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Minecraft removing obfuscation in Java Edition

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Re: Minecraft removing obfuscation in Java Edition

#101

Post by Nition »

krackers wrote: post #61
NelsonMinar wrote: post #51

It's extraordinary to me that Minecraft is both the game that has the most robust mod community out there and that the modders were working from obfuscated, decompiled Java binaries. With elaborate tooling to deobfuscate and then reobfuscate using the same mangled names. For over a decade! What dedication.

Me too. Having only a vague familiarity with the game, I thought that mods were using some official plugin system. I had no idea that minecraft modders (presumably kids/teens?) were not only reverse engineering things but also creating an entire ecosystem to work around proguard.

I remember Notch saying in 2010 that he planned to add an official modding API, but it never actually happened.

---

Edit: https://web.archive.org/web/20100708183651/http://notch.tumb...

Re: Minecraft removing obfuscation in Java Edition

#102

Post by SkiFire13 »

internetter wrote: post #12
Traubenfuchs wrote: post #8

I'd like to see a benchmark between the obfuscated and non obfuscated version.

Probably virtually the same. If I recall, the "obfuscation" was mostly mangling

AFAIK it also shortens the names, which might make the jar smaller or make it take less time to do name resolution at runtime. It probably won't be very relevant though, especially after startup.

Re: Minecraft removing obfuscation in Java Edition

#103

Post by Nition »

astrobe_ wrote: post #30
armchairhacker wrote: post #2

Minecraft, Roblox, Geometry Dash, Trackmania...these are games that succeeded because of their communities. Alone, they don't provide much for the average player, but creative players build interesting things that appeal to everyone. I think one of the reasons Vision Pro and metaverse have been struggling is because their engines are bad. Not just locked down, but hard to develop on (although I don't have personal ex…

You can add the Flight Simulator series to the list, which spawned a vast ecosystem of add-ons, both free and commercial. I believe though, that what you actually need as a big or small company, is good game first and foremost; the engine is secondary. When the community around a game reaches a critical mass, the very small percentage of its members who have the skills to modify things becomes significant as well. Fo…

I'm always impressed when I check it, that flightsim.com is still running, and still has everyone's mods going right back to the 90s. Just in case anyone still wants the poor quality airport I uploaded for Flight Simulator 2000 twenty-something years ago.

Re: Minecraft removing obfuscation in Java Edition

#104

Post by bayarearefugee »

Nition wrote: post #101
krackers wrote: post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Me too. Having only a vague familiarity with the game, I thought that mods were using some official plugin system. I had no idea that minecraft modders (presumably kids/teens?) were not only reverse engineering things but also creating an entire ecosystem to work around proguard.

I remember Notch saying in 2010 that he planned to add an official modding API, but it never actually happened. --- Edit: https://web.archive.org/web/20100708183651/http://notch.tumb...

[flagged]

Re: Minecraft removing obfuscation in Java Edition

#105

Post by speedgoose »

gbear605 wrote: post #78
tmtvl wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The sounds maybe, but the music? If there's one game whose music I always turn off instantly it's Minecraft. Touhou Youyoumu Minecraft ain't.

The music is definitely considered classic, you can find tons of people online talking about how it means a lot to them - and personally, I really loved the music.

I remember the early Minecraft musics from C418 to be relatively unconventional, especially some of the jukebox discs.

I started playing Minecraft again recently and while it sounds like it’s the same artist, and it’s still somewhat contemplative, it’s not dissonant anymore.

Re: Minecraft removing obfuscation in Java Edition

#107

Post by pugworthy »

armchairhacker wrote: post #2

Minecraft, Roblox, Geometry Dash, Trackmania...these are games that succeeded because of their communities. Alone, they don't provide much for the average player, but creative players build interesting things that appeal to everyone. I think one of the reasons Vision Pro and metaverse have been struggling is because their engines are bad. Not just locked down, but hard to develop on (although I don't have personal ex…

I think Valve wouldn't exist as they do now except for modding. Counter-Strike's popularity must have driven a lot of purchases early on, which allowed Valve the freedom to do things at their own pace rather than under pressure from publishers.

Re: Minecraft removing obfuscation in Java Edition

#108

Post by whacko_quacko »

bayarearefugee wrote: post #104
Nition wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I remember Notch saying in 2010 that he planned to add an official modding API, but it never actually happened. --- Edit: https://web.archive.org/web/20100708183651/http://notch.tumb...

[flagged]

I'm sure you're fun at parties

Re: Minecraft removing obfuscation in Java Edition

#110

Post by pphysch »

userbinator wrote: post #90
NelsonMinar wrote: post #51

It's extraordinary to me that Minecraft is both the game that has the most robust mod community out there and that the modders were working from obfuscated, decompiled Java binaries. With elaborate tooling to deobfuscate and then reobfuscate using the same mangled names. For over a decade! What dedication.

More proof that you don't need the source code to modify software. Then again, Java has always been easy to decompile, and IMHO the biggest obstacle to understanding is the "object-oriented obfuscation" that's inherent in large codebases even when you have the original source.

Agreed; modding obfuscated Java is impressive, but not quite on the level of modding in the (Nintendo) emulation community. The things that have been achieved with classic Nintendo titles are absurd, like adding high-performance online multiplayer to Super Smash Bro. Melee.
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