Pre-generate Your Minecraft World with Chunky - Stop lag

Experiencing server lag when players explore new areas? Pre-generating your Minecraft world can significantly improve performance by loading chunks beforehand. This guide will walk you through installing and using the Chunky mod (for Forge/Fabric/NeoForge) or the Chunky plugin (for Paper/Spigot/Purpur) on your MintServers Minecraft server to pre-generate your world efficiently.

What is Chunky?

Chunky is a popular tool designed specifically for pre-generating Minecraft world chunks. By generating terrain before players explore, you reduce the server load that occurs when new chunks are created on-the-fly, leading to a smoother gameplay experience with less lag, especially during initial exploration or when using Elytra.

Choosing Between Chunky Mod and Plugin

• Chunky Plugin: Use this if your server runs Paper, Spigot, Purpur, or other Bukkit-based server software. Installation is typically simpler.
• Chunky Mod: Use this if your server runs Forge, Fabric, or NeoForge modded platforms.

You can easily install the correct version directly from your MintServers game panel.

Installing Chunky via MintServers Panel

Whether you need the mod or the plugin, the installation process via the MintServers panel is straightforward:

1. Log into your MintServers game panel.
2. Stop your server before making changes.
3. Navigate to the appropriate installer tab on the left sidebar:
   • For Paper/Spigot/Purpur etc., click on "Plugins".
   
   • For Forge/Fabric/NeoForge, click on "Mods".
   
4. In the search bar, type "Chunky".

5. Find the main Chunky entry (verify it's the correct one, usually by llopis).
6. Select the version compatible with your Minecraft server version and server software (Plugin or Mod Loader).
7. Click the "Install" button.
8. Once installation is complete, start your server. Chunky will now be active.

How to Use Chunky (Commands)

Chunky is controlled via commands. You can run these commands directly in your MintServers game panel console or in-game if you are an operator (OP).

Basic Workflow:

1. Select the World: Specify which world you want to pre-generate (e.g., overworld, nether, end).
   /chunky world
   Example: /chunky world world (for the default Overworld)
   Example: /chunky world world_nether
2. Set the Shape and Center (Optional): By default, Chunky generates in a square shape around the world spawn (0,0). You can change this.
   /chunky shape (Default: square)
   /chunky center (Sets the center coordinates)
   Example: /chunky center 100 -500
3. Set the Radius: Define how far out from the center you want to generate chunks.
   /chunky radius
   Example: /chunky radius 5000 (This would generate a 10000x10000 area centered on your selected point)
4. Start the Task: Begin the pre-generation process.
   /chunky start

Essential Chunky Commands:

• /chunky help: Displays available Chunky commands.
• /chunky world : Selects the target world for generation.
• /chunky shape : Sets the shape of the area to generate.
• /chunky center [X Z]: Sets the center point for generation. Leave X and Z blank to use your current location (if run in-game).
• /chunky radius : Sets the radius (for circles) or half-length (for squares) of the generation area.
• /chunky start: Begins the pre-generation task with the current settings.
• /chunky pause: Temporarily pauses the current generation task.
• /chunky continue: Resumes a paused generation task.
• /chunky cancel: Stops and cancels the current generation task.
• /chunky progress: Shows the progress of the current or last task (percentage, chunks processed, estimated time remaining).

Monitoring Progress

Use the /chunky progress command periodically in the console or in-game to check how the generation is going. You will see the percentage completed, the number of chunks processed, and an estimated time remaining (ETA). Keep in mind the ETA can fluctuate based on server load and the complexity of the terrain being generated.

Important Considerations

• Performance Impact: Pre-generating chunks is resource-intensive. Your server's performance (TPS) might decrease while Chunky is running. It's best to run it during off-peak hours when fewer players are online.
• Time Required: Generating large areas can take a significant amount of time – potentially hours or even days for very large radii. Plan accordingly.
• Disk Space: Pre-generating your world will consume disk space. Ensure you have sufficient storage allocated to your server on MintServers before starting a large task. You can check your usage in the main panel view.
• Don't Stop the Server Abruptly: While you can pause and cancel the task using Chunky commands, avoid force-stopping the server while Chunky is actively writing chunk data, as this could potentially lead to minor world corruption in rare cases. Use /chunky pause or /chunky cancel first.
• Multiple Worlds: Remember to select and run the generation task for each dimension you want to pre-generate (Overworld, Nether, End, etc.) using the /chunky world command before starting.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Chunky Command Not Found

• Ensure the plugin/mod installed correctly via the MintServers panel.
• Check that you restarted the server after installation.
• Verify you are using the correct command syntax (e.g., /chunky radius 1000, not /chunkyradius 1000).
• Make sure you are running the command from the console or are an OP in-game.

Generation is Very Slow / Server Lagging Badly

• Pre-generation is inherently demanding. Consider running it during periods of low player activity.
• You can try reducing the generation speed slightly using advanced Chunky commands (/chunky silent or adjusting thread counts - consult Chunky documentation for specifics), but this will increase the total time required.

Task Stopped Unexpectedly

• Check the server console for any error messages from Chunky or Minecraft itself.
• The server might have run out of memory or disk space. Check resource usage in the MintServers panel.
• Try starting the task again using /chunky continue if paused, or /chunky start if cancelled/failed.

Conclusion

Using Chunky to pre-generate your MintServers Minecraft world is an excellent way to proactively combat exploration lag and provide a smoother experience for your players. By following the installation steps through the MintServers panel and using the basic commands outlined above, you can easily manage the pre-generation process for any of your worlds. Remember to plan for the time and resources required, and enjoy a lag-free exploration experience!