Server JAR Guide

A Minecraft server requires a server JAR file to run. This page covers common server types and how to get them.

Vanilla

The official server provided by Mojang. Does not support any plugins or mods.

• Download: Minecraft Official Site
• Use case: Pure vanilla experience with no extensions

WARNING

Vanilla server performance is limited. Recommended only for small local games.

Paper (Recommended)

A high-performance server based on Spigot. The most popular choice today.

• Download: papermc.io
• Use case: Servers that need plugins and good performance
• Plugin support: Bukkit / Spigot / Paper plugins

Why Paper?

• Much better performance than Vanilla and Spigot, with optimized redstone and mob AI
• Active community with great plugin compatibility
• Built-in anti-cheat and security patches
• Fast updates with timely new version support

Spigot

A well-established plugin server and the upstream project of Paper.

• How to get: Build it yourself using BuildTools
• Use case: When you need Spigot-exclusive plugins or have compatibility issues with Paper

INFO

Spigot does not offer direct JAR downloads — you must compile it with BuildTools. This is less beginner-friendly, so Paper is recommended instead.

Forge

A mod server for running Java Edition mods.

• Download: Forge Official Site
• Use case: Modded servers running Forge mods
• Note: Not compatible with Bukkit/Spigot plugins

Fabric

A lightweight mod loader with fast startup.

• Download: Fabric Official Site
• Use case: Modded servers running Fabric mods
• Note: Not compatible with Bukkit/Spigot plugins — requires Fabric mods

Purpur

A fork of Paper that provides more configuration options.

• Download: Purpur Official Site
• Use case: Servers that need more customization options
• Plugin support: Bukkit / Spigot / Paper plugins

Pumpkin (Experimental)

A newer Rust-based server project.

• Website: pumpkinmc.org
• Download: Pumpkin Download
• Docs: docs.pumpkinmc.org
• Use case: Technical exploration and testing Rust-based server setups
• Package format: commonly distributed as an executable (not a .jar)
• Performance: generally very strong; the main limitation right now is ecosystem compatibility

WARNING

Pumpkin is different from the traditional Bukkit/Paper ecosystem. The main risk right now is ecosystem compatibility, so test in a staging environment before production use. If the download is an executable, use script startup mode (bat / sh) in Sea Lantern to launch it, instead of importing it as a JAR.

How to Choose?

Type	Plugin Support	Mod Support	Performance	Recommendation
Paper	✅ Bukkit/Spigot/Paper	❌	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐⭐
Purpur	✅ Bukkit/Spigot/Paper	❌	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐
Spigot	✅ Bukkit/Spigot	❌	⭐⭐	⭐⭐
Vanilla	❌	❌	⭐	⭐
Forge	❌	✅ Forge Mods	⭐⭐	⭐⭐
Fabric	❌	✅ Fabric Mods	⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐
Pumpkin	⚠️ Different ecosystem from Bukkit/Paper	❌	⭐⭐⭐⭐	⭐⭐

Important Notes

Version Compatibility

The server version must match the client version, or players won't be able to join. For example:

• Server 1.21.4 → Client must also be 1.21.4
• Some modded servers support backwards compatibility, but matching versions is recommended

Minecraft EULA

When starting any Minecraft server for the first time, you must accept the Minecraft EULA. Sea Lantern will guide you through this during server creation.

What to Do After Downloading?

1. Most server types provide a .jar file (projects like Pumpkin may provide executables)
2. Click "Create Server" in Sea Lantern and choose an import source (JAR / existing server / startup script)
3. For .jar, import it directly; for executables, use script startup mode (bat / sh)
4. The wizard tries to auto-detect startup mode; you can manually adjust and set a custom startup command if needed
5. See Getting Started for detailed steps