VNC (Version Numbering Converter)

Version Numbering Converter (VNC) is a Java library for working with Minecraft versions across both numbering families:

• Classic Java-style versions such as 1.20.6 and 1.21.11
• Year-based drop versions such as 24.1, 25.4, and 26.1.1

It covers two use cases:

• Pure version modeling and conversion through MinecraftVersion, VersionScheme, and MappingTable
• Bukkit/Paper runtime detection through VNC, including server constants, player version resolution, protocol lookup, and version comparisons

Highlights

• Exact historic mappings from 1.0.0 through 1.21.11
• Drop support for current lines such as 25.4, 26.1, and 26.1.1
• Protocol lookup for exact releases and published snapshots
• A runtime bridge for Bukkit/Paper with legacy-compatible constants like SERVER_VERSION
• String-based comparisons that correctly handle patch-sensitive boundaries like 1.20.5

Core API

1. Parse and inspect versions

MinecraftVersion classic = MinecraftVersion.parse("1.21.11");
MinecraftVersion drop = MinecraftVersion.parse("26.1");

classic.isClassic();          // true
classic.getVersion();         // "1.21.11"
classic.getProtocol();        // 774
classic.supportsHex();        // true

drop.isClassic();             // false
drop.getVersion();            // "26.1"
drop.getProtocol();           // 775

2. Convert between numbering schemes

String dropName = VersionScheme.MOJANG.toDrop("1.20.3");      // "23.2"
String classicName = VersionScheme.MOJANG.toClassic("25.2.2"); // "1.21.8"

String customClassic = VersionScheme.CROA_CUSTOM.toClassic("25.4"); // "1.22"
String customDrop = VersionScheme.CROA_CUSTOM.toDrop("1.22.1");     // "25.4.1"

3. Create your own mapping scheme

MappingTable table = new MappingTable()
        .registerLine(30, 1, "1.50", "1.50.1")
        .registerMapping("1.51", "30.2");

VersionScheme scheme = VersionScheme.mapped(table);

scheme.toDrop("1.50.1");   // "30.1.1"
scheme.toClassic("30.2");  // "1.51"

4. Resolve protocols

Integer protocol = MinecraftVersion.protocolForIdentifier("1.20.6");      // 766
Integer snapshot = MinecraftVersion.protocolForIdentifier("26.2-snapshot-3");

MinecraftVersion newest = MinecraftVersion.fromProtocol(754);              // 1.16.5
List<MinecraftVersion> all = MinecraftVersion.versionsForProtocol(767);    // 1.21, 1.21.1

Bukkit / Paper runtime API

VNC exposes a runtime snapshot of the current server:

MinecraftVersion server = VNC.SERVER_MINECRAFT_VERSION;
String classic = VNC.SERVER_CLASSIC_VERSION;
String drop = VNC.SERVER_DROP_VERSION;
int protocol = VNC.SERVER_PROTOCOL;
double legacy = VNC.SERVER_VERSION;

boolean modernRegistry = VNC.isAtLeast("1.20.5");
boolean legacyCommands = VNC.isBefore("1.13");
boolean inRange = VNC.isBetween("1.19", "1.21.11");

Player version resolution uses ViaVersion when present and falls back to the server version otherwise:

MinecraftVersion playerVersion = VNC.player(player);

if (playerVersion.supportsHex()) {
    // Safe to send RGB formatting to this player
}

Why use the string helpers?

SERVER_VERSION is still available for compatibility with older plugins, but patch-sensitive checks should prefer:

VNC.isAtLeast("1.20.5");
VNC.isBefore("1.21.9");
VNC.compare(VNC.SERVER_MINECRAFT_VERSION, "26.1");

That avoids the common limitations of comparing versions only as double.

Requirements

• Java 8+
• For the Bukkit runtime helpers: a Bukkit/Paper-compatible runtime on the classpath
• Optional: ViaVersion, if you want VNC.player(...) to resolve the effective client version instead of the server version