ViaFabricPlus/docs/MAINTAINING.md

Updating instructions for the project

These steps are the usual process for updating ViaFabricPlus to a new version of the game. If you're unsure about something, ask in the ViaVersion discord.

1. Update all upstream versions in gradle.properties. The main versions you need to update are:

   • minecraft_version

   • yarn_version

   • loader_version

   • fabric_api_version

   • supported_versions (if necessary)

   As well as the versions in the dependencies block in the build.gradle file.

2. Update the NATIVE_VERSION field in the ProtocolTranslator class to the new version

3. Check all mixins in the injection package if they still apply correctly, here is a list of some critical ones:

   • MixinClientPlayerEntity#removeBl8Boolean
   • MixinClientWorld#tickEntity and MixinClientWorld#tickPassenger
   • MixinPlayer#getBlockBreakingSpeed

4. Decompile the game source code with the tool of your choice.

5. Check all data dumps and diffs in the fixes/data package and update them if necessary, here is a list of some critical ones:

   • ResourcePackHeaderDiff (add the new version at the top of the list)
   • ItemRegistryDiff (add all new items/blocks added in the new version)

6. Try to compile the mod and start porting the code until all existing fixes are working again.

7. Diff the game code with the code of the previous version (e.g. using git) and implement all changes that could be relevant for ViaFabricPlus, those are:

   • General logic changes (e.g. if (a && b) -> if (b || a))
   • Changes to the movement code (e.g. player.yaw -> player.headYaw)
   • Networking changes (e.g. sending a new packet / changing the packet structure)
   • Changes to visuals (e.g. animation changes)
   • Note: ViaVersion already implements most gameplay related changes for us, but you should always check for edge-cases. Since ViaVersion is primarily a server side plugin, it does not take care of client-side related / deeper changes. ViaFabricPlus often has to inject into ViaVersion code to improve funcitonality for the client.

   Read more about which fixes should be added HERE

   • From experience, the following packages contain the usual important changes:

     • net.minecraft
     • net.minecraft.client
       • net.minecraft.client.gui
       • net.minecraft.client.multiplayer
       • net.minecraft.client.player
     • net.minecraft.util
     • net.minecraft.world
       • net.minecraft.world.entity
       • net.minecraft.world.inventory
       • net.minecraft.world.item
       • net.minecraft.world.level
         • net.minecraft.world.level.block

   • While the following packages can be skipped completely (most of the time):

     • com.mojang
     • net.minecraft.advancements
     • net.minecraft.commands
     • net.minecraft.data
     • net.minecraft.gametest
     • net.minecraft.realms
     • net.minecraft.recipebook
     • net.minecraft.references
     • net.minecraft.resources
     • net.minecraft.server
     • net.minecraft.sounds
     • net.minecraft.stats
     • net.minecraft.tags

8. Update protocol constants in the ViaFabricPlusProtocol class

9. Check the ViaVersion/upstream protocol implementation for issues and report them if necessary or if these issues can't be fixed, without tons of work, implement a workaround in ViaFabricPlus.

10. Run the game and check all GUIs and other visuals for issues.

11. Clean your code and make sure it is readable and understandable, clientside fixes are sorted by their protocol versions, having newer fixes at the top of the file.

12. Increment the version number in gradle.properties by at least a minor version (e.g. 1.0.0 -> 1.1.0)

13. Create a pull request and wait for it to be reviewed and merged.

14. You're done, congrats!

Git branches

• main: The main branch, this is where all changes are merged into
• dev: Used for changes which needs reviewing by all developers, usually merged into main shortly after
• update/*: Update branches, these are used to port ViaFabricPlus to newer versions of the game
• <version>: Final release branches sorted by their Minecraft version (e.g. 1.8.9, 1.16.5, 1.17.1, ...)

There are also older formats which aren't used anymore:

• recode/*: Recode branches, these are used to port ViaFabricPlus to newer versions of the game or rewrite big parts of the code
• backport/*: Backport branches, these are used to backport newer ViaFabricPlus versions to older versions of the game

Versioning

The versioning should only be updated every release and should only have one update between each release.

• The versioning scheme is major.minor.patch, where:
  • major is incremented when breaking changes are made
  • minor is incremented when new features are added
  • patch is incremented when bug fixes are made

This scheme is used as follows:

• Major versions are only incremented with breaking and fundamental changes to the existing codebase, such as migrating mappings or refactoring the entire codebase.

• Minor versions are incremented when the mod gets ported to a new version of the game or when huge features are added / upstream changes are implemented.

• Patch versions are incremented when bug fixes are made or small features are added, they are the usual version increment.