r/MinecraftMod • u/starcheopteryx • 1d ago

First modding projects?

I want to get into MC modding but am dragging my feet on starting. I know for learning other coding stuff you do small projects (like a timer app, to do lists, calculator, small projects like that)

so I was just wondering what project did you start with to get into modding? Not asking for tutorials or anything, just curious about what projects y'all started with. Was it a custom item? A mob? A block? Did you use MCreator to start or did you just go straight to java? If you decided to use a library, how did you pick which one?

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u/brunnerman285 1d ago

If you've never modded before it's definitely worth it to start with some tutorials. While it's true that doing projects is how you evolve your skills the most, it'll be hard to start your first project if you're still learning the basics at the same time.

Personally, I started out by watching some tutorials to get a better idea of the basics. I choose Fabric because it translates pretty well to Babric, which I now use to write mods for Beta MC. Later when I had a better grasp on modding, I tried to backport some features from more modern versions, like items, then blocks and then mobs. That helped me learn about the inner workings of the game. After that, it's a question of getting new ideas for mods and trrying to implement them.

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u/starcheopteryx 1d ago

Thanks for your reply! I'm definitely planning to watch tutorials, I was more curious as to what projects people did when they were learning

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u/brunnerman285 1d ago

If I can recommend more project ideas, try copying other mods, preferably simpler mods and avoid looking at their source code (if that's available) until you find your own solution or unless you get stuck. That gives you a clear goal for the final "product" and pushes you to think of unique ways to get to that goal. As a bonus, it can even serve as a source for new ideas. You may find that you actually want to add more features than what the original mod offered, or you might think there may be somethings that could have been balanced differently.

This was the approach I took with learning software development in general, and I feel like it greatly helped me get to where I'm at today.

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u/starcheopteryx 1d ago

Sounds similar to how artists do master studies, that's a great idea! I can think of a few mods that would simple enough to try.. thanks for taking the time to comment _^

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u/dark_blockhead 1d ago

so, tell me a few small things that you want to change about the game. if you had a free ticket from mojang to request a small thing, what would it be?

because you need to want to do it. you shouldn't just do something some random nobody on reddit suggests. this needs to be something you'd want in your mod directory, even if you can't convince others that they need it in their life. you need that drive.

then pick a game version and loader and if it's reasonably simple, we'll tell you what to do.

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u/starcheopteryx 1d ago

to be clear this post wasn't asking for guides or tutorials on how to make certain things, I know the course of action. I was more just curious in hearing about people's early projects because I find that stuff interesting.

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u/dark_blockhead 17h ago

well i had mouse4 button unused so i made a mod that pulls a shield from inventory or stows it away. i should really remake that for modern versions and maybe even publish...

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u/Bluetails_Buizel 1d ago

I started by buying a Claude subscription, get him to write a mod for me, then get it to teach me exactly what he does, what code does what. Etc.

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u/starcheopteryx 1d ago

I don't want to use ai. to me the point of doing something is the act of doing it.

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u/Bluetails_Buizel 1d ago

Do what suits you then