---
title: Mod Loaders
description: Fabric and Forge installation and management
---

# Mod Loaders

DropOut supports the two most popular Minecraft mod loaders: Fabric and Forge. Both can be easily installed and managed directly from the launcher.

## Fabric Support

### Overview

Fabric is a lightweight, modular modding toolchain focused on:
- Fast updates to new Minecraft versions
- Clean, minimal API
- Strong developer community
- Excellent performance

### Installation

1. Navigate to **Versions** tab
2. Click **"Install Fabric"**
3. Select Minecraft version
4. Choose Fabric loader version
5. Click **"Install"**
6. Wait for installation to complete

### How It Works

**Meta API Integration:**
```rust
// Fetch available Fabric versions
let url = format!(
    "https://meta.fabricmc.net/v2/versions/loader/{}",
    minecraft_version
);
```

**Profile Generation:**
1. Fetch Fabric loader metadata
2. Download Fabric libraries
3. Generate version JSON with `inheritsFrom`
4. Merge with parent Minecraft version
5. Add to versions list

**Version Format:**
```json
{
  "id": "fabric-loader-0.15.0-1.20.4",
  "inheritsFrom": "1.20.4",
  "mainClass": "net.fabricmc.loader.impl.launch.knot.KnotClient",
  "libraries": [...]
}
```

### Fabric Versions

**Loader Versions:**
- Latest stable (recommended)
- Specific versions for compatibility
- Beta/snapshot versions

**Game Versions:**
- All Minecraft versions from 1.14+
- Snapshots supported
- Combat Test versions

### Library Management

Fabric libraries are resolved from Maven:

**Main Library:**
```
net.fabricmc:fabric-loader:0.15.0
```

**Dependencies:**
- `net.fabricmc:tiny-mappings-parser`
- `net.fabricmc:sponge-mixin`
- `net.fabricmc:access-widener`

**Download:**
```rust
// Maven resolution
let url = format!(
    "https://maven.fabricmc.net/{}/{}",
    artifact_path, filename
);
```

### Fabric API

Fabric Loader ≠ Fabric API:
- **Fabric Loader**: Mod loader (installed by DropOut)
- **Fabric API**: Library mod (download separately)

Many mods require Fabric API:
1. Download from [Modrinth](https://modrinth.com/mod/fabric-api) or [CurseForge](https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/fabric-api)
2. Place in instance's `mods/` folder

## Forge Support

### Overview

Forge is the original and most popular Minecraft mod loader:
- Extensive mod ecosystem
- Mature API
- Wide version support
- Large community

### Installation

1. Navigate to **Versions** tab
2. Click **"Install Forge"**
3. Select Minecraft version
4. Choose Forge version
5. Click **"Install"**
6. Wait for installer to run
7. Installation complete

### How It Works

**Forge Installer:**
```rust
// Download Forge installer
let installer_url = format!(
    "https://maven.minecraftforge.net/net/minecraftforge/forge/{}/forge-{}-installer.jar",
    full_version, full_version
);

// Run installer
java -jar forge-installer.jar --installClient
```

**Profile Parsing:**
1. Forge installer creates version JSON
2. DropOut parses install profile
3. Extracts library dependencies
4. Processes processors (if any)
5. Generates launcher profile

**Version Format:**
```json
{
  "id": "1.20.4-forge-49.0.26",
  "inheritsFrom": "1.20.4",
  "mainClass": "cpw.mods.bootstraplauncher.BootstrapLauncher",
  "libraries": [...]
}
```

### Forge Versions

**Release Types:**
- **Latest**: Most recent stable
- **Recommended**: Most stable for production
- **Specific**: Version-locked for compatibility

**Minecraft Version Support:**
- Legacy versions (1.6.4+)
- Modern versions (1.13+)
- Latest versions (1.20+)

### Library Management

Forge has many libraries:

**Core Libraries:**
- `net.minecraftforge:forge:<version>`
- `net.minecraftforge:fmlloader:<version>`
- `org.ow2.asm:asm:<version>`

**Resolution:**
```rust
// Forge Maven
"https://maven.minecraftforge.net/"

// Dependencies may use:
// - Maven Central
// - Minecraft Libraries
```

### Forge Processors

Some Forge versions run "processors" during installation:
- Bytecode manipulation
- Library patching
- Mapping generation

DropOut handles these automatically.

## Version Inheritance

Both Fabric and Forge use Minecraft's inheritance system:

### Parent Version

```json
{
  "id": "fabric-loader-0.15.0-1.20.4",
  "inheritsFrom": "1.20.4"  // Parent vanilla version
}
```

### Merging Process

**Libraries:**
```rust
// Merged from both
parent_libraries + modded_libraries
// Duplicates removed
```

**Arguments:**
```rust
// Combined
parent_jvm_args + modded_jvm_args
parent_game_args + modded_game_args
```

**Assets:**
```rust
// Inherited from parent
assets = parent.assets
```

**Main Class:**
```rust
// Overridden by modded
main_class = modded.mainClass
```

## Comparison

| Feature | Fabric | Forge |
|---------|--------|-------|
| **Performance** | Excellent | Good |
| **Update Speed** | Very Fast | Moderate |
| **Mod Selection** | Growing | Extensive |
| **API Simplicity** | Simple | Complex |
| **Version Support** | 1.14+ | 1.6.4+ |
| **Developer Friendly** | Very | Moderate |
| **Stability** | Excellent | Excellent |

## Installing Mods

### Fabric Mods

1. Create/select instance
2. Ensure Fabric is installed
3. Download mods from:
   - [Modrinth](https://modrinth.com/)
   - [CurseForge](https://www.curseforge.com/)
   - [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/)
4. Place `.jar` files in `instances/<name>/mods/`
5. Launch game

**Compatibility:**
- Check Minecraft version
- Check Fabric Loader version
- Check for Fabric API requirement
- Read mod dependencies

### Forge Mods

1. Create/select instance
2. Ensure Forge is installed
3. Download mods from:
   - [CurseForge](https://www.curseforge.com/)
   - [Modrinth](https://modrinth.com/)
4. Place `.jar` files in `instances/<name>/mods/`
5. Launch game

**Compatibility:**
- Check Minecraft version exactly
- Check Forge version range
- Read mod dependencies
- Check for conflicts

## Troubleshooting

### Fabric Issues

**"Fabric Loader not found"**
- Reinstall Fabric
- Check version JSON exists
- Verify libraries downloaded

**"Mixin apply failed"**
- Mod incompatibility
- Remove conflicting mods
- Update Fabric Loader

**"Fabric API required"**
- Download Fabric API
- Match Minecraft version
- Place in mods folder

### Forge Issues

**"Forge installer failed"**
- Verify Java installation
- Check disk space
- Try older Forge version
- Check logs for details

**"Missing dependencies"**
- Install required mods
- Check mod version compatibility
- Read error message carefully

**"Class not found"**
- Forge version mismatch
- Reinstall Forge
- Verify libraries downloaded

### General Mod Issues

**Crash on Launch:**
1. Check crash report
2. Identify problematic mod
3. Remove or update mod
4. Test with minimal mods
5. Add mods back incrementally

**Performance Problems:**
1. Too many mods installed
2. Increase memory allocation
3. Install performance mods:
   - Fabric: Sodium, Lithium
   - Forge: OptiFine, Magnesium
4. Remove resource-heavy mods

## API Reference

### Tauri Commands

**Install Fabric:**
```typescript
await invoke('install_fabric', {
  minecraftVersion: '1.20.4',
  loaderVersion: '0.15.0'
});
```

**Install Forge:**
```typescript
await invoke('install_forge', {
  minecraftVersion: '1.20.4',
  forgeVersion: '49.0.26'
});
```

**List Fabric Versions:**
```typescript
const versions = await invoke('get_fabric_versions', {
  minecraftVersion: '1.20.4'
});
```

**List Forge Versions:**
```typescript
const versions = await invoke('get_forge_versions', {
  minecraftVersion: '1.20.4'
});
```

### Events

**Installation Progress:**
```typescript
listen('mod-loader-progress', (event) => {
  const { stage, percent } = event.payload;
  // Stages: "downloading", "installing", "processing", "complete"
});
```

## Best Practices

### For Players

1. **Choose one mod loader** per instance
2. **Match versions exactly** - Minecraft and loader
3. **Read mod requirements** before installing
4. **Start small** - Add mods incrementally
5. **Backup worlds** before adding mods
6. **Check compatibility** lists
7. **Update cautiously** - Test in separate instance

### For Modpack Creators

1. **Document versions** - MC, loader, all mods
2. **Test thoroughly** - All features
3. **List dependencies** - Including API
4. **Provide changelog** - For updates
5. **Version lock** - For stability
6. **Include configs** - Pre-configured
7. **Test updates** - Before release

## Future Features

- **Mod browser** - Install mods from launcher
- **Automatic updates** - Keep mods current
- **Dependency resolution** - Auto-install requirements
- **Conflict detection** - Warn about incompatibilities
- **Profile export** - Share modpack configurations
- **CurseForge integration** - Direct modpack import
- **Modrinth integration** - Mod search and install