For those still playing Minecraft, you may know that Mojang is working on a new launcher that doesn't use Java (hooray!), but it might not run on Linux (boo!).
I spoke to Nathan Adams one of the Minecraft developers on twitter who said this:
@gamingonlinux No official plans for linux, old launcher will continue to be updated for them. I'm gonna try anyway though, but no promises!
— Nathan Adams (@Dinnerbone) July 26, 2016
Thanks for the prompt response Nathan!
The good news is obviously the old launcher won't suddenly cease to function, but it's sad to see, as Linux sounds like it is essentially getting sidelined with no official plans for the newer launcher. One day the Linux java-based launcher may stop seeing any updates, and the new one will obviously have newer features that may eventually become required.
I highly suggest looking up one of the open source alternatives like Minetest, Voxelands, Terasology and others.
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Is this even legal?
11 Likes, Who?
Wait, people still use the vanilla launcher instead of a modpack one like FTB, ATLauncher, etc.?
... wait, people still play vanilla? :P
Yeah, I don't think this is going to be as big of a deal as it's made out to be. There's ways to launch Minecraft right off the command line - it's just a Java app. If for whatever reason the official Mojang one stops working, there'll be alternatives abound.
It depends what the new launcher is written in - if it's Java as well, then I can't see it being difficult to support Linux with it. They probably just don't test it that well.
... wait, people still play vanilla? :P
Yeah, I don't think this is going to be as big of a deal as it's made out to be. There's ways to launch Minecraft right off the command line - it's just a Java app. If for whatever reason the official Mojang one stops working, there'll be alternatives abound.
It depends what the new launcher is written in - if it's Java as well, then I can't see it being difficult to support Linux with it. They probably just don't test it that well.
3 Likes, Who?
This is exactly what I suspected would happen when Microsoft bought Mojang. Linux eventually getting f***ed....
I deleted my Minecraft account the day the purchase was made public
I deleted my Minecraft account the day the purchase was made public
6 Likes, Who?
Can't really see why some folk are disgruntled with Java, it's a good programming language. Swing (default Java UI System) is indeed horrible. What they replacing it with: JavaFX, Qt?
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the old launcher is fine, at least they are keeping it up to date. although I rarely play these days, ever once in a while when I get the wild hair to build something. but that's about it.
2 Likes, Who?
the old launcher is fine, at least they are keeping it up to date. although I rarely play these days, ever once in a while when I get the wild hair to build something. but that's about it.
The default gui framework is swing, i'm not entirely sure what minecraft uses though.
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Is this even legal?
Er, yes. I mean, why wouldn't it be? It's their game, they're free to do whatever they want with it.
Anyway... good thing there are a bunch of alternatives, though some of them might need a bit more work on the game feel.
1 Likes, Who?
Luke_Nukem 26 Jul 2016
Is this even legal?
Er, yes. I mean, why wouldn't it be? It's their game, they're free to do whatever they want with it.
Anyway... good thing there are a bunch of alternatives, though some of them might need a bit more work on the game feel.
There are plenty of great ones. Just need more people to contribute to them.
1 Likes, Who?
I hope this isn't the same BS that Microsoft pulls with Steam on Linux. Leave the linux userbase with an older, less features, and barely functioning version of skype to deter people from switching platforms from windows.
1 Likes, Who?
Wait, people still use the vanilla launcher instead of a modpack one like FTB, ATLauncher, etc.?
... wait, people still play vanilla? :P
Yeah, I don't think this is going to be as big of a deal as it's made out to be. There's ways to launch Minecraft right off the command line - it's just a Java app. If for whatever reason the official Mojang one stops working, there'll be alternatives abound.
It depends what the new launcher is written in - if it's Java as well, then I can't see it being difficult to support Linux with it. They probably just don't test it that well.
The launcher is not only used to launch the game, it also handles i.e upgrades and authentication with the Mojang servers.
Last edited by F.Ultra on 26 Jul 2016 at 9:25 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
Mh.
Mojang bought by Microsoft -> multi-platform support no longer a priority...
Surprise. No one saw that coming.
Mojang bought by Microsoft -> multi-platform support no longer a priority...
Surprise. No one saw that coming.
8 Likes, Who?
GustyGhost 27 Jul 2016
They are in the early stages of deteriorating Linux support as with anything else MS-acquired (see: Skype...). This is planned and while they may not outright break Minecraft on Linux, they will slowly ensure it stays several steps behind and an becomes eventual pain to use. This is why I had taken up interest in Minetest back when the sellout occurred and I encourage everyone else to give it a try.
2 Likes, Who?
Mh.
Mojang bought by Microsoft -> multi-platform support no longer a priority...
Surprise. No one saw that coming.
Yep. Thanks for stealing my post before I could make it X-)
1 Likes, Who?
The launcher is not only used to launch the game, it also handles i.e upgrades and authentication with the Mojang servers.Of course - and both of those are also currently handled with the FTB Launcher, ATLauncher, Technic, etc. etc., which are all Java based. The main travesty would be if they decide to mess with the 'legacy' authentication system further and break compatibility with those launchers. At which point a very large, vocal chunk of the community would have their heads (i.e. every modded Minecraft player).
Absolute worst case, Mojang/MS decides to crap all over everything? The existing code is out there, and in Java. It may be obfuscated, but that hasn't stopped e.g. Forge from being able to abstract out standardized hooks. They pretty much are the de facto modding API now. I'd expect a bunch of pirate auth servers to pop up instead, or server ops to just set 'online-mode=false' in server.properties (bypass/skip Mojang's auth servers) and find some other sort of plugin to protect op accounts. Heck, that probably already exists. 'Install this mod on server + client, then ops have to auth with some kind of encryption key directly with the server when in offline mode'.
This isn't a great direction to be going in, but in no way shape or form will this kill the existing PC (and yes, I mean Win/Mac/Linux, not that Win10 garbage) Minecraft ecosystem. :)
1 Likes, Who?
FTB Launcher is being deprecated, and will be replaced by the Curse one, that uses the vanilla launcher to launch the game. If there is a different one for Linux and one for Mac+Windows Curse will not make an update only for Linux so...
Last edited by bgh251f2 on 27 Jul 2016 at 2:02 am UTC
Last edited by bgh251f2 on 27 Jul 2016 at 2:02 am UTC
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That still leaves the code from the old launcher or other modpack ones to be adapted, plus, right from the FTB homepage:
"Finally, work has started to test the viability of a Linux based client. The Curse dev team has a few Linux enthusiasts among them, so they're really excited about bringing the app to Linux."
I'm sure something will be sorted out. This is not any reason to panic. :)
"Finally, work has started to test the viability of a Linux based client. The Curse dev team has a few Linux enthusiasts among them, so they're really excited about bringing the app to Linux."
I'm sure something will be sorted out. This is not any reason to panic. :)
1 Likes, Who?
I'm using MultiMC, so I'm not directly affected ... yet.
I have the feeling that there will be more and more "inconveniences". It won't break. But similar to Skype Minecraft will be more and more "behind" the Windows version. The community will surely find its way around some things - things that should be the responsibility of Microsoft/Mojang.
Super interesting will be the final release of the unified "Windows 10"/Pocket/XBOX editions. Will we get it (officially; not as community-ported Android version)? Will it run well? We'll see. But I have a bad feeling.
I have the feeling that there will be more and more "inconveniences". It won't break. But similar to Skype Minecraft will be more and more "behind" the Windows version. The community will surely find its way around some things - things that should be the responsibility of Microsoft/Mojang.
Super interesting will be the final release of the unified "Windows 10"/Pocket/XBOX editions. Will we get it (officially; not as community-ported Android version)? Will it run well? We'll see. But I have a bad feeling.
1 Likes, Who?
Blauer_Hunger 27 Jul 2016
I'm using MultiMC, so I'm not directly affected ... yet.
I have the feeling that there will be more and more "inconveniences". It won't break. But similar to Skype Minecraft will be more and more "behind" the Windows version. The community will surely find its way around some things - things that should be the responsibility of Microsoft/Mojang.
Those inconveniences ... what did Tim Sweeney say recently about Windows 10 and Steam? ( https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/epic-games-founder-thinks-microsoft-will-essentially-break-steam-in-later-versions-of-windows-10.7731 )
I think that's part of Microsoft's "embrace, extend and extinguish"-strategy: First, they make gaming on windows more and more convenient, then they add some features (UWP, Windows Store, forced upgrades, ...), and then make steam work not as well as gamers want to force them to use Windows Store. And if that doesn't help, they use the forced upgrades to trigger the kill switch for Steam.
What happens now with Minecraft might be a part of that strategy, too. They already got the "extend" part done by Mojang before MS bought them, now, they are going to extend it (new launcher, probably more later), and then they're going to kill legacy, linux-compatible launchers for example by removing native lwjgl-so files or by creating another authentication.
Last edited by Blauer_Hunger on 27 Jul 2016 at 9:01 am UTC
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I think they will just ditch java after some time altogether, some of the non-original ports are written in other languages already. I would expect them to drop linux and maybe mac support at that point. Which is sad to see, they were a pretty nice company before Notch sold them to M$. That said, there are alternatives, that run better on linux and just need some love. (voxelands for example)
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