Difference between revisions of "Getting Started"

Latest revision as of 17:42, 15 November 2023

Language:	English • français

Welcome to Minetest! This page explains what Minetest is all about, how to get it, and how to start playing your first games alone or online.

“What is this strange ‘Minetest’ thing I keep hearing about?”

Welcome to Minetest (Minetest Game, Coniferous Forest)

Minetest is a platform on which you can play many games which are set in a world entirely made out of blocks, voxels.
You can play offline or online, in singleplayer or multiplayer.
Most games (but not all!) have a sandbox gameplay focused on construction, mining and creativity.
You can browse the list of games available on ContentDB.
You can install mods to modify certain aspects of gameplay. Mods are an inherent part of Minetest, it is even what games consist of.
Mods work out of the box when playing on servers, no additional installations required. Mods are server-side, everything is handled automatically.
The name "Minetest" only refers to the game engine. The name "Minetest Game" only refers to a game of that name.

Getting Minetest

Windows

Download Minetest.
- The 64-bit build is extremely recommended. Always use this unless you are absolutely sure you're on an old machine that doesn't have a 64-bit processor.
Minetest on Windows is distributed in a portable archive. Extract it as a whole where you want, whether it be on your desktop or in your documents folder.
- Keep in mind you need write permissions to the folder. Do NOT save to C:\Program Files\ or similar, as it will cause problems (no write access).
To run Minetest, open the extracted directory and look for the bin (binary) directory. Inside the bin directory is the Minetest executable, minetest.exe.
- If you want a desktop shortcut or the like, just make create a shortcut to this executable.

macOS

Download Minetest for macOS. You can pick the official .app, Homebrew or the Macports version.

Linux

If you are on a distribution with up to date enough repositories (e.g. Arch), you can install Minetest from your package manager.

Otherwise it is recommended to obtain Minetest through other means, such as the Flatpak package. For Ubuntu and similar, there is the Minetest PPA.

If all else fails, you can build from source by cloning the engine repository and following the build instructions.

Playing

Now that you have it installed you can either; play singleplayer, play on a local server or play online by connecting to a server.

Play Singleplayer

When first booting up Minetest, it will ask you to install a game. The button that shows up will direct you to the content browser which will list the games that are available. You can also browse the available games in your browser.

To install mods or texture packs, go to the "Content" tab, press "Browse Online Content" and pick the type of package you want to browse. To enable a texture pack select it in the content tab, and to enable mods you have installed, you need to select the world you want to play with mods in, press "Select mods", and enable the wanted mods.

For an interactive introduction to common Minetest gameplay elements, there is the Tutorial game.

Play Online

Joining multiplayer server is done in the "Join game" tab. To select a server, click on its name in the server list. If you know of a server from e.g. a friend that's not listed in the server list, you can manually input the address and port to the right. You do not need to install any mods to play on a server, everything provided by the server is sent to the client during connect!

When you are new to a server, you need to first register. Press the register button and input the username and password you want to use. Next time you log in with this username and password.

Accounts in Minetest are not centralised. This means that accounts are stored on each server, rather than on a central server. You do not have to use the same username, but using different passwords are recommended (however servers cannot see your password, it is one-way hashed during transit). Some servers allow a blank password but using a password is strongly recommended to stop others stealing your player and causing damage. You can change your password by clicking 'change password' on pause menu (ESC).

Basic Controls

Most of these can be changed in the “Change Keys” menu. For a more complete list of keyboard controls, see Controls.

The default and most important controls are:

W/A/S/D: move
Space: jump
Left mouse button: Punch, mine blocks, move an item stack in an inventory
Right mouse button: use (e.g. open chest or furnace), place blocks, move one item or split items in an inventory
Shift+Right mouse button: place blocks
Middle mouse button: move 10 items in an inventory
Mouse wheel: select item in the hotbar
0-9: select item in the hotbar
Q: drop block, item or tool in hand
I: open or close the inventory menu
T: open the chat window
Shift: descend on ladders or sneak (walk slower, prevents falling off ledges)

Gameplay

The common Minetest gameplay is taught in the Tutorial game which is aimed towards complete newbies, it can be installed from the content browser.

A very brief but outdated introduction into Minetest can be seen in this video.

The following wiki pages explain some basic common Minetest concepts more or less in-depth:

As soon as you grasped the basics, you may want to look up which blocks and items are available and get an overview about farming. Just want to build? Try creative mode! If you want more, consider trying new mods and games. If you want to play online, you should read the gameplay notes for multiplayer servers.

Advanced topics:

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 == “What is this strange ‘Minetest’ thing I keep hearing about?” ==
-[[File:Desert_at_sunset_0.4.7.png|thumb|300px|Screenshot of Minetest Game, a game for Minetest]]
+[[File:Coniferous_Forest_(Minetest_5.6.0_w-_shadows).png|thumb|300px|Welcome to Minetest (Minetest Game, Coniferous Forest)]]
-* '''[[Minetest]]''' is a program on which you can play many '''games''' which are set in a '''world entirely made out of blocks'''.
+* '''[[Minetest]]''' is a platform on which you can play many '''games''' which are set in a '''world entirely made out of blocks''', voxels.
-* You can play '''offline or online'''.
+* You can play '''offline or online''', in singleplayer or multiplayer.
-* Minetest supports running various '''[[games]]''', which is '''the''' core feature of Minetest
+* Most games (but not all!) have a sandbox gameplay focused on construction, mining and creativity.
-* Most games (but not all!) have a sandbox gameplay focused on construction, mining and creativity
+* You can browse the list of games available on [https://content.minetest.net/packages/?type=game ContentDB].
-* The default game is [[Games/Minetest Game|Minetest Game]], but '''[[List of Games|there are many more]]'''.
+* You can install '''[[mods]] to modify''' certain '''aspects of gameplay'''. Mods are an '''inherent''' part of Minetest, it is even what games consist of.
-* You can install '''[[mods]] to modify''' certain '''aspects of gameplay'''. Mods are an '''inherent''' part of Minetest.
 * '''Mods work out of the box when playing on [[server]]s''', no additional installations required. Mods are server-side, everything is handled automatically.
-* The name “Minetest” ''only'' refers to the game engine. The name “Minetest Game” ''only'' refers to the default game.
+* The name "Minetest" ''only'' refers to the game engine. The name "Minetest Game" ''only'' refers to a game of that name.
 == Getting Minetest ==
 === Windows ===
-* [http://minetest.net/download#windows_xp_vista_7_8_81 Download Minetest]. If you have a 64-bit version of Windows, you should use a 64-bit download, but the 32-bit build will also run on 64-bit systems. The inverse of this is not true – 64-bit builds will not run on a 32-bit Windows.
+* [http://www.minetest.net/downloads/ Download Minetest].
-* Extract the downloaded archive. We suggest <code>C:\Minetest\</code>, <code>C:\Games\Minetest\</code> or <code>%USERPROFILE%\Documents\Minetest\</code>. It doesn't matter where, as long as you have read/write access. '''Do NOT save to <code>C:\Program Files\</code> or similar, as it will cause problems (no write access).'''
+** The 64-bit build is extremely recommended. Always use this unless you are absolutely sure you're on an old machine that doesn't have a 64-bit processor.
+* Minetest on Windows is distributed in a portable archive. Extract it as a whole where you want, whether it be on your desktop or in your documents folder.
+** Keep in mind you need write permissions to the folder. '''Do NOT save to <code>C:\Program Files\</code> or similar, as it will cause problems (no write access).'''
 * To run Minetest, open the extracted directory and look for the <code>bin</code> (binary) directory. Inside the <code>bin</code> directory is the Minetest executable, <code>minetest.exe</code>.
+** If you want a desktop shortcut or the like, just make create a shortcut to this executable.
-Here is the directory structure you should have:
+=== macOS ===
-<pre>
+* [http://minetest.net/download#macos Download Minetest for macOS]. You can pick the official .app, Homebrew or the Macports version.
-minetest/
-├── bin/
-├── builtin/
-│   ├── async/
-│   ├── common/
-│   ├── fstk/
-│   ├── game/
-│   └── mainmenu/
-├── client/
-│   ├── serverlist/
-│   └── shaders/
-│       ├── nodes_shader/
-│       └── water_surface_shader/
-├── doc/
-├── fonts/
-├── games/
-│   ├── minetest_game/
-│   └── minimal/
-├── locale/
-│   └── (lots of language folders)
-├── mods/
-└── textures/
-    └── base/
-        └── pack/
-</pre>
-<!--As installed by the build for Windows minetest-0.4.12_MSVC compiled by Krock, 2015-04-07-->
-=== OS X ===
+=== Linux ===
-* [http://minetest.net/download#osx Download Minetest].
+If you are on a distribution with up to date enough repositories (e.g. Arch), you can install Minetest from your package manager.
-* Extract the file. It doesn't matter where, as long as you have read write access.
-* Open the .app file in the extracted folder.
-Or use Homebrew to install the latest stable version:
-<big><source lang="bash">brew install minetest
-brew linkapps</source></big>
-=== GNU/Linux Installation ===
+Otherwise it is recommended to obtain Minetest through other means, such as the [https://flathub.org/apps/details/net.minetest.Minetest Flatpak package]. For Ubuntu and similar, there is the [https://launchpad.net/~minetestdevs/+archive/ubuntu/stable Minetest PPA].
-* If you can, download the version [http://minetest.net/download#linux already compiled] for your distribution of GNU/Linux. If you can't find one, you can compile it yourself from [https://github.com/minetest/minetest here]. In this case, you should also install a [[Games|game]].
-* If you are on Debian, Ubuntu or derivative, you can also use:
-<big><source lang="bash">sudo apt-get install minetest</source></big>
-This may however give you an outdated version, see the pages below for information on versions available:
-[https://packages.debian.org/search?keywords=minetest <code>minetest</code> on packages.debian.org]<br />
-[http://packages.ubuntu.com/search?keywords=minetest <code>minetest</code> on packages.ubuntu.com]
-* You can also try to compile Minetest from the latest source on GitHub using this [http://forum.minetest.net/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=3837 one-line script] <br />for installing/compiling Minetest Git, for Debian / Ubuntu / Mint
-* On some Linux-systems, you can also install Minetest as a [https://snapcraft.io/docs/getting-started SNAP]-package, see [https://snapcraft.io/minetest snap-store]. <br />
-Such a SNAP-installation would be separate from a minetest-version installed via apt or compiled, <br />
-with its files, mods, worlds, screenshots etc. stored under ~/snap/minetest/.<br />
-That means, you could have eg. an old 0.4.x and a new 0.5.x version both ready to play on your pc.
-=== Folder structure according to CMakeLists.txt ===
-based on the building scripts in [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/blob/master/CMakeLists.txt CMakeLists.txt on github]
-{|class="wikitable sortable"
-!'''DirVariable'''
-!'''WIN32'''
-!'''APPLE'''
-!'''UNIX/Linux/BSD  RUN_IN_PLACE'''
-!'''UNIX/Linux/BSD'''
-!'''Description'''
-|-
-| SHAREDIR|| <big>'''.'''</big> ||${BUNDLE_NAME}/Contents/Resources|| <big>'''.'''</big> ||${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/share/${PROJECT_NAME}||Directory to install data files into
-|-
-| BINDIR||bin||${BUNDLE_NAME}/Contents/MacOS||bin||${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/bin||Directory to install binaries into
-|-
-| DOCDIR||doc||${SHAREDIR}/${PROJECT_NAME}||doc||${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/share/doc/${PROJECT_NAME}||Directory to install documentation into
-|-
-| EXAMPLE_CONF_DIR|| <big>'''.'''</big> ||${DOCDIR}|| <big>'''.'''</big> ||${DOCDIR}||Directory to install example config file into
-|-
-| MANDIR||||||unix/man||${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/share/man||Directory to install manpages into
-|-
-| XDG_APPS_DIR||||||unix/applications||${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/share/applications||Directory to install .desktop files into
-|-
-| APPDATADIR||||||unix/appdata||${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/share/appdata||
-|-
-| ICONDIR||||||unix/icons||${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/share/icons||Directory to install icons into
-|-
-| LOCALEDIR||locale||${SHAREDIR}/locale||locale||${CMAKE_INSTALL_PREFIX}/share/${PROJECT_NAME}/locale||Directory to install l10n files into
-|}
-for Apple "BUNDLE_NAME" is set to  "${PROJECT_NAME}.app" where the project_name is set to minetest and <br />
-the "BUNDLE_PATH" is set to "${BUNDLE_NAME}"
+If all else fails, you can build from source by [https://github.com/minetest/minetest cloning the engine repository] and [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/blob/master/doc/compiling/linux.md following the build instructions].
 == Playing ==
 Now that you have it installed you can either; play singleplayer, play on a local server or play online by connecting to a server.
 === Play Singleplayer ===
+When first booting up Minetest, it will ask you to install a game. The button that shows up will direct you to the content browser which will list the games that are available. You can also browse the available games [https://content.minetest.net/packages/?type=game in your browser].
-To play singleplayer, simply '''create''' a [[world]], select a [[map generator]] (optional) and click '''Play'''. By default, you start in [[Games/Minetest Game|Minetest Game]]. Read [[How to build your first house]] for your first steps in Minetest Game.
+To install mods or texture packs, go to the "Content" tab, press "Browse Online Content" and pick the type of package you want to browse. To enable a texture pack select it in the content tab, and to enable mods you have installed, you need to select the world you want to play with mods in, press "Select mods", and enable the wanted mods.
-There is also an unofficial [[Games/Tutorial|Tutorial]] for an interactive introduction into Minetest in general.
-You can also choose to install other [[Games|games]]. We recommend this, because games is one of ''the'' key features in Minetest; if you only look at Minetest Game, you will be missing out on a lot of other interesting creations from the community.
+For an interactive introduction to common Minetest gameplay elements, there is the [https://content.minetest.net/packages/Wuzzy/tutorial/ Tutorial] game.
 === Play Online ===
+Joining multiplayer server is done in the "Join game" tab. To select a server, click on its name in the server list. If you know of a server from e.g. a friend that's not listed in the server list, you can manually input the address and port to the right. You do not need to install any mods to play on a server, everything provided by the server is sent to the client during connect!
-[[File:Password.PNG|thumb|250px|Change password screen]]
+When you are new to a server, you need to first register. Press the register button and input the username and password you want to use. Next time you log in with this username and password.
-Joining a multiplayer server is done in the 'Client' tab. To select a server, click its name on the server list. The address and port will be automatically filled.
-Some servers are not listed on the server list.
-[https://forum.minetest.net/viewforum.php?f=10 Find the server's] topic, and enter the address and port given into the text boxes in the client tab.
-An address will look like <code>redcrab.suret.net</code> or <code>64.3.4.1</code>. The port is a whole number between 1 and 65535.
-After choosing a server and selecting it, you must enter a username and password.<br/>
+'''Accounts in Minetest are not centralised.''' This means that accounts are stored on each server, rather than on a central server. You do not have to use the same username, but using different passwords are recommended (however servers cannot see your password, it is one-way hashed during transit). Some servers allow a blank password but using a password is strongly recommended to stop others stealing your player and causing damage. You can change your password by clicking 'change password' on pause menu (ESC).
-When a username first connects to a server an account for that player is created.
-Accounts in Minetest are not centralized.
-This means that accounts are stored on each server, rather than on a central server.
-You do not have to use the same username as on the forums, and you do not even need to have a forum account.
-Using a password is strongly recommended to stop others stealing your player and causing damage.
-You can change your password by clicking 'change password' on pause menu (ESC).
-Minetest [https://github.com/minetest/minetest/issues/1943 uses SRP authentication].
-Some servers require you to request for build privileges on their forum topic, as an anti-griefing measure.
 === Basic Controls ===
@@ Line 161: / Line 67: @@
 === Gameplay ===
-The basic Minetest gameplay is taught in the unofficial Tutorial which is aimed towards complete newbies, see [[Games/Tutorial]] for a guide on how to install and start it.
+The common Minetest gameplay is taught in the [https://content.minetest.net/packages/Wuzzy/tutorial/ Tutorial] game which is aimed towards complete newbies, it can be installed from the content browser.
 A very brief but outdated introduction into Minetest can be seen in [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJMj8MiqjwI this video].
-A quick-start guide for [[Games/Minetest Game|Minetest Game]] can be found at [[How to build your first house]].
+The following wiki pages explain some basic common Minetest concepts more or less in-depth:
-The following wiki pages explain some basic Minetest concepts more or less in-depth:
 * [[Inventory]]
 * [[Tool]]
@@ Line 176: / Line 80: @@
 * [[Smelting]]
-As soon as you grasped the basics, you may want to look up which [[blocks]] and [[items]] are available and get an overview about [[farming]].
+As soon as you grasped the basics, you may want to look up which [[blocks]] and [[items]] are available and get an overview about [[farming]]. Just want to build? Try [[creative mode]]! If you want more, consider trying new [[mods]] and [[games]]. If you want to play online, you should read the [[Server#In the server|gameplay notes for multiplayer servers]].
-Just want to build? Try [[creative mode]]!
-If you want more, consider trying new [[mods]] and [[game]]s.
-If you want to play online, you should read the [[Server#In the server|gameplay notes for multiplayer servers]].
 ''Advanced topics:''
@@ Line 190: / Line 88: @@
 * [[Light]]
-== See also ==
-* [[Help:Advanced Beginners Guide]]
-{{Languages}}
 [[Category:Tutorials]]