Minecraft plugin BlueMap

🔌 About BlueMap

BlueMap — is a Minecraft mapping tool and plugin that renders 3D models of your Minecraft Java‑Edition worlds and serves them in a browser‑based web viewer. BlueMap can run as a Spigot/Paper plugin, a Fabric or Forge mod, a Sponge plugin or as a standalone CLI application. BlueMap generates map data, hosts a small webserver to serve the web app and map tiles, and can update maps as the server world changes.

🎯 Purpose

BlueMap solves the need for an interactive, visual representation of a Minecraft world that is viewable in a browser. It helps staff and players inspect terrain, builds and overlays without joining the server or using external screenshot tools.

BlueMap is intended for: world‑visualization, public server maps, admin inspection, and project showcases on servers that run Java‑edition worlds.

⚙ Main features

• Renders 3D models and map tiles from Minecraft Java‑Edition world files.
• Built‑in web viewer and small integrated webserver to serve the map app and tiles.
• Runs as plugin/mod (Spigot/Paper, Fabric, Forge, Sponge) or standalone CLI (headless render + webserver). ()
• Automatic detection and initial configuration for worlds found on the server.
• Support for storing map data on external SQL servers (optional storage backend). ()

🧩 Who should use BlueMap

BlueMap is suitable for server owners, administrators and map curators who want a browser‑accessible 3D map experience for Java‑edition Minecraft worlds. It fits Survival, Creative and public community servers where a live or periodically updated map is desirable.

🏗 Usage examples

• Host a public map of your survival server so players can preview builds.
• Admins inspect chunk generation, light problems or world layout without flying in‑game.
• Use BlueMap CLI in CI/Docker to pre‑render a world and expose a static map site.

⌨️ Commands

Notes: the commands above are the official plugin/mod commands documented in the BlueMap wiki; in many setups only server operators or users with the specific permission node can run reload/delete commands. The wiki contains the full commands & permission reference. ()

🔐 Permissions

If you need exact default assignments for each permission node, check your server's permission manager or the BlueMap wiki/commands page because the wiki lists the permission nodes but does not enumerate default true/op/false values in a single table. ()

⚙ Installation

📥 Installation (basic)

• Ensure you run Java 21 or newer and use a Minecraft Java‑Edition world (BlueMap does not support Bedrock worlds). ()
• Download the BlueMap jar that matches your platform (plugin/mod/CLI).
• Place the jar in plugins/ (Spigot/Paper/Sponge) or mods/ (Forge/Fabric) or in a chosen CLI directory.
• Start/restart the server — BlueMap will generate config files and preconfigure one map per world found.
• Edit core.conf to accept resource downloads from Mojang (accept-download = true) and set webserver.conf to the port you will use for the web UI. ()

📦 Dependencies

• BlueMap does not require external plugins to run for basic mapping.
• When integrating with other systems (e.g., addons that show players, markers or external data), third‑party addons may require a Paper/Purpur/Folia variant or a separate plugin. (Check the BlueMap wiki and addon docs for specific integration requirements.) ()

🧾 Configuration

• BlueMap creates a ./plugins/BlueMap/ (or ./config/bluemap/ for mods/CLI) folder with configuration files on first run. ()
• You must configure the webserver port (separate from Minecraft port) and accept Mojang resource downloads in core.conf to enable web assets.
• Map storage: by default map data is stored in the webroot (./bluemap/web/maps); you can configure SQL storage (external DB) in the storages/sql.conf and set per‑map storage: "sql" in map configs. ()

🧠 Additional information

Known limitations and notes

• BlueMap supports Java‑Edition world files only (no Bedrock). ()
• BlueMap requires an extra open port for the web UI (configure webserver.conf). ()
• Rendering large worlds can be resource‑intensive; use SQL storage or purge/limit render ranges for large maps. ()

FAQ

Q: Can I run BlueMap without a Minecraft server? A: Yes — BlueMap can run as a standalone CLI application to render and serve maps. Use the CLI jar to render and -w to start the bundled webserver. ()

Q: Does BlueMap support storing maps in a database? A: Yes — the wiki documents an SQL storage backend and steps to migrate maps to SQL. ()

Q: Is there a support Discord? A: The BlueMap help command and wiki reference a support Discord for community help. See /bluemap help or the BlueMap wiki for where to join. ()

Q: Does BlueMap collect usage stats (bStats)? A: Information about telemetry/statistics collection is not stated in the relevant BlueMap wiki pages consulted. (Information absent in official docs.)

🤝 When BlueMap is useful

If you want a browser‑accessible, interactive 3D map for your Minecraft Java worlds — for players or for server administration — BlueMap is a proven option that renders in‑game data into a navigable web map and offers plugin/mod/CLI deployment paths. ()