The idea for a Mod/Plugin API has been around Mojang for a while, since beta even, and they have even assembled a team and posted some code. Being almost a year now, why have they not released it yet?
This is rooted in the fact that this will be a plugin system instead of a mod system. This means that the downloaded plugin is placed in your Minecraft folder to run instead of overwriting files in the JAR. Plugins are great because they very rarely have conflicts with each other. However they do not have free reign to change everything because they do not have direct source code access.
In other words, plugins can only be as good as the API. The API has not been released because API's are generally hard to change after they have been released. Consequently, Mojang does not want to release the API until it is good enough to replace Forge, Bukkit and other popular APIs, which it is designed to do.
Also some parts of the projected Plugin API package have leaked into MC already, like the new texture packs, and the new launcher going live in 1.6. Mojang is trying to release what they can while making the API the best it can be, so please do not hound them, they are trying to help the community.
We can either wait and have potentially better mods or have it now and more limited mods.
So the answer is: the API will be released when Mojang is comfortable with the capabilities it provides. But in the meantime they will release other features to prepare the community.
More posts on the Plugin API are probably in the future, so stay tuned.
Source: Minecon 2012
This is rooted in the fact that this will be a plugin system instead of a mod system. This means that the downloaded plugin is placed in your Minecraft folder to run instead of overwriting files in the JAR. Plugins are great because they very rarely have conflicts with each other. However they do not have free reign to change everything because they do not have direct source code access.
In other words, plugins can only be as good as the API. The API has not been released because API's are generally hard to change after they have been released. Consequently, Mojang does not want to release the API until it is good enough to replace Forge, Bukkit and other popular APIs, which it is designed to do.
Also some parts of the projected Plugin API package have leaked into MC already, like the new texture packs, and the new launcher going live in 1.6. Mojang is trying to release what they can while making the API the best it can be, so please do not hound them, they are trying to help the community.
We can either wait and have potentially better mods or have it now and more limited mods.
So the answer is: the API will be released when Mojang is comfortable with the capabilities it provides. But in the meantime they will release other features to prepare the community.
More posts on the Plugin API are probably in the future, so stay tuned.
Source: Minecon 2012
I'm glad that they are taking their time, and always happy to see that Mojang cares about their users.
ReplyDeleteUmmm.... Then why has my gf been stuck with the "cannot connect to minecraft.net" error since 1.2.4?!
ReplyDeleteSeriously... The only response she got from anyone is the "we don't know how to help you"
Also it's not as if Notch couldn't hire people who made buckit and Forge and hurry this up (1.7!). The Mods are the best things about Minecraft and if Notch were to offer full support to a large percentage of them (something i doubt is going to result from the API), then hands down Minecraft would be the best PC game of ALL time
True, I see your point, but it's not like they can just magically fix every bug and problem. At least they still work on improving things and continuing development, unlike some companies. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/119051-Half-Life-3-Mistakenly-Appears-on-Gamescom-Listing <--- It's never coming out!
ReplyDeleteActually, he DID hire people from Bukkit, and the people he didn't hire from Bukkit and Forge are still on the review boards, helping make decisions.
ReplyDeleteHi guys!
ReplyDeleteIf you need a mod API (well i guess that's what you could call it) Check out minecraftforums and search for Magic Launcher it makes installing mods easy and does what the new soon to come API will do as to not change and .JAR files. Also the maker of Magic Launcher and Optifine (sp614x) told everyone that Mojang had tried to buy him out for his API and Optifine, so... yea. Check it out here!: http://www.minecraftforum.net/topic/939149-launcher-magic-launcher-116-mods-options-profiles-news/page__hl__%20magic%20%20launcher
ReplyDeleteMagic Launcher is not a substitute for the Mod API. It still opens the Minecraft jar file to install mods, and all the normal problems with installing mods can still happen.
ReplyDeleteThat's Great news. I still have the fealling that many mods will continue to exist seperate post API becasue of their huge amount of .jar editing. The Twister mod is certainly one that won't exist because it rewrites large chunks of the physics engine. And there are many other similar mods. Is Aether possible to squeeze in?
ReplyDeleteWill my gf ever be able to play on her desktop again? :P Probly now she can because of the new launcher but I can't be certain. I should check that out when i go to her house tomorrow.
physics might be able to be done in the API, but the one thing the API will definitely not be able to do is change the menu, or anything that happens before you load a world. There will still be ways to add option to the menu however.
ReplyDelete