Difference between revisions of "FAQ"

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{{Languages}}
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{{Languages|nocat=1}}
  
 
This is a collection of some '''frequently asked questions''' about Minetest. For technical problems, refer to [[Troubleshooting]].
 
This is a collection of some '''frequently asked questions''' about Minetest. For technical problems, refer to [[Troubleshooting]].
  
−
== General ==
+
== What is Minetest? ==
 +
Minetest is a free software game engine desgined to create [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voxel voxel]-based games. A detailed description can be found at [[Minetest]].
  
−
=== Where can I ask questions? ===
+
== About the Engine ==
 +
=== How much does Minetest cost? ===
 +
Nothing. It's free.
 +
 
 +
=== Is Minetest a clone of Minecraft? ===
 +
No. Minetest has very different goals from Minecraft, and doesn't aim to compete with or replace Minecraft.
 +
 
 +
The very first version of Minetest was intended to replicate what Minecraft Alpha had been shown to do at the time (2010)<ref>https://fr.wikinews.org/wiki/Interview_de_Perttu_Ahola,_cr%C3%A9ateur_du_jeu_Minetest</ref>. It's goals soon diverged from Minecraft and eventually became a game engine instead.
 +
 
 +
=== Who created Minetest? ===
 +
Minetest was originally created by [[Celeron55|Perttu Ahola]] (also known as '''celeron55'''). The engine is currently developed by [https://github.com/orgs/minetest/people this random bunch of lunatics] as well as [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/graphs/contributors the community].
 +
 
 +
=== What is Minetest written in? ===
 +
The Minetest engine is primarily written in C++ using a [[#What is Irrlicht?|forked version of the Irrlicht rendering engine]]. Some parts of the engine are implemented in the [https://www.lua.org/ Lua language], and the scripting API uses Lua as well.
  
−
In [http://minetest.net/irc IRC] and the [https://forum.minetest.net/ Forum]. It is recommended to search the archives, most questions were probably answered before.
+
=== Can I change the code myself? ===
 +
[https://github.com/minetest/minetest/ Yes.] Minetest is freely licensed ([https://github.com/minetest/minetest/blob/master/LICENSE.txt LGPL 2.1 and others]).
  
−
=== How to install games, mods, maps, and texture packs? ===
+
=== When will the next version of Minetest be released? ===
 +
Check the [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/milestones GitHub milestones] for a good idea of how far along the next version is.
  
−
See [[Subgames#Installing subgames|Installing Subgames]], [[Installing Mods|Installing Mods]], [[Maps#Installation|Installing Maps]],  and [[Texture Packs#Installation|Installing Texture Packs]].
+
==== Why did the version change from 0.4.17.1 to 5.0.0? ====
 +
Minetest switched to [https://semver.org/ semver] after 0.4.17.1 because the leading zero was never going to change. In the old versioning system 5.0.0 would be 0.5.0.0. Semver is cleaner and is an industry standard.
  
−
=== When will the next version of Minetest / Minetest Game be released? ===
+
=== How do I install and run Minetest? ===
−
We don't know.
+
''See [[Getting_Started#Getting_Minetest]].''
  
 
=== How do I update Minetest? ===
 
=== How do I update Minetest? ===
 +
This depends on your operating system and installation method. You will usually either download the newest version or run an update command. Some systems may require you to move your worlds and mods. If you are using the Git version, simply pull and compile every time you want to update.
  
−
The easiest way is just to download the newest version and move your worlds and mods to the new version. Depending on your operating system, there may exist other ways to update the game. If you are using the Git version, you can clone the repository and pull and compile every time you want to update.
+
=== Where and how do I find games to install? ===
 +
Check out [https://content.minetest.net/packages/?type=game Minetest ContentDB] for a list of games. You can easily install games (and other content) through the client in the '''Content''' tab ('Browse online content'). You may also manually install games you find on the forum or GitHub to the "games" folder in your Minetest data directory. For more information about games, see [[Games]].
  
−
=== What are the different games and how do I install them? ===
+
=== What is Irrlicht? ===
 +
Irrlicht is a rather ancient real-time 3D engine. Currently Minetest uses it for rendering, managing the window, the underlying GUI, input handling, model and image format support.
  
−
On a new installation you should have [[Subgames/Minetest Game|Minetest Game]] (this is the default game), if you don't have it, download it from [https://github.com/minetest/minetest_game GitHub]. “Minimal development test” is just for developers and is not intended to be playable. You can find several other games (subgames) in the forums and in the [[List of Subgames]]. To install, them extract the pack and rename the folder to the name of the game (e.g. “minetest_game-master” becomes “minetest_game”), then copy the folder to the “games” folder. For more information about subgames, read [[Subgames]].
+
As it's old and mostly unmaintained, there is work on moving away from Irrlicht. Currently Minetest uses its own fork of Irrlicht called [https://github.com/minetest/irrlicht IrrlichtMt], which is supposed to distill Irrlicht down to what Minetest actually uses, along with fixing issues that were previously out of reach. The goal is to reduce the reliance on Irrlicht in favour of SDL2 and our own rendering pipeline.
  
−
=== How do I get the multiplayer account? ===
+
=== Why does the UI look so old? ===
 +
The main menu and Minetest Game more or less uses the default [[#What is Irrlicht?|Irrlicht]] styling from before [https://api.minetest.net/formspec/#styling-formspecs formspec styling] was introduced.
  
−
There is no globally valid multiplayer account in Minetest. For each server, you can use a different name and password. The “account” is created at first login. This way, only you can access your player and inventory on that particular server. You can always play singleplayer with no need for any username and password.
+
It is certainly possible to improve the UI, and some games style their GUI wonderfully, but deciding on changes to the engine's default styling that everyone can agree on is difficult. Contributions are welcome.
  
−
=== How do I get an account for the Minetest Wiki? ===
+
=== The main menu sucks! ===
−
By requesting one at https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10473.
+
[https://github.com/minetest/minetest/issues/6733 We're working on it.]
 +
 
 +
=== I have a technical problem, how to fix this? ===
 +
''See [[Troubleshooting]].''
 +
 
 +
=== Is Minetest multi-threaded? ===
 +
Yes. Minetest's client and server run in different threads. The server also runs map generation in worker threads, although this is limited to a single thread currently due to issues (but [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/blob/eea2a97/minetest.conf.example#L2973-L2984 can be changed in settings]). The client runs mesh generation in worker threads. As of 5.7.0, mapblock rendering is done in parallel on several threads.
 +
 
 +
It's rare for games to be heavily concurrent as it's not needed for smaller games - it's usually only found in MMOs. It's a lot harder to write multi-threaded gameplay logic, which is in conflict with Minetest's aim to be an easy-to-use content creation platform. There is an API for mods to run tasks in a worker thread, however.
 +
 
 +
=== Why is it called "Minetest"? ===
 +
Minetest started as an experiment (a '''test''', if you will) to replicate '''Mine'''craft Alpha. The name stuck, and [https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=17133 no one can agree] [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/issues/13510 on a new one].
 +
 
 +
=== Can you add support for iOS? ===
 +
We are unable to add Minetest to the App Store as there is a license conflict. The App Store's EULA contains terms that limit software freedom, which (as far as the consensus goes) conflicts with (L)GPL licenses.
 +
 
 +
Whilst it theoretically would be possible to distribute apps outside of the App Store, iOS is generally anti software freedom. <del>Users would need to either pay $80 a year for a developer license and have a Mac Book, or jailbreak their phone. Neither of these things are particularly desirable.</del> '''Edit''': looks like there are now third-party ways to sideload, and the EU may be forcing Apple to allow sideloading in the future, so this may not apply.
 +
 
 +
Another reason is that we have limited time, and we do not have a core developer that could be responsible for the development of an iOS version. See the question below.
 +
 
 +
=== Can you add support for X platform or console? ===
 +
Minetest is a volunteer project with limited time and resources. Supporting a new platform takes a lot of effort, and we're only able to officially support platforms with a core developer using it.
 +
 
 +
In terms of consoles, if someone is willing to make a homebrew port for a game console then it can be done, and this port can be submitted to upstream given that the changes aren't intrusive and some kind of maintenance is kept. Putting Minetest onto a games console in any official capacity is not possible due to NDAs preventing an open source release, which is incompatible with the LGPLv2.1 license.
 +
 
 +
Minetest is open source. We welcome contributors to port Minetest to other platforms (providing they follow the licenses of course). Contributors are also welcome to contribute their changes back upstream as well, providing that they're not too intrusive.
  
 
== Terminology ==
 
== Terminology ==
−
=== What is Minetest? ===
+
For a more complete list of Minetest terminology, see [[Terminology]].
−
Minetest is a free software game engine for [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voxel voxel]-based games. A detailed description can be found at [[Minetest]].
+
 
 +
; Mod : A "module" or "modification" to a game. ''See [[Mods]].''
 +
; Game : A collection of modules configured to run on the Minetest engine. ''See [[Games]].''
 +
; Subgame : Obsolete term for a [[Games|game]].
 +
; Texture pack : A set of client-side textures that overwrite included game or mod textures. ''See [[Texture Packs]].''
 +
; Node : Technical name for a single cube or block.
 +
; Mob : A moving creature. ''See [[Mobs]].''
 +
 
 +
== About Minetest Game ==
 +
=== What is Minetest Game? ===
 +
Minetest Game is a game for the Minetest engine. It is simply one game like any other, previously it used to come bundled with the engine but is now available for download on ContentDB.
 +
 
 +
In its vanilla state, it might be considered too boring of a game. It can be enough if you want to build in creative, but you will need to install additional mods for it to become a decent survival gameplay experience.
 +
 
 +
=== Where is [insert Minecraft feature here]? ===
 +
Minetest Game is not intended to replicate Minecraft in any way. Features from Minecraft may be found in mods or other games (try out [https://content.minetest.net/packages/Wuzzy/mineclone2/ Mineclone2] for a close analog of Minecraft). However if you would like to play a game with Minecraft features, we recommend just playing Minecraft.
 +
 
 +
''See also [[Differences from Minecraft]].''
 +
 
 +
==== Which Mineclone should I play? ====
 +
[https://content.minetest.net/packages/Wuzzy/mineclone2/ Mineclone 2] generally merges new gameplay features faster. [https://git.minetest.land/Mineclonia/Mineclonia Mineclonia] is a fork of MineClone 2 that is more focused on stability and performance.
  
−
Minetest usually comes distributed along with one rather simple sandbox-style game (or “subgame” in Minetest terms) by default: [[Subgames/Minetest Game|Minetest Game]].
+
MineClone 5 used to be a fork of MineClone 2 without a version milestone, back when MineClone 2 was stuck at 1.12. This is now no longer the case, and MineClone 5 is abandoned.
  
−
=== What is a mod? ===
+
==== What is MeseCraft? ====
−
''See [[Mods]]''.
+
Contrary to what the name may suggest, [https://content.minetest.net/packages/MeseCraft/mesecraft/ MeseCraft] is not a Minecraft clone. It is a collection of mods intended to provide a curated, ready-to-go survival experience.
 +
 
 +
=== Where is all the content? No mobs? No story? ===
 +
Minetest Game is not designed with a story or goal in mind. It is simply a sandbox to play in. Mods or other games provide actual gameplay content. Try looking for some on the [https://content.minetest.net/ ContentDB].
 +
 
 +
=== You should add [insert feature here] to Minetest Game! ===
 +
Minetest Game is [https://github.com/minetest/minetest_game/issues/2710 currently in maintenance-only mode]. New gameplay features are not being considered and should be added yourself as a mod.
  
−
=== What is a subgame? ===
+
=== How does [insert item or block here] work? How do I craft it? ===
−
''See [[Subgames]]''.
+
Refer to [[Blocks]] and [[Items]] for information on usage and crafting. You can also install a [[crafting guide]] mod to view available crafting recipes.
  
−
=== What is a texture pack? ===
+
=== I was told there were dungeons. Where are they? ===
−
''See [[Texture Packs]].
+
Make sure you enable dungeons when you create your world. They tend to spawn generally anywhere under or on the surface, you'll run into one eventually.
  
−
=== What is a mob? ===
+
== Community ==
−
''See [[Mobs]]''.
+
=== Where can I ask questions? ===
 +
You can ask in [http://minetest.net/irc IRC (#minetest)], the [https://forum.minetest.net/ Forum], [https://discord.gg/minetest Discord], or [https://www.reddit.com/r/Minetest/ Reddit]. It is recommended to search history and archives first, many questions have already been answered.<br/>
 +
Be mindful of which category (thread, channel, etc.) your question may fall under when asking on certain platforms.
  
−
=== What is Minetest Game? ===
+
Find out where you can get involved [https://www.minetest.net/get-involved/ here].
−
[[Subgames/Minetest Game|Minetest Game]] is a subgame for Minetest. It is usually distributed by default along with Minetest.
 
  
−
=== What is minetest_game? ===
+
=== How do I install third-party content? ===
−
“minetest_game” is the old (internal) name of Minetest Game. This name is sometimes still used in forum posts and chat, but this name is no longer official.
+
You can find all kinds of community-made content on [https://content.minetest.net/ the Minetest ContentDB]. You can find and install content from this database using "Browse online content" found in the '''Content''' tab in the main menu. See [https://content.minetest.net/help/installing/ How to install content].
  
−
== Servers ==
+
=== Why can't I find the mod <code>default</code> or [insert mod here]? ===
 +
Some mods are part of games. Mods like <code>default</code> and <code>wool</code> are usually part of Minetest Game and are not meant to be installed as seperate mods. For a mod depending on e.g. <code>default</code> to work, you will need to use Minetest Game. Good game design practice is to prefix game-specific mods with the game name. Minetest Game is a particularly confusing case, unfortunately.
  
−
=== How do I set up a server? ===
+
=== Are mods compatible with each other? ===
−
''See [[Setting up a server]] and [[Server]].''
+
Unless otherwise noted, most mods will just work with each other (they may or may not interact perfectly). Different API implementations (such as mobs or stairs), game-specific mods, or competing content implementations may not be compatible with each other.
  
−
=== How do I use command XYZ? ===
+
=== How do I connect to servers? Do I need a multiplayer account? ===
 +
There is no globally valid multiplayer account in Minetest. For each server, you can use a different name and password. The "account" is created at first login. This way, only you can access your player and inventory on that particular server. You can always play singleplayer with no need for any username and password.
  
−
''See [[Server commands]].''
+
=== How do I make my own server? ===
 +
Read [[Setting up a server]] and [[Server]]. See [[Server commands]] for a list of usual included chat commands.
 +
 
 +
=== How do I get an account for the Minetest Wiki? ===
 +
By requesting one at https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10473.
  
 
== Gameplay ==
 
== Gameplay ==
 +
=== How do I see my coordinates or check my FPS? ===
 +
Use the <kbd>F5</kbd> key to toggle debug info. The top of your screen may display your FPS and coordinates, among other information. If the game or server you're playing on disables this information then it won't be visible. Pressing <kbd>F5</kbd> again will toggle the profiler, and then wireframe mode if the '''debug''' [[Privileges|privilege]] is possessed. A final press will toggle debug info off.
  
−
=== General ===
+
=== Why is my FPS so low? ===
 +
There are many reasons your FPS could be low. A common culprit is having infinite viewing range enabled. This can be toggled, but there is no keybind set to do so. You can also try decreasing your regular view range using the <kbd>-</kbd> by default (<kbd>+</kbd> to increase). Render distance is measured in nodes.
  
−
==== What are the game controls? ====
+
=== How do I enable full-screen? ===
 +
On many systems your OS fullscreen key (such as <kbd>alt+F11</kbd> on Ubuntu) should work just fine. Otherwise, navigate to '''Advanced Settings''' in the '''Settings''' tab in the main menu, and go to ''Graphics > In-Game > Advanced > Fullscreen'', where you can double-click to change the value or use the '''Edit''' button. You will need to restart Minetest for this to take effect.
  
−
''See [[Controls]].''
+
=== What are the controls? How do I change them? ===
 +
''See [[Controls]].''
  
−
==== How big is the [[Maps|map]]? ====
+
=== Can I use a controller or gamepad? ===
 +
Yes. It is recommended to use an external program to bind them, as the current engine implementation of them functions poorly. See [[Gamepads]] for more info.
  
−
It is ''not'' infinite. As of 0.4.10, the map is a cube with a side length of 61840 [[Nodes|node]] lengths. The map has thus a volume equal to the volume of 61840<sup>3</sup> nodes = 236,487,637,504,000 nodes.
+
=== Why can't I change settings in the pause screen? ===
 +
Many settings require the game to reload anyway, but otherwise there simply isn't a menu implemented to do it. [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/pulls Contributions welcome].
 +
 
 +
=== How big is the [[Maps|map]]? ===
 +
The map is a cube with a side length of 61840 [[Nodes|node]] (blocks) lengths. The map has thus a volume equal to the volume of 61840<sup>3</sup> nodes = 236,487,637,504,000 nodes.
 
The coordinates range from −30912 to 30927 in all dimensions.
 
The coordinates range from −30912 to 30927 in all dimensions.
  
 
''See also [[Coordinates]] and [[World boundaries]].''
 
''See also [[Coordinates]] and [[World boundaries]].''
  
−
==== How do I find my house again? ====
+
=== The map is too small! Can it be expanded? ===
 +
Not currently. The current size of the world is plenty large, in addition to being approximately 62000 nodes in horizontal size, the world is also approximately 62000 nodes tall giving a lot of vertical space to expand to.
  
−
Minetest automatically generates a file called “debug.txt” in minetest/bin where you can see lots of text. Scroll down to its end and look for something like
+
The reason the map is limited to this is due to the integer types of positions, along with float precision becoming less accurate the further from the origin one could theoretically go. The fix would require a lot of changes to the code, and cause a multiplayer netcode compatibility break which isn't something desirable right now and is of a lesser priority compared to other issues with the engine.
−
singleplayer digs node * […]
 
−
Try to teleport to the positions you see in these lines until you find your home:
 
−
/teleport x,y,z
 
−
''See [[Server commands#Player actions]].''
 
  
−
In Minetest Game, you can avoid getting lost again if use <code>/sethome</code> at home to save your home position and <code>/home</code> to teleport back to it.
+
=== Can I change my skin? ===
 +
Skins are implemented per-game and per-world, as there is no central authentication server where skins are managed. If you'd like to change your skin in singleplayer, try using one of the [https://content.minetest.net/packages/?type=mod&q=skin many skin mods]. To change your skin on a server, use their skin mod (if any) or contact a member of management.
  
−
''Note: Teleportations require the “teleport” [[Privileges|privilege]].''
+
==== What format do skins use? ====
 +
Minetest Game uses pre-1.8 Minecraft skins (64x32). These support regular body texture, a head overlay, 4px-wide arms, and a cape. Other skin mods implement 64x64 skin support or other formats.
  
−
==== How do I set my spawn point? ====
+
=== How do I set my spawn point? ===
 
If you play Minetest Game, you can build a [[bed]] and sleep at night. On your next life, you will spawn on the bed.
 
If you play Minetest Game, you can build a [[bed]] and sleep at night. On your next life, you will spawn on the bed.
  
−
For other subgames, two solutions are known:
+
Otherwise, you set your spawn point for ''all'' worlds using <code>static_spawnpoint = (x,y,z)</code> in your [[minetest.conf]] file.
  
−
The first one involves adding a special mod for your world as decribed here: https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?p=70904#p70904
+
=== How do I make the world flat? ===
 +
Use the <code>flat</code> mapgen when creating your world and disable all the mapgen flags. If you want the world to use a single material, try the [https://content.minetest.net/packages/rdococ/really_flat/ Really Flat mod].
  
−
The second solution: Edit your [[minetest.conf]] file and set <code>static_spawnpoint</code> to the [[coordinates]] on which you wish to spawn (Example: <code>static_spawnpoint = (4,5,6)</code>). However, this setting will apply to ''all'' worlds!
+
=== Can I add fancy shaders? ===
 +
As of 5.6.0, Minetest comes with toggleable dynamic shadows. Game support is required, if your game in particular does not support it you may use the <code>[https://content.minetest.net/packages/ROllerozxa/enable_shadows/ enable_shadows]</code> mod. More advanced post-processing shaders, such as bloom or volumetric lighting, are in 5.7.0.
  
−
==== How do I increase the brightness? ====
+
=== How do I increase the brightness? ===
 +
''See [[Troubleshooting#The_screen_is_too_dark]].''
  
−
See [[Troubleshooting#The_screen_is_too_dark]].
+
=== How do I fly? ===
 +
To fly, you first need the "fly" [[Privileges|privilege]]. Use the <kbd>K</kbd> key to toggle flying. Ascend with the jump key (default: <kbd>space bar</kbd>) and descend with the sneak key (default: <kbd>shift</kbd>).
  
−
==== How do I fly? ====
+
See also: [[Controls]]
  
−
To fly you first need the “fly” [[Privileges|privilege]]. You can give it to yourself using the command:
+
=== How do I sprint? ===
−
/grantme fly
+
With default Minetest behavior you can "go fast" using the "fast" [[Privileges|privilege]] (toggled with the <kbd>J</kbd> key) and your auxilary key (default: <kbd>E</kbd>). This is a lot faster than natural sprinting. There are [https://content.minetest.net/packages/?type=mod&q=sprint some mods] and games that implement conventional sprinting.
  
−
This always works in singleplayer mode; in multiplayer games you need to have the “privs” privilege first.
+
See [[Controls]].
  
−
If you have the “fly” privilege, enable fly mode by pressing <kbd>K</kbd>, press <kbd>K</kbd> again to disable it. You ascent with the jump key (default: <kbd>space bar</kbd>) and descent with the sneak key (default: <kbd>shift</kbd>).
+
=== How do I find my house again? ===
 +
You can keep track of your coordinates (depending on the game) using debug info (<kbd>F5</kbd>). If you want, you can teleport to coordinates using
 +
/teleport x y z
 +
''See [[Server commands#Teleportation]]. Requires "teleport" [[Privileges|privilege]]''.
  
−
See also: [[Controls/Movement modes#Fly mode]]
+
In Minetest Game, you can avoid getting lost again if use <code>/sethome</code> at home to save your home position and <code>/home</code> to teleport back to it.
  
−
==== Why can’t I find the mods <code>default</code> or <code>wool</code> or <code>fire</code>? ====
+
=== How do I generate a map of my world? ===
 +
There are [[Programs_and_Editors#Mapping|various mapping tools]] to generate previews of your world. There is also a [https://github.com/Treer/Amidst-for-Minetest fork of Amidst] to preview biomes for a world seed.
  
−
Some mods might depend on those mods. These mods are part of Minetest Game and are not meant to be installed as seperate mods. For a mod depending on e.g. <code>default</code> to work, you will need to use Minetest Game.
+
=== Can I use WorldPainter with Minetest? ===
 +
The author of WorldPainter has created a [https://www.worldpainter.net/files/plugins/MinetestSupport.jar Minetest plugin] for WorldPainter. Your mileage may vary.
  
−
=== [[Subgames/Minetest Game|Minetest Game]] ===
+
=== Is there a WorldEdit for Minetest? ===
 +
[https://content.minetest.net/packages/sfan5/worldedit/ Yes.] Check out [[Programs_and_Editors#World_editing|other editing tools]] as well.
  
−
==== How does the block/plant XYZ work? ====
+
=== Can I convert Minecraft worlds and content to Minetest? ===
−
Refer to [[Blocks]].
+
Yes, there are [[Programs_and_Editors#Convert_data_from_Minecraft|some tools]] to convert Minecraft content to Minetest. Your mileage may vary.
  
−
==== How does the item/tool/weapon XYZ work? ====
+
== Game and Mod Development ==
−
Refer to [[Items]].
 
  
−
==== How to craft XYZ? ====
+
=== What is a mod? ===
 +
A mod (modification, alternatively can be interchanged with module in the case of Minetest) is a collection of code that can implement or change a feature. The simplest mod consists of just an <code>init.lua</code> inside a folder in the mods/ directory, and makes calls to Minetest Lua modding API in order to implement gameplay features or do other cool things. "Games" in Minetest consist of a collection of mods accessible from the main menu, more akin to "modpacks" in another voxel game.
  
−
Refer to [[Blocks]] or [[Items]] and follow the link to the block or item you want to craft; the corresponding pages contain crafting instructions.
+
=== What language are games and mods written in? ===
 +
Minetest uses the [https://www.lua.org/ Lua language] for games and mods. It is simple, light, and fast. You can find plenty of tutorials online.
  
−
You can also install a [[crafting guide]] to view crafting recipes.
+
* [http://www.lua.org/pil/contents.html Programming in Lua Book], learn the Lua langauge (for Lua 5.0)
 +
* [http://www.lua.org/manual/5.1/ Lua 5.1 reference] (note that Minetest uses Lua 5.1)
 +
* [https://www.tutorialspoint.com/lua/lua_overview.htm Lua guide by tutorialspoint]
 +
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jUuqBZwwkQw Lua in 100 Seconds (Video)]
 +
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgiEF1frHQ8 Lua in 15 Minutes for Programmers (Video)]
  
−
Note that not everything can be crafted.
+
=== How can I learn to make games and mods? ===
 +
We recommend the [https://rubenwardy.com/minetest_modding_book/en/index.html Minetest Modding Book] to start. For more experienced users there is the [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/blob/master/doc/lua_api.md Lua API reference] available in the Minetest source tree, which is also available [https://api.minetest.net in a pretty HTML version].
  
−
==== Are there any mobs? ====
+
If you need further help feel free to ask any questions in the forums or in any of the discussion channels (e.g. IRC, Discord...).
  
−
No and it is [https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?id=6161 unlikely] that they get added in the near future. But there are [[mods]] to add [[Mobs|mobs]].
+
==== How fast is Lua? ====
 +
[https://programming-language-benchmarks.vercel.app/lua-vs-java Really], [https://programming-language-benchmarks.vercel.app/lua-vs-cpp really fast].
  
−
==== Why don’t I find any dungeons/jungles? ====
+
==== Why can't I use modern Lua features? ====
 +
Minetest uses [https://luajit.org/ LuaJIT] which is based on Lua 5.1. In the future if PUC Lua ever matches JIT performance, Minetest could change to a newer version of Lua.
  
−
This is probably because they have been disabled in your configuration. You can enable them by adding “<code>v6_jungles, dungeons</code>” to <code>mg_flags</code> in your [[minetest.conf]] file. That will enable them for worlds created '''after''' the variable has been changed. Try digging down or looking for large holes in the ground.
+
==== Can I write games or mods in [insert language here]? ====
 +
If it can transpile to Lua or you connect your own interpreter, yes. E.g. [https://content.minetest.net/packages/siegment/loria/ Loria] is written in [https://fennel-lang.org/ Fennel].
 +
Otherwise, support for other languages will not be made first-class. Lua is designed for embedding and we will stick to it.
  
−
==== How do I open or close [[door]]s? ====
+
==== I want to use this Java mod! I need Java! ====
 +
Lua can easily outperform a bridge to Java in most cases. If you really need to use another language for something like heavy data crunching, Lua can natively call C/++ libraries (only usable if a mod is [[#What is mod security?|trusted]]).
  
−
You have to [[Using|use]] them with the <kbd>right mouse button</kbd>. See also: [[Using]].
+
=== What is the Minetest API? ===
 +
The Minetest API gives you access to everything the engine currently has to offer. You can find the latest API reference [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/blob/master/doc/lua_api.md here]. A ReadTheDocs version can be read [https://api.minetest.net here].
  
−
=== For Minecraft players ===
+
=== Can mods overwrite the engine? ===
 +
Minetest mods must use the engine-provided API. Unlike Minecraft, Minetest mods cannot change the engine. If you think the engine is missing a feature, consider [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/issues opening an issue] or [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/pulls write the feature yourself].
  
−
==== Is there a crafting bench? ====
+
=== What is a formspec? ===
 +
Formspec is the name of Minetest's UI toolkit, and is used to make dialogs and forms for mods. For more information see the [https://minetest.gitlab.io/minetest/formspec/#formspec Lua API documentation].
  
−
In Minetest Game: '''No.''' You don’t need one. You already have a 3 × 3 crafting grid in your [[inventory menu]] (→ [[Crafting#Crafting_grid_and_output_slot]]).
+
=== What is a listring? ===
 +
Listrings are a convenience feature in Minetest to allow quick transfer of an itemstack from one inventory list to another with <code>Shift+Click</code>. Basically, listrings group several inventory lists together in a “ring” data structure. A shift-click will transfer an itemstack from one inventory list to the next inventory list in the listrings, and, if it is the final inventory list in the listring, it will be sent to the first inventory list. ([https://minetest.gitlab.io/minetest/formspec/#listringinventory-locationlist-name see Lua API documentation])
  
−
==== How does Minetest / Minetest Game differ from Minecraft? ====
+
=== How do I do biomes? ===
−
→ [[Differences from Minecraft]]
+
Biomes are distributed according to their heat and humidity values. These values generally range between 0 and 100. A voronoi diagram can be used to visualise the distribution, [https://rubenwardy.com/minetest_modding_book/en/advmap/biomesdeco.html#biome-placement see the modding book].
  
−
==== How can I make Minetest be like Minecraft? ====
+
=== What is devtest? ===
 +
[https://wiki.minetest.net/index.php?title=FAQ&action=history Development Test (devtest)] is a game for testing engine features and doing mod development. It provides a minimal set of game content along with an extensive library of content for testing engine features. It is available in the source tree, or can be downloaded from ContentDB.
  
−
The easiest way to do this is to install a Minecraft-like [[subgames]]. Examples include:
+
=== What is mod security? ===
 +
Mod security prevents mods from executing insecure methods without user approval. A mod needs to be explicitly specified as HTTP to utilize the HTTP API. A mod needs to be trusted to run many OS-level methods.
  
−
* [https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?f=50&t=16407 MineClone 2] (clone, very WIP)
+
=== How do I debug my Lua code? ===
−
* [https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?id=2589 Minitest] (very simple clone, very old)
+
The "lua" interpreter is not very useful for debugging mod code, because mods are built to run in an environment specific to Minetest (they expect to be loaded after their dependencies, have access to the Minetest API, etc.). However, you may be able to break pieces of your logic into separate, stand-alone Lua library files that are not specific to Minetest. Where you have an opportunity to do this, testing outside of Minetest (using Lua 5.1's "lua" interpreter or LuaJIT's "luajit" interpreter) can be helpful. This might work for some utility functions and "class libraries".  
−
* [https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?id=7427 Overcraft Origins] (continuation of Minitest)
 
−
* [https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=10310 Clonecraft] (inspired)
 
−
* [https://github.com/mdoege/stampy_game Stampy subgame] (inspired)
 
−
* [https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=14631 VoxBox] (loosely inspired)
 
  
−
See also [[List of Subgames]] and look in the table for subgames where the “Type” column says “MC-Clone”.
+
There is no built-in debugger in Minetest, apart from "printf-style debugging" with functions like <code>minetest.log()</code> and <code>dump()</code>. There exists mods such as [https://content.minetest.net/packages/LMD/dbg/ dbg] which gives more advanced debugging capabilities than are available by default.
  
−
If you just want to enhance [[Subgames/Minetest Game|Minetest Game]] with a few mods which add ''some'' Minecraft features, see [[Differences from Minecraft#Mods which add Minecraft-like behaviour]].
+
=== I get an error or warning message, what does it mean? ===
 +
''See [[Troubleshooting#Error messages without crashes]].''
  
−
== Modding ==
+
=== Why can't I make other keybinds? ===
−
''See [http://dev.minetest.net/Modding_FAQ Modding FAQ] on the Minetest Development Wiki.''
+
This is a missing feature. [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/pulls Contributions welcome].
  
−
== Technical problems ==
+
=== How do I make models for my mods? ===
 +
We recommend [[Using_Blender|using Blender]] to create models.
  
−
=== I have a technical problem, how to fix this? ===
+
==== Can I use Blockbench to make models? ====
−
 
+
Yes, but you will need to export and convert your models to a [[Using_Blender#File_format_support|format Minetest supports]] using Blender. Converting animations from Blockbench is not known to work well (if at all).
−
See [[Troubleshooting]].
 
−
 
 
−
=== I get an error or warning message, what does it mean? ===
 
  
−
See [[Troubleshooting#Error messages without crashes]].
+
=== Can I distribute games outside of Minetest? ===
 +
Yes, but this is not officially supported in the engine, you will need to maintain a rebranded fork of the engine. See [[Distributing Minetest Games]] for notes on how to do so.
  
 +
=== Can I sell games I make with Minetest? ===
 +
As long as you comply with [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/blob/master/LICENSE.txt the license], yes. For the engine, you will need to publish the source code to any modifications you've made to it. If you use others' mods in the game then make sure you comply with their license terms and that they don't contain non-free assets that prevent commercial usage.
  
−
[[Category:Minetest (Root Category)]]
+
[[Category:About Minetest]]
−
[[Category: Gameplay]]
+
[[Category:Languages pages]]

Latest revision as of 12:38, 15 November 2023

Languages Language: English • français • Bahasa Indonesia • 日本語 • Bahasa Melayu • 中文（简体）‎

This is a collection of some frequently asked questions about Minetest. For technical problems, refer to Troubleshooting.

What is Minetest?

Minetest is a free software game engine desgined to create voxel-based games. A detailed description can be found at Minetest.

About the Engine

How much does Minetest cost?

Nothing. It's free.

Is Minetest a clone of Minecraft?

No. Minetest has very different goals from Minecraft, and doesn't aim to compete with or replace Minecraft.

The very first version of Minetest was intended to replicate what Minecraft Alpha had been shown to do at the time (2010)[1]. It's goals soon diverged from Minecraft and eventually became a game engine instead.

Who created Minetest?

Minetest was originally created by Perttu Ahola (also known as celeron55). The engine is currently developed by this random bunch of lunatics as well as the community.

What is Minetest written in?

The Minetest engine is primarily written in C++ using a forked version of the Irrlicht rendering engine. Some parts of the engine are implemented in the Lua language, and the scripting API uses Lua as well.

Can I change the code myself?

Yes. Minetest is freely licensed (LGPL 2.1 and others).

When will the next version of Minetest be released?

Check the GitHub milestones for a good idea of how far along the next version is.

Why did the version change from 0.4.17.1 to 5.0.0?

Minetest switched to semver after 0.4.17.1 because the leading zero was never going to change. In the old versioning system 5.0.0 would be 0.5.0.0. Semver is cleaner and is an industry standard.

How do I install and run Minetest?

See Getting_Started#Getting_Minetest.

How do I update Minetest?

This depends on your operating system and installation method. You will usually either download the newest version or run an update command. Some systems may require you to move your worlds and mods. If you are using the Git version, simply pull and compile every time you want to update.

Where and how do I find games to install?

Check out Minetest ContentDB for a list of games. You can easily install games (and other content) through the client in the Content tab ('Browse online content'). You may also manually install games you find on the forum or GitHub to the "games" folder in your Minetest data directory. For more information about games, see Games.

What is Irrlicht?

Irrlicht is a rather ancient real-time 3D engine. Currently Minetest uses it for rendering, managing the window, the underlying GUI, input handling, model and image format support.

As it's old and mostly unmaintained, there is work on moving away from Irrlicht. Currently Minetest uses its own fork of Irrlicht called IrrlichtMt, which is supposed to distill Irrlicht down to what Minetest actually uses, along with fixing issues that were previously out of reach. The goal is to reduce the reliance on Irrlicht in favour of SDL2 and our own rendering pipeline.

Why does the UI look so old?

The main menu and Minetest Game more or less uses the default Irrlicht styling from before formspec styling was introduced.

It is certainly possible to improve the UI, and some games style their GUI wonderfully, but deciding on changes to the engine's default styling that everyone can agree on is difficult. Contributions are welcome.

The main menu sucks!

We're working on it.

I have a technical problem, how to fix this?

See Troubleshooting.

Is Minetest multi-threaded?

Yes. Minetest's client and server run in different threads. The server also runs map generation in worker threads, although this is limited to a single thread currently due to issues (but can be changed in settings). The client runs mesh generation in worker threads. As of 5.7.0, mapblock rendering is done in parallel on several threads.

It's rare for games to be heavily concurrent as it's not needed for smaller games - it's usually only found in MMOs. It's a lot harder to write multi-threaded gameplay logic, which is in conflict with Minetest's aim to be an easy-to-use content creation platform. There is an API for mods to run tasks in a worker thread, however.

Why is it called "Minetest"?

Minetest started as an experiment (a test, if you will) to replicate Minecraft Alpha. The name stuck, and no one can agree on a new one.

Can you add support for iOS?

We are unable to add Minetest to the App Store as there is a license conflict. The App Store's EULA contains terms that limit software freedom, which (as far as the consensus goes) conflicts with (L)GPL licenses.

Whilst it theoretically would be possible to distribute apps outside of the App Store, iOS is generally anti software freedom. Users would need to either pay $80 a year for a developer license and have a Mac Book, or jailbreak their phone. Neither of these things are particularly desirable. Edit: looks like there are now third-party ways to sideload, and the EU may be forcing Apple to allow sideloading in the future, so this may not apply.

Another reason is that we have limited time, and we do not have a core developer that could be responsible for the development of an iOS version. See the question below.

Can you add support for X platform or console?

Minetest is a volunteer project with limited time and resources. Supporting a new platform takes a lot of effort, and we're only able to officially support platforms with a core developer using it.

In terms of consoles, if someone is willing to make a homebrew port for a game console then it can be done, and this port can be submitted to upstream given that the changes aren't intrusive and some kind of maintenance is kept. Putting Minetest onto a games console in any official capacity is not possible due to NDAs preventing an open source release, which is incompatible with the LGPLv2.1 license.

Minetest is open source. We welcome contributors to port Minetest to other platforms (providing they follow the licenses of course). Contributors are also welcome to contribute their changes back upstream as well, providing that they're not too intrusive.

Terminology

For a more complete list of Minetest terminology, see Terminology.

Mod
A "module" or "modification" to a game. See Mods.
Game
A collection of modules configured to run on the Minetest engine. See Games.
Subgame
Obsolete term for a game.
Texture pack
A set of client-side textures that overwrite included game or mod textures. See Texture Packs.
Node
Technical name for a single cube or block.
Mob
A moving creature. See Mobs.

About Minetest Game

What is Minetest Game?

Minetest Game is a game for the Minetest engine. It is simply one game like any other, previously it used to come bundled with the engine but is now available for download on ContentDB.

In its vanilla state, it might be considered too boring of a game. It can be enough if you want to build in creative, but you will need to install additional mods for it to become a decent survival gameplay experience.

Where is [insert Minecraft feature here]?

Minetest Game is not intended to replicate Minecraft in any way. Features from Minecraft may be found in mods or other games (try out Mineclone2 for a close analog of Minecraft). However if you would like to play a game with Minecraft features, we recommend just playing Minecraft.

See also Differences from Minecraft.

Which Mineclone should I play?

Mineclone 2 generally merges new gameplay features faster. Mineclonia is a fork of MineClone 2 that is more focused on stability and performance.

MineClone 5 used to be a fork of MineClone 2 without a version milestone, back when MineClone 2 was stuck at 1.12. This is now no longer the case, and MineClone 5 is abandoned.

What is MeseCraft?

Contrary to what the name may suggest, MeseCraft is not a Minecraft clone. It is a collection of mods intended to provide a curated, ready-to-go survival experience.

Where is all the content? No mobs? No story?

Minetest Game is not designed with a story or goal in mind. It is simply a sandbox to play in. Mods or other games provide actual gameplay content. Try looking for some on the ContentDB.

You should add [insert feature here] to Minetest Game!

Minetest Game is currently in maintenance-only mode. New gameplay features are not being considered and should be added yourself as a mod.

How does [insert item or block here] work? How do I craft it?

Refer to Blocks and Items for information on usage and crafting. You can also install a crafting guide mod to view available crafting recipes.

I was told there were dungeons. Where are they?

Make sure you enable dungeons when you create your world. They tend to spawn generally anywhere under or on the surface, you'll run into one eventually.

Community

Where can I ask questions?

You can ask in IRC (#minetest), the Forum, Discord, or Reddit. It is recommended to search history and archives first, many questions have already been answered.
Be mindful of which category (thread, channel, etc.) your question may fall under when asking on certain platforms.

Find out where you can get involved here.

How do I install third-party content?

You can find all kinds of community-made content on the Minetest ContentDB. You can find and install content from this database using "Browse online content" found in the Content tab in the main menu. See How to install content.

Why can't I find the mod default or [insert mod here]?

Some mods are part of games. Mods like default and wool are usually part of Minetest Game and are not meant to be installed as seperate mods. For a mod depending on e.g. default to work, you will need to use Minetest Game. Good game design practice is to prefix game-specific mods with the game name. Minetest Game is a particularly confusing case, unfortunately.

Are mods compatible with each other?

Unless otherwise noted, most mods will just work with each other (they may or may not interact perfectly). Different API implementations (such as mobs or stairs), game-specific mods, or competing content implementations may not be compatible with each other.

How do I connect to servers? Do I need a multiplayer account?

There is no globally valid multiplayer account in Minetest. For each server, you can use a different name and password. The "account" is created at first login. This way, only you can access your player and inventory on that particular server. You can always play singleplayer with no need for any username and password.

How do I make my own server?

Read Setting up a server and Server. See Server commands for a list of usual included chat commands.

How do I get an account for the Minetest Wiki?

By requesting one at https://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=10473.

Gameplay

How do I see my coordinates or check my FPS?

Use the F5 key to toggle debug info. The top of your screen may display your FPS and coordinates, among other information. If the game or server you're playing on disables this information then it won't be visible. Pressing F5 again will toggle the profiler, and then wireframe mode if the debug privilege is possessed. A final press will toggle debug info off.

Why is my FPS so low?

There are many reasons your FPS could be low. A common culprit is having infinite viewing range enabled. This can be toggled, but there is no keybind set to do so. You can also try decreasing your regular view range using the - by default (+ to increase). Render distance is measured in nodes.

How do I enable full-screen?

On many systems your OS fullscreen key (such as alt+F11 on Ubuntu) should work just fine. Otherwise, navigate to Advanced Settings in the Settings tab in the main menu, and go to Graphics > In-Game > Advanced > Fullscreen, where you can double-click to change the value or use the Edit button. You will need to restart Minetest for this to take effect.

What are the controls? How do I change them?

See Controls.

Can I use a controller or gamepad?

Yes. It is recommended to use an external program to bind them, as the current engine implementation of them functions poorly. See Gamepads for more info.

Why can't I change settings in the pause screen?

Many settings require the game to reload anyway, but otherwise there simply isn't a menu implemented to do it. Contributions welcome.

How big is the map?

The map is a cube with a side length of 61840 node (blocks) lengths. The map has thus a volume equal to the volume of 618403 nodes = 236,487,637,504,000 nodes. The coordinates range from −30912 to 30927 in all dimensions.

See also Coordinates and World boundaries.

The map is too small! Can it be expanded?

Not currently. The current size of the world is plenty large, in addition to being approximately 62000 nodes in horizontal size, the world is also approximately 62000 nodes tall giving a lot of vertical space to expand to.

The reason the map is limited to this is due to the integer types of positions, along with float precision becoming less accurate the further from the origin one could theoretically go. The fix would require a lot of changes to the code, and cause a multiplayer netcode compatibility break which isn't something desirable right now and is of a lesser priority compared to other issues with the engine.

Can I change my skin?

Skins are implemented per-game and per-world, as there is no central authentication server where skins are managed. If you'd like to change your skin in singleplayer, try using one of the many skin mods. To change your skin on a server, use their skin mod (if any) or contact a member of management.

What format do skins use?

Minetest Game uses pre-1.8 Minecraft skins (64x32). These support regular body texture, a head overlay, 4px-wide arms, and a cape. Other skin mods implement 64x64 skin support or other formats.

How do I set my spawn point?

If you play Minetest Game, you can build a bed and sleep at night. On your next life, you will spawn on the bed.

Otherwise, you set your spawn point for all worlds using static_spawnpoint = (x,y,z) in your minetest.conf file.

How do I make the world flat?

Use the flat mapgen when creating your world and disable all the mapgen flags. If you want the world to use a single material, try the Really Flat mod.

Can I add fancy shaders?

As of 5.6.0, Minetest comes with toggleable dynamic shadows. Game support is required, if your game in particular does not support it you may use the enable_shadows mod. More advanced post-processing shaders, such as bloom or volumetric lighting, are in 5.7.0.

How do I increase the brightness?

See Troubleshooting#The_screen_is_too_dark.

How do I fly?

To fly, you first need the "fly" privilege. Use the K key to toggle flying. Ascend with the jump key (default: space bar) and descend with the sneak key (default: shift).

See also: Controls

How do I sprint?

With default Minetest behavior you can "go fast" using the "fast" privilege (toggled with the J key) and your auxilary key (default: E). This is a lot faster than natural sprinting. There are some mods and games that implement conventional sprinting.

See Controls.

How do I find my house again?

You can keep track of your coordinates (depending on the game) using debug info (F5). If you want, you can teleport to coordinates using 

/teleport x y z

See Server commands#Teleportation. Requires "teleport" privilege.

In Minetest Game, you can avoid getting lost again if use /sethome at home to save your home position and /home to teleport back to it.

How do I generate a map of my world?

There are various mapping tools to generate previews of your world. There is also a fork of Amidst to preview biomes for a world seed.

Can I use WorldPainter with Minetest?

The author of WorldPainter has created a Minetest plugin for WorldPainter. Your mileage may vary.

Is there a WorldEdit for Minetest?

Yes. Check out other editing tools as well.

Can I convert Minecraft worlds and content to Minetest?

Yes, there are some tools to convert Minecraft content to Minetest. Your mileage may vary.

Game and Mod Development

What is a mod?

A mod (modification, alternatively can be interchanged with module in the case of Minetest) is a collection of code that can implement or change a feature. The simplest mod consists of just an init.lua inside a folder in the mods/ directory, and makes calls to Minetest Lua modding API in order to implement gameplay features or do other cool things. "Games" in Minetest consist of a collection of mods accessible from the main menu, more akin to "modpacks" in another voxel game.

What language are games and mods written in?

Minetest uses the Lua language for games and mods. It is simple, light, and fast. You can find plenty of tutorials online.

How can I learn to make games and mods?

We recommend the Minetest Modding Book to start. For more experienced users there is the Lua API reference available in the Minetest source tree, which is also available in a pretty HTML version.

If you need further help feel free to ask any questions in the forums or in any of the discussion channels (e.g. IRC, Discord...).

How fast is Lua?

Really, really fast.

Why can't I use modern Lua features?

Minetest uses LuaJIT which is based on Lua 5.1. In the future if PUC Lua ever matches JIT performance, Minetest could change to a newer version of Lua.

Can I write games or mods in [insert language here]?

If it can transpile to Lua or you connect your own interpreter, yes. E.g. Loria is written in Fennel. Otherwise, support for other languages will not be made first-class. Lua is designed for embedding and we will stick to it.

I want to use this Java mod! I need Java!

Lua can easily outperform a bridge to Java in most cases. If you really need to use another language for something like heavy data crunching, Lua can natively call C/++ libraries (only usable if a mod is trusted).

What is the Minetest API?

The Minetest API gives you access to everything the engine currently has to offer. You can find the latest API reference here. A ReadTheDocs version can be read here.

Can mods overwrite the engine?

Minetest mods must use the engine-provided API. Unlike Minecraft, Minetest mods cannot change the engine. If you think the engine is missing a feature, consider opening an issue or write the feature yourself.

What is a formspec?

Formspec is the name of Minetest's UI toolkit, and is used to make dialogs and forms for mods. For more information see the Lua API documentation.

What is a listring?

Listrings are a convenience feature in Minetest to allow quick transfer of an itemstack from one inventory list to another with Shift+Click. Basically, listrings group several inventory lists together in a “ring” data structure. A shift-click will transfer an itemstack from one inventory list to the next inventory list in the listrings, and, if it is the final inventory list in the listring, it will be sent to the first inventory list. (see Lua API documentation)

How do I do biomes?

Biomes are distributed according to their heat and humidity values. These values generally range between 0 and 100. A voronoi diagram can be used to visualise the distribution, see the modding book.

What is devtest?

Development Test (devtest) is a game for testing engine features and doing mod development. It provides a minimal set of game content along with an extensive library of content for testing engine features. It is available in the source tree, or can be downloaded from ContentDB.

What is mod security?

Mod security prevents mods from executing insecure methods without user approval. A mod needs to be explicitly specified as HTTP to utilize the HTTP API. A mod needs to be trusted to run many OS-level methods.

How do I debug my Lua code?

The "lua" interpreter is not very useful for debugging mod code, because mods are built to run in an environment specific to Minetest (they expect to be loaded after their dependencies, have access to the Minetest API, etc.). However, you may be able to break pieces of your logic into separate, stand-alone Lua library files that are not specific to Minetest. Where you have an opportunity to do this, testing outside of Minetest (using Lua 5.1's "lua" interpreter or LuaJIT's "luajit" interpreter) can be helpful. This might work for some utility functions and "class libraries".

There is no built-in debugger in Minetest, apart from "printf-style debugging" with functions like minetest.log() and dump(). There exists mods such as dbg which gives more advanced debugging capabilities than are available by default.

I get an error or warning message, what does it mean?

See Troubleshooting#Error messages without crashes.

Why can't I make other keybinds?

This is a missing feature. Contributions welcome.

How do I make models for my mods?

We recommend using Blender to create models.

Can I use Blockbench to make models?

Yes, but you will need to export and convert your models to a format Minetest supports using Blender. Converting animations from Blockbench is not known to work well (if at all).

Can I distribute games outside of Minetest?

Yes, but this is not officially supported in the engine, you will need to maintain a rebranded fork of the engine. See Distributing Minetest Games for notes on how to do so.

Can I sell games I make with Minetest?

As long as you comply with the license, yes. For the engine, you will need to publish the source code to any modifications you've made to it. If you use others' mods in the game then make sure you comply with their license terms and that they don't contain non-free assets that prevent commercial usage.

  1. ↑ https://fr.wikinews.org/wiki/Interview_de_Perttu_Ahola,_cr%C3%A9ateur_du_jeu_Minetest
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