Minetest – Voxel Sandbox Adventure

Deprecations & Compatibility

• First build to fully adopt SDL2 for windowing and input. Key bindings are now scancode-based, requiring users to re-verify/reassign controls after updating.
• Worlds created or migrated by v5.12.0 cannot be loaded by older versions due to splitting of the unified pos field into individual x, y, and z coordinates.
• Lua API: Node/item registration functions enforce stricter validation. “Perlin noise” functions were renamed to “Fractal value noise,” with backwards compatibility maintained (no deprecation warnings).
• Lua API: Tool capabilities for the "hand" inventory slot now fully override the default hand; older clients (< 5.12.0) will see fallback behavior.
  Remote media downloads switched to HTTP GET requests, enabling static hosting for media files.

Client / Audiovisuals

• Fixed certain models failing to render as nodes.
• Android-specific fixes: corrected font color bug when minimizing and re-entering a world; introduced new interaction modes (camera movement, dig, punch).
• Main menu now displays the SDL version in “About” and adds a new “Reviews” tab for ContentDB entries.
• Improved texture caching for generated assets (speed-ups). Better texture filtering to reduce blurriness.
• Updated UI: default buttons switched to a flat appearance; inventory now animates animated nodes.
• Numerous SDL input handling refinements (including “Sneak” and “Aux1” toggle modes). Removed broken fall-bobbing effect.
• Dynamic shadows performance regression fixed; configurable via performance_tradeoffs.
• Added ability to animate fading of dialogs in pause menu.

World / Server / Environment

• Improved mapblock load/save throughput. Decoration placement optimized for performance.
• Z-fighting fixes for specific node/tile overlay combinations.
• IPv6 enabled by default.
• More accurate collision code improvements.
• Reduced pre-join network traffic for v5.12.0+ clients.

Script API / Modding

• Introduced basic API to restrict camera modes (first-person, over-the-shoulder, third-person front).
• Added table.copy_with_metatables and enhanced core.item_drop to return the spawned object.
• New visual = "node" option for entities, making them render as nodes (clients < 5.12.0 cannot see these).
• Improved documentation for server-hosted texture packs.
• Expanded formspec functionality: allow_close[] to prevent automatic form closure (v5.12.0+ only).

Misc / Maintenance

• Numerous build fixes, code cleanups, and internal optimizations.
• Added more unit tests.
• Corrected SDL input regressions.
• Server/client settings annotations improved.

Support

• Forum
• Wiki

Donate

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1. Optimize Performance & Settings

• In “Settings” → “Advanced,” lower “Far Clip” and “Mipmapping” for smoother gameplay on slower GPUs.
• Enable “Texture Compression” but disable “Anisotropic Filtering” if you experience frame drops.
• Use “minetest.conf” to tweak draw_max_lights, enable_particle_fanciness, and enable_trilinear_filter for balanced visuals.

2. Essential Mods for Quality‐of‐Life

• Unified Inventory: Intuitive inventory and crafting interface, searchable by name.
• Moreores / Better_dungeon: Introduces diversified ores and proper underground dungeons.
• Mesecons: Adds redstone‐like circuitry for automation.
• Pipeworks: Allows item transport via tubes—ideal for assembling automated resource lines.
• Animal Farm / Farm Defaults: Populates the world with farm animals and simplifies farming.

3. Efficient Resource Gathering

• Use a TNT—or loaded TNT in “Technic” mod pack—minecart method: lay tracks at Y –15, detonate TNT for rapid stone clearing.
• Install “treecapitator” mod: chopping the bottom trunk block fells the entire tree, saving time.

4. Building & Aesthetics

• Incorporate “moreblocks” mod for alternate stairs, slabs, and decorative blocks—expands aesthetic palette.
• Light builds effectively: hide mese lamps or “mesecons” lamps within walls for seamless lighting.
• Use “flooring” or “doors” mods for variety in floors and entrances.

5. Server Management & Community

• If hosting your own server, consider “minetest-server” on Linux VPS. Open ports 30000 UDP and 30000 TCP; forward accordingly.
• Use “auth” mod for permission management: assign basic rights (e.g., “interact,” “fly”) to players.
• Run “banhammer” mod or “areas” mod to protect builds and designate PvP zones.

6. Advanced Redstone & Automation

• Pair “mesecons” with “technic” mod for fully automated ore‐smelting factories: conveyor belts feed ores into furnaces, powered by mesecons signals.
• Use “digilines” to connect computers (e.g., “digilines_computer”) for in-game scripting: create custom GUIs or chat bots.

7. Creative Mode Design

• Activate “Creative” for unlimited resources. Install “schems” mod to import/export schematic structures.
• Use “phototools” mod to place 2D images (JPEG/PNG) on walls for signage or murals.

8. Troubleshooting & Bugs

• If encountering crashes on startup, delete or rename minetest.conf, then restart to regenerate defaults.
• Check the logs in minetest/.minetest/ folder (for Linux/macOS) or %APPDATA%/.minetest/ (for Windows) for error messages.
• Verify mods are compatible with v5.12.0: outdated mods may cause server/client mismatches.

9. Education & Creative Projects

• Leverage “edu” mod packs to create interactive learning environments (e.g., geography, chemistry).
• Collaborate on “Build It!” challenges (record build tutorials, host community events).

10. Keeping Up‐to-Date

• Subscribe to the official Luanti blog (https://blog.luanti.org) for monthly development roundups.
• Join the “Minetest Developers” PPA or Flatpak for nightly builds if you want bleeding-edge features.

1. Create & Configure a World

• Launch Minetest and click “Start Game.”
• Choose or create a new world: give it a memorable name, select a game (e.g., “Minetest Game”), and click “Create.”
• In “Advanced Settings,” enable “Enable damage” for survival mode or disable it for creative mode. Adjust “Tool Wear” and “Spawn Light” as desired.

2. First Steps & Crafting

• Upon spawning, press F1 (Help) to review basic controls. Use W/A/S/D to move and Mouse Left-Click to dig.
• Punch nearby wood nodes by holding left-click. Collected wood appears in your hotbar.
• Open your inventory with I, place raw wood in the top-left crafting grid to craft wooden planks (4 planks per wood).
• Convert some planks into a Crafting Table (place 4 planks in the entire 2×2 grid).

3. Build Basic Tools

• Place your Crafting Table on the ground (select it in hotbar, right-click).
• Right-click the placed table to open the 3×3 crafting grid.
• Craft sticks (1 plank over another).
• Craft a wooden pickaxe: top row = plank–plank–plank; middle = (empty)–stick–(empty); bottom = (empty)–stick–(empty).
• Use wooden pickaxe to mine stone nodes (cobblestone).

4. Establish Shelter Before Nightfall

• Gather ~20 cobblestone blocks and some wood.
• Dig into the side of a hill or build a cobblestone wall enclosure. Place a wooden door (crafted from 6 planks in two vertical columns) at the entrance.
• Light the interior with torches: craft torches (coal + stick). If coal isn’t available, make charcoal by burning wood in a furnace:
• Create a furnace: 8 cobblestone in doughnut pattern in Crafting Table.
• Place furnace, right-click, place wood above and any scrap stone or coal below.
• Once charcoal appears, craft torches (charcoal + stick).
• Ensure all walls and roof are enclosed to block hostile mob spawn.

5. Gather Food & Resources

• Locate and punch tall grass to collect seeds. Craft seeds into bread (3 seeds horizontally).
• Find animals (chickens or cows) and punch to obtain raw meat. Cook meat in a furnace by placing meat over any fuel.
• Mine deeper: use stone pickaxe to dig down to level –15 to find iron (grey ore with small yellow flecks). Smelt iron ore in furnace for iron ingots.
• Upgrade pickaxe to stone and then iron for faster mining and access to rarer resources (e.g., copper, gold).

6. Exploration & Expansion

• Craft a bed (3 wool + 3 wooden planks) to set your spawn point: place bed on the floor and right-click to sleep through night.
• Craft a boat by placing five planks in a U shape on the Crafting Table; use it to explore across rivers or lakes.
• Build a mine shaft with stair‐style or ladder access: craft ladders (7 sticks in a zigzag pattern) for safer vertical travel.
• Visit villages and temples (default mapgen) to find chests containing rare items (e.g., steel ingots, desert stone).
• Expand your shelter into a base: add storage chests (8 planks + wood slab), decorative walls, windows (crafted from 6 glass in two horizontal rows), and farm plots.

7. Redstone‐Style Contraptions (Optional)

• Craft mesecons mod if installed: gather mese crystals (greyish blocks found underground) to wire switches, pistons, and lamps.
• Use digilines for advanced computing circuits if you have that mod: program digital channels to automate doors or farms.

8. Multiplayer & Servers

• Press “Join Game,” browse “Internet” or “Local Network,” and connect to a friend’s server IP.
• Coordinate base building by designating plots (use colored wool or signs).
• Trade resources by creating a chest system and assigning lockers: place chest, right-click to open, and deposit items.

9. Mod Installation (ContentDB)

• In main menu, click “Content” → “Browse” to open ContentDB.
• Search for mods (e.g., “mobs,” “castle_raid,” “moretrees”) and click “Install.”
• After installing, enable mods in your world’s “Configure” → “Mods” tab.
• Restart the world to load mods; new items and gameplay features appear.

10. Endgame Goals

• If running an adventure-style game (e.g., “MineClone 2”), locate boss dungeons and defeat final boss.
• In pure sandbox, set building challenges: replicate real‐world landmarks, automate an entire farm, create a functioning pixel art AI display with digilines.