Understanding CraftBukkit and Tekkit

[MrHatken]

Hi All,

This is an amazing world of Minecraft, Bukkit, and Tekkit.

We've run a Minecraft server for many months and now our boys and their friends want to add some mods. I've downloaded and tried out the CraftBukkit server and the Tekkit server and can get them running fine. I now just want to clarify a few things.

Am I correct in saying that the CraftBukkit server only enables server-side mods, i.e. that it works with the regular Minecraft client and doesn't need mods added to the client?

I believe also that the Tekkit server generally requires people to use the Technic Launcher and to choose a Mod Pack compatible with the mods the server is running. Usually, by default for a standard Tekkit Server I believe this would just be the Tekkit Modpack.

Am I correct in saying that the other mod packs (Technic, Yogbox, Voxel Modpack, Hack/Mine) are for specific servers setup with those required mods?

If our boys want this mod and that mod I believe what we need to do depends on the type of mod: 1) if it is a Bukkit only mod then it would not require a client-side mod as well, but 2) if it does more like Tekkit mods then it requires a client-side mod installed with config/id etc.

Finally, is there any way for us (down the line) to create our own mod pack, probably starting from the Tekkit Mod Pack, and share that with all our players? Would this be stable across updates?

Sorry for all the questions, I hope they make sense, and thanks for any help.

Cheers,

Ashley.

[Watchful11]

edit: oh, dont sign your posts, its a forum rule

Big questions mean big answers, so here goes.

There's 3 kinds of servers out there, Vanilla, Bukkit, Craftbukkit.

Vanilla is just that, vanilla, you can add mods to it, but i don't have much experience doing that, so i cant advise you on that.

Bukkit is a special platform that lets you use plugins, to do stuff like gaurd your world, give different players permission to do only certain thing, and a thousand and one other things.

Craftbukkit is a combination of Bukkit, and forge.

Now forge, at least the newest forge, it used to be different, lets you load mods into you client or server easily.

With forge you can just place mods in your mods folder and they, most of the time, will just work with no problems.

On the mods, theres plugins, and mods.

Plugins are for bukkit, or craftbukkit, and do not require a client component.

Mods, for the most part, are for the server and the client, you need the same version of the same mods, and the same config files, for both the server and the client.

This second part is the huge problem with minecraft modding, and why things such as the tekkit pack exist.

There are a good number of craftbukkit servers out there.

But to run one, and i do, takes a lot of effort. You have to make all the mods work together on the server and the client, which is far from easy, and then make all your members update their clients whenever you update the server.

So, the concept of mod packs came around, you have one pack, usually a zip file with all the mods and configs inside, and people can come download it from your site, or wherever, and basically just copy it into their .minecraft folder. Everybody's happy.

Cept they arnt.

Every week, or less, a new mod comes out that you want to add, then everybody has to redownload your zip file and resetup their client, which turns out to be harder than it sounds.

Then the mod authors come and say, hey, my page says you arn't allowed to distribute my mods, im gonna, uh, do something mean.

So, there's tekkit, tekkit is a precompiled craftbukkit server, it lets you download the server stuff from one place, and has this neat client that lets people get all the mods completely painlessly. And it has all the permissions from all the mod authors to distribute their mods, er, well, lets say it does, long story.

Tekkit works, thousands of people use it, it has a thriving community, and these awesome forums where you can come see newbs absolutely obliterated. (note, don't ask why tmi dosn't work, that's not a good idea)

The only downside is, you don't get to pick the mods.

The creator's of tekkit spend lots of time making all the mods work together and are easy to use, and they are pretty good at getting all the good mods and leaving out the bad ones.

Bottom line, if you want mods, but dont want to spend lots of effort putting them together, use tekkit.

If you want to pick your mods, well, good luck.

If you do decide to do that just say so and ill point out some helpful tools.

notes: The tekkit launcher lets you use different mod packs, heres a breakdown.

Technic: single player only, some awesome mods don't work on multiplayer.

Tekkit: multiplayer, you can use it for singleplayer if you want but this is what works with the tekkit server software.

Yogbox/voxelpack/hackslashmine: All specific packs for specific things, if your looking for mods like ic2, redpower, and bc, dont worry about these.

Your own modpack, slightly contrary to what i said above, it is actually permissible, mostly, to create your own pack for just your server. But if you plan on letting thousands of people use it, ask all the mod authors first.

Hope this answers most of your questions, feel free to ask more.