Iris/docs/30 - Platform Differences.md

30 - Platform Differences

Iris runs the same generation core on Bukkit-family servers and on Fabric, Forge, and NeoForge. Adapters differ in world lifecycle, command surface, permissions, datapacks, and optional tools. Shared config is settings.json; mod loaders add modded.json. See 01 - Installation & Platforms.md, 03 - Configuration.md, and 04 - Commands & Permissions.md.

Tutorial: move a pack between platform families

1. Freeze the source pack bytes and seed. Validate and package it on the source platform.
2. Install the correct destination artifact and copy only the pack into the destination packs root; do not copy a Bukkit world folder into a modded world or vice versa.
3. Restart so destination registries and forced datapacks are built before world creation.
4. Validate the pack on the destination, then create a disposable world with the same seed.
5. Run the same small GoldenHash inputs and the platform-specific fresh-world smoke.
6. Exercise features marked partial or unavailable in the matrix below with explicit alternatives rather than assuming command parity.

The move passes when pack validation, world creation, restart, and deterministic comparison pass. Matching screenshots are useful visual evidence but do not replace GoldenHash or lifecycle checks.

Artifacts and entry points

Surface	Artifact	Bootstrap
Bukkit / Paper / Folia	CraftBukkit-shaded plugin jar	plugin.yml / paper-plugin.yml, folia-supported: true, load STARTUP
Fabric	Fabric mod jar	IrisFabricBootstrap registers commands and services
Forge	Forge mod jar	IrisForgeBootstrap
NeoForge	NeoForge mod jar	IrisNeoForgeBootstrap

Core engine: core/. Shared modded logic: adapters/modded-common/. SPI: spi/.

Data directories

Item	Bukkit	Fabric / Forge / NeoForge
Settings	plugins/Iris/settings.json	<configDir>/iris/settings.json
Packs	plugins/Iris/packs/	<configDir>/irisworldgen/packs/
Mod config	—	<configDir>/irisworldgen/modded.json
World datapacks	world datapacks/ + Iris ingest	world datapacks/; dimension-type pack name iris under data/irisworldgen/dimension_type/
Dump / developer files	under plugin data folder	under mod data folder
Persistent dynamic-world registry	worlds.json in plugin data	<world-root>/iris/iris-dimensions.json

Hotload: Bukkit file-watch engine; modded 3s poll. Same invalidate/reload/locale path.

World model

Concern	Bukkit	Modded
Create	/iris create → managed world name, generator Iris, optional main-world; overwrite=true stages exact Iris/vanilla-slot replacement for restart	/iris create or /iris world enable → dimension id + pack injection
Load / unload	/iris load (import), /iris unload	/iris world disable unloads; no separate load command
Remove / delete	/iris remove optional folder delete	/iris world delete wipes chunk/mantle data
Primary / main world	create main=true for a new level root, or name the configured main with overwrite=true for journaled in-place dimension replacement	modded.json primary + routePlayersToPrimaryWorld; /iris world mainworld, replace-overworld
Evacuate	/iris evacuate <world>	/iris evacuate [dimension] → primary/overworld fallback
Studio world	Transient studio world via StudioSVC; /iris jigsaw can select the Jigsaw Studio generator for one activation	Studio dimension under irisworldgen:studio_*; no Jigsaw Studio authoring command tree
Folia	Regionized schedulers; pregen runtimeSchedulerMode forces FOLIA when regionized	N/A (not Bukkit Folia)

Default pack bootstrap still downloads the IrisDimensions overworld release into packs/overworld when missing (shared provisioner).

Modded startup quarantines a corrupt persistent-dimension registry as iris-dimensions.json.broken-<timestamp> and continues without those dynamic worlds. Recovery details are in 06 - Worlds & Lifecycle.md.

Commands and permissions

Concern	Bukkit	Modded
Parser	VolmLib Director; key=value optionals	Brigadier; ordered args and flag literals
Root aliases	iris, ir, irs	same + redirects
Staff gate	iris.all (declared in plugin.yml and paper-plugin.yml, default op)	LEVEL_GAMEMASTERS for mutations
Public inspect	same gate as staff (iris.all required for all /iris)	LEVEL_ALL for version/info/height/metrics/what/help
Tree feller	iris.treefeller (plugin.yml, default op)	irisworldgen:treefeller (Fabric); Forge/NeoForge PermissionAPI node
Help	Director mini-menu	ModdedCommandHelp sections + clickable pages

Full command tables and stubs: 04 - Commands & Permissions.md.

Jigsaw pack resources are shared runtime data, but in-game Jigsaw Studio is not a shared command surface. Bukkit exposes one global Studio project/world and one owning Jigsaw command session. Non-owner block, inventory, interaction, and mutating-command changes are cancelled across that Studio world, while autosave and graph-operation barriers serialize the owner's changes. On Folia, a save schedules every intersecting chunk snapshot on its owning region and writes only after the complete capture validates; these protections and the coordinator have automated coverage but still require the live multi-region smoke in 31 - Operator Runbooks & Smoke Tests.md. Then copy the saved pack to mod loaders for validation and generation. A strict VANILLA_PORTABLE export targets unmodded Minecraft 26.2 and is a separate compatibility gate.

Feature matrix

Feature	Bukkit	Fabric	Forge	NeoForge
Core terrain / biomes / objects / jigsaw	yes	yes	yes	yes
Jigsaw Studio create/grid/marker capture/rules/export	yes	no	no	no
Saved planar/spatial Iris jigsaw runtime	yes	yes	yes	yes
Pack validate / cleanup / download	yes	yes	yes	yes
Exact restart replacement of configured Overworld/Nether/End slots	yes	no	no	no
Pregen	yes (Paper-like / Folia modes)	yes (moddedPregenInFlight)	yes	yes
Studio open/close/vscode/package	yes	yes	yes	yes
Object wand / paste / save / undo	yes	yes	yes	yes
Object expand selection	no	yes	yes	yes
Object WorldEdit import	yes (WorldEdit soft depend)	no (stub)	no	no
Object studio world	yes	no (stub)	no	no
Schematic convert	yes	no (stub)	no	no
Structure import / capture	yes (NMS)	message only	message only	message only
Structure list / info / place / verify	yes	yes	yes	yes
Datapack Modrinth ingest/remove	yes	message only	message only	message only
Dimension-type datapack install/status	N/A / different path	yes	yes	yes
Studio loot GUI / entity spawn / profile / objects report	yes	no (stub)	no	no
Studio importvanilla	yes	message (run on Bukkit)	message	message
PlaceholderAPI	soft depend	no	no	no
Multiverse-Core	soft depend / loadbefore	no	no	no
Item plugins (ItemsAdder, Mythic, etc.)	paper soft deps	loader-specific / limited	limited	limited
Public API package art.arcane.iris.api	plugin jar	see 94 - API - Modded.md	same	same
Client HUD / protocol	optional client mod	optional client mod	optional	optional
Tree feller	settings + iris.treefeller	settings + platform permission	same	same
Auto Spigot/Paper timeout config	yes	no	no	no
Custom biome restart prompts	yes (iris.all / op)	different datapack flow	same	same

Settings that are platform-sensitive

Setting	Notes
pregen.runtimeSchedulerMode	Resolves using Bukkit/Folia detection; regionized always Folia
pregen.paperLikeBackendMode	Bukkit Paper-like pregen ticket vs service
pregen.moddedPregenInFlight	Modded pregen concurrency budget
autoConfiguration.*	Spigot/Paper server.properties/watchdog (Bukkit)
world.worldEditWandCUI	WorldEdit present on Bukkit
general.autoIngestDatapacks / autoImportDatapackStructures	Bukkit datapack ingest pipeline primary consumer
gui.useServerLaunchedGuis	Both; host implementation differs (BukkitGuiHost vs ModdedGuiHost)

modded.json keys exist only on mod loaders.

Integrations

Integration	Bukkit	Modded
WorldEdit	soft depend; object we	not wired
Multiverse-Core	load order / link	not used
PlaceholderAPI	%iris_…%	no
MythicMobs / item plugins	paper-plugin optional deps	not the Bukkit pipeline
Tree feller	plugin permission	loader permission node

See 28 - Integrations.md, 09 - PlaceholderAPI.md.

NMS / version binding

• Bukkit plugin binds to a specific Paper/CraftBukkit revision (v26 NMS module in-tree).
• Structure import/capture and vanilla import studio paths require that NMS binding.
• Mod adapters use Minecraft mappings for the same game version line without the Bukkit plugin APIs.

Determinism and parity

Goldenhash and genhash exist on both surfaces (command placement differs: Bukkit under developer, modded often at root). Use disposable worlds; mantle reset options exist on Bukkit goldenhash. See 32 - Determinism & Goldenhash.md.

Operator checklist when moving packs between platforms

1. Copy packs/<key>/ between data folders.
2. Structure/vanilla imports that need Bukkit: run import on Bukkit, then copy the pack to the mod server.
3. Jigsaw Studio projects: finish atomic saves and pack validation on Bukkit, then copy the saved pack; do not expect /iris jigsaw on mod loaders.
4. Align settings.json keys that matter for generation (generator, performance, treeFeller); ignore Bukkit-only autoConfiguration if unused.
5. On modded, set modded.json primary/main-world if you need overworld replacement.
6. Re-run /iris pack validate and /iris datapack status (modded) or ingest (Bukkit) after moves.

Related

• 01 - Installation & Platforms.md
• 03 - Configuration.md
• 04 - Commands & Permissions.md
• 06 - Worlds & Lifecycle.md
• 07 - Pregeneration.md
• 21 - Jigsaw Structures.md
• 22 - Native Structures & Datapacks.md
• 28 - Integrations.md
• 29 - Client HUD & Protocol.md
• 94 - API - Modded.md