minecraft-datapack-language 4.2.0

Compile a tiny MDL language or Python API into a Minecraft datapack (1.21+ ready).

Minecraft Datapack Language (MDL)

A tiny compiler that lets you write Minecraft datapacks in a simple language (.mdl) or via a clean Python API, and then compiles to the correct 1.21+ datapack folder layout (singular directories) automatically.

• ✅ Handles the directory renames from snapshots 24w19a (tag subfolders) and 24w21a (core registry folders) for you.
• ✅ Easy hooks into minecraft:tick and minecraft:load via function tags.
• ✅ Creates tags for function, item, block, entity_type, fluid, and game_event.
• ✅ VS Code extension for syntax highlighting, linting, and quick compile.

Why?

1. Stop memorizing folder names: write code, not scaffolding.
2. Version-aware: pass the pack_format, and MDL emits the right folders.
3. Flexible: use .mdl or Python to build complex packs.

MDL uses pack_format >= 48 (Java 1.21) by default (singular names like function, advancement, recipe).
Set --pack-format 47 to emit the legacy plural layout for older versions.

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Install

Option A — from PyPI (recommended for users)

Global, isolated CLI via pipx:

python3 -m pip install --user pipx
python3 -m pipx ensurepath    # reopen terminal
pipx install minecraft-datapack-language

mdl --help

Virtualenv (if you prefer):

python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate      # Windows: .\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1
pip install minecraft-datapack-language

Option B — from source (for contributors)

# inside the repo
python -m pip install -e .

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Update

• pipx: pipx upgrade minecraft-datapack-language
• pip (venv): pip install -U minecraft-datapack-language
• Pin a version: pipx install "minecraft-datapack-language==1.1.0"

---

CLI

mdl new my_pack --name "My Pack" --pack-format 48
mdl check my_pack/mypack.mdl
mdl build --mdl my_pack/mypack.mdl -o dist --wrapper mypack --pack-format 48
# → dist/mypack/... and dist/mypack.zip

Build a whole folder of .mdl files

mdl build --mdl src/ -o dist
# Recursively parses src/**/*.mdl, merges into one pack (errors on duplicate functions).

Validate a folder (JSON diagnostics)

mdl check --json src/

---

.mdl language (minimal)

pack "My Pack" description "Demo" pack_format 48

namespace "demo"

function "hello":
    say Hello from MDL!
    tellraw @a {"text":"tick!","color":"green"}

on_load "demo:hello"
on_tick "demo:hello"

# Tag another function to run every tick (from anywhere)
tag function "minecraft:tick":
    add "demo:hello"

Python API

from minecraft_datapack_language import Pack

def create_pack():
    p = Pack("My Pack", description="Example", pack_format=48)
    ns = p.namespace("demo")

    ns.function("hello",
        'say Hello from Python API',
        'tellraw @a {"text":"tick!","color":"aqua"}'
    )
    p.on_tick("demo:hello")
    p.on_load("demo:hello")

    # Item tag
    p.tag("item", "minecraft:swords", values=["minecraft:diamond_sword", "minecraft:netherite_sword"])

    return p

Build:

python -c "import my_pack; from minecraft_datapack_language.cli import main as M; M(['build','--py-module','my_pack','-o','dist','--pack-format','48','--wrapper','mypack'])"

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VS Code

Open vscode-extension/, run:

npm i
# Press F5 to launch the Extension Dev Host

• Highlights .mdl
• Runs mdl check on save and shows inline diagnostics
• MDL: Build current file prompts for output folder and optional wrapper
• MDL: Check Workspace validates the whole workspace

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CI & Releases

• CI runs on push/PR across Linux/macOS/Windows and uploads artifacts.
• Release is triggered by pushing a tag like v1.0.0 or via the Release workflow manually.
• Versions are derived from git tags via setuptools-scm; tag vX.Y.Z → package version X.Y.Z.

Local release helper

# requires GitHub CLI: gh auth login
./scripts/release.sh patch  "Fixes"
./scripts/release.sh minor  "Features"
./scripts/release.sh major  "Breaking"
./scripts/release.sh v1.2.3 "Exact version"