lithium
A Fabric mod designed to improve the general performance of Minecraft without breaking things
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Quick Overview
Lithium-fabric is a highly optimized, open-source mod for Minecraft that significantly improves server performance without changing vanilla gameplay mechanics. It achieves this by optimizing various game systems, algorithms, and data structures, resulting in reduced CPU and memory usage.
Pros
- Substantial performance improvements for Minecraft servers
- Maintains vanilla gameplay mechanics and compatibility
- Open-source and actively maintained
- Compatible with other optimization mods like Sodium and Phosphor
Cons
- Only available for Fabric mod loader, not for Forge
- May conflict with some other mods that modify similar game systems
- Requires periodic updates to stay compatible with new Minecraft versions
- Some optimizations may not be noticeable on smaller servers or less demanding worlds
Getting Started
To use Lithium-fabric:
- Install the Fabric mod loader for your Minecraft server.
- Download the latest Lithium-fabric JAR file from the releases page.
- Place the downloaded JAR file in your server's
modsfolder. - Start your Minecraft server.
No additional configuration is required, as Lithium-fabric works out of the box to optimize your server's performance.
Competitor Comparisons
A Minecraft mod designed to improve frame rates and reduce micro-stutter
Pros of Sodium
- Focuses specifically on rendering optimizations, leading to significant FPS improvements
- Provides a more modern and efficient rendering pipeline
- Offers additional graphics settings for fine-tuning performance
Cons of Sodium
- More limited in scope compared to Lithium's broad optimizations
- May have compatibility issues with some mods due to its rendering changes
- Requires separate installation alongside Lithium for full optimization
Code Comparison
Sodium (rendering optimization):
public class ChunkRenderRebuildTask implements Callable<ChunkRenderUploadTask> {
@Override
public ChunkRenderUploadTask call() {
this.render.rebuild();
return new ChunkRenderUploadTask(this.render);
}
}
Lithium (general optimization):
public class EntityTrackerSection {
public void add(T entity) {
this.collection.add(entity);
this.dirty = true;
}
}
Summary
Sodium and Lithium are both performance optimization mods for Minecraft, developed by CaffeineMC. Sodium focuses on rendering improvements, offering significant FPS boosts and additional graphics settings. Lithium, on the other hand, provides broader optimizations across various game systems. While Sodium excels in graphics performance, it has a narrower scope compared to Lithium's wide-ranging enhancements. For optimal results, many players use both mods together to achieve comprehensive performance improvements in Minecraft.
The most widely used, high performance Minecraft server that aims to fix gameplay and mechanics inconsistencies
Pros of Paper
- More comprehensive server optimization, including chunk loading and entity handling
- Extensive API for plugin developers
- Regular updates and active community support
Cons of Paper
- More complex setup and configuration
- Potential compatibility issues with some mods and plugins
- Larger codebase, which can make troubleshooting more challenging
Code Comparison
Lithium-fabric (optimization example):
public boolean isValidPosition(BlockState state) {
return !state.isAir() && state.getFluidState().isEmpty();
}
Paper (optimization example):
public boolean isValidPosition(BlockState state) {
return !state.isAir() && !state.getFluidState().isSource();
}
Both projects aim to improve Minecraft server performance, but they take different approaches. Lithium-fabric focuses on targeted optimizations for the Fabric modding platform, while Paper provides a more comprehensive server implementation with additional features and APIs.
Lithium-fabric is generally easier to set up and has better compatibility with mods, but Paper offers more extensive optimizations and plugin support. The choice between the two depends on specific server needs and the desired balance between performance, features, and compatibility.
Rewrites the light engine to fix lighting performance and lighting errors
Pros of Starlight
- Focuses specifically on lighting engine optimizations, potentially offering more targeted improvements in this area
- Designed to work with Paper, a popular high-performance Minecraft server implementation
- May provide better compatibility with other Paper-based plugins and optimizations
Cons of Starlight
- More limited in scope compared to Lithium's broader optimization approach
- Potentially less compatible with vanilla Minecraft or other server implementations
- May require more frequent updates to maintain compatibility with Paper changes
Code Comparison
Starlight (lighting-related optimization):
public int getLightLevel(BlockPos pos) {
long packed = ((ChunkSectionPos) pos).asLong();
return this.lightCache.get(packed);
}
Lithium (general optimization example):
public boolean isEmptyBetween(int startY, int endY) {
return this.sectionArray.isEmptyBetween(startY >> 4, endY >> 4);
}
While both projects aim to improve Minecraft server performance, Lithium offers a more comprehensive set of optimizations across various game systems. Starlight, on the other hand, specializes in enhancing the lighting engine, which may result in more significant improvements in that specific area. The choice between the two depends on the server's needs and compatibility requirements.
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Lithium
Lithium is a free and open-source Minecraft mod which works to optimize many areas of the game in order to provide better overall performance. It works on both the client and server, and doesn't require the mod to be installed on both sides.
ð¥ Downloads & Installation
Download Lithium from Modrinth or CurseForge.
Lithium supports two mod loaders: Fabric and the NeoForge. You can use a launcher
(e.g. the Modrinth launcher) to install lithium. Alternatively, you can install lithium
manually by placing lithium's jar-file in the mods folder of your game after you have installed the
corresponding mod loader.
ð Why Choose Lithium?
Lithium is the perfect drop-in mod for players who want more performance without affecting their gameplay. It doesn't change any game mechanics or visuals, it just makes the game run faster. Lithium is compatible with most other mods, so you can use it alongside your favorite mods without any issues.
If you do encounter an issue where Lithium deviates from the norm or does not work with another mod, please don't hesitate to ð¬ open an issue. Before opening a new issue, please check using the search tool that your issue has not already been created, and that if there is a suitable template for the issue you are opening, that it is filled out entirely. We will provide workarounds and fixes for issues as soon as possible.
ð Support the Development
Lithium is actively developed by 2No2Name since JellySquid has stepped down from active development in 2020. Several other contributors have also helped with the development of Lithium, and we are grateful for their contributions.
If you would like to support the development of Lithium, you can do so by joining the community and contributing to the project, or by signing up on patreon:
| Author | Role | Links | |
|---|---|---|---|
 | 2No2Name | Developer | Patreon |
 | JellySquid | Former Developer |
ð¬ Join the CaffeineMC Community
We have an official Discord community for all of our projects. By joining, you can:
- Get installation help and technical support with all of our mods
- Be notified of the latest developments as they happen
- Get involved and collaborate with the rest of our team
- ... and just hang out with the rest of our community.
âï¸ Configuration
Out of the box, no additional configuration is necessary once the mod has been installed. Lithium is made of a collection of vastly different optimizations. Very few optimizations depend on each other, enabling you to resolve mod compatibility issues by disabling problematic optimizations. Optimizations are disabled by default if there is a major issue with them that has not yet been resolved.
As such, an empty config file simply means you'd like to use the default configuration, which includes all stable optimizations by default. For the list of options, see the configuration file summary.
ð ï¸ Bleeding-edge builds (unstable)
If you are a player who is looking to get your hands on the latest bleeding-edge changes for testing, consider taking a look at the automated builds produced through our GitHub Actions workflow . This workflow automatically runs every time a change is pushed to the repository, and as such, the builds it produces will generally reflect the latest snapshot of development.
Bleeding edge builds will often include unfinished code that hasn't been extensively tested. That code may introduce incomplete features, bugs, crashes, and all other kinds of weird issues. You should not use these bleeding edge builds unless you know what you are doing and are comfortable with software debugging. If you report issues using these builds, we will expect that this is the case. Caveat emptor.
ð ï¸ Building from sources
Lithium uses the Gradle build tool and can be built with the gradle build command. The build
artifacts (production binaries and their source bundles) can be found in the build/mods directory.
The Gradle wrapper is provided for ease of use and will automatically download and install the
appropriate version of Gradle for the project build. To use the Gradle wrapper, substitute gradle in build commands
with ./gradlew.bat (Windows) or ./gradlew (macOS and Linux).
ð License
Lithium is licensed under GNU LGPLv3, a free and open-source license. For more information, please see the license file.
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