reload stations- Single-block and multiblock structures./cfe reload menus- 9xN inventory matrix layouts.
Next Steps
- Creating Your First Process - Build a custom recipe blueprint from scratch.
- Configuration Reference - Fine-tune engine performance and persistence settings.
- Commands and Permissions - Master all administrator commands.