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Quilt is a modern, community-driven modding platform that forked from Fabric. It maintains compatibility with many Fabric mods while offering enhanced features, better tooling, and community governance.

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Overview

Quilt offers several advantages:
  • Fabric Compatibility: Many Fabric mods work with Quilt
  • Enhanced Features: Additional APIs and improvements over Fabric
  • Community Driven: Open governance and inclusive development
  • Modern Toolchain: Improved developer tools and documentation
  • Active Development: Regular updates and community support
Quilt aims to be compatible with Fabric mods, but not all Fabric mods are guaranteed to work. Check mod compatibility before deploying.

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Configuration

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Basic Setup

services:
  minecraft:
    image: itzg/minecraft-server
    environment:
      EULA: "TRUE"
      TYPE: QUILT
      VERSION: "1.20.4"
    ports:
      - "25565:25565"
    volumes:
      - ./data:/data
    restart: unless-stopped

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Version Selection

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Automatic Latest Versions

By default, Quilt installs the latest launcher and loader: 
environment:
  TYPE: QUILT
  VERSION: "1.20.4"  # Minecraft version
This automatically:
  • Downloads the latest Quilt server launcher
  • Installs the latest Quilt loader via quilt-installer
  • Uses the specified Minecraft version (or latest if omitted)

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Specific Loader Version

Select a specific Quilt loader version: 
environment:
  TYPE: QUILT
  VERSION: "1.20.4"
  QUILT_LOADER_VERSION: "0.16.0"

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Specific Installer Version

Select a specific Quilt installer version: 
environment:
  TYPE: QUILT
  VERSION: "1.20.4"
  QUILT_LOADER_VERSION: "0.16.0"
  QUILT_INSTALLER_VERSION: "0.4.1"

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Environment Variables

VariableDefaultDescription
TYPE-Set to QUILT
VERSIONlatestMinecraft version (e.g., 1.20.4)
QUILT_LOADER_VERSIONlatestQuilt loader version
QUILT_INSTALLER_VERSIONlatestQuilt installer version
QUILT_LAUNCHER-Path to custom launcher JAR (relative to /data)
QUILT_LAUNCHER_URL-URL to download custom launcher

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Mod Management

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Manual Mod Installation

Place Quilt and compatible Fabric mods in the mods directory:
1

Mount mods directory

volumes:
  - ./data:/data
  - ./mods:/data/mods
2

Download mods

Download Quilt or Fabric-compatible mods from:
3

Add mod files

Place .jar files in ./mods/ directory.
4

Restart server

docker restart minecraft-quilt

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Auto-Download from Modrinth

Automatically download Quilt-compatible mods: 
environment:
  TYPE: QUILT
  VERSION: "1.20.4"
  MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
    qsl
    lithium
    phosphor
When using Quilt, look for mods that explicitly support Quilt or are compatible with both Fabric and Quilt.

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Quilt Standard Libraries (QSL)

QSL is Quilt’s equivalent to Fabric API. Many Quilt mods require it: 
environment:
  TYPE: QUILT
  VERSION: "1.20.4"
  MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
    qsl

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Custom Launcher

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Custom Launcher from URL

environment:
  TYPE: QUILT
  QUILT_LAUNCHER_URL: "http://your-server.com/quilt-server-custom.jar"

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Custom Launcher from File

Use a custom launcher JAR (path relative to /data): 
environment:
  TYPE: QUILT
  QUILT_LAUNCHER: "quilt-server-custom.jar"
volumes:
  - ./quilt-server-custom.jar:/data/quilt-server-custom.jar

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Essential Libraries

environment:
  TYPE: QUILT
  MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
    qsl              # Quilt Standard Libraries
    quilted-fabric-api  # Fabric API compatibility layer

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Performance Optimization

environment:
  MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
    qsl
    lithium          # Server optimization (compatible)
    phosphor         # Lighting optimization (compatible)
    ferritecore      # Memory optimization (compatible)
    krypton          # Network optimization (compatible)

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Server Management

environment:
  MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
    qsl
    luckperms        # Permissions (compatible)
    chunky           # Pre-generation (compatible)

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Complete Production Example

docker-compose.yml
services:
  minecraft:
    image: itzg/minecraft-server
    container_name: minecraft-quilt
    
    environment:
      # Server Type
      EULA: "TRUE"
      TYPE: QUILT
      VERSION: "1.20.4"
      QUILT_LOADER_VERSION: "0.16.0"
      QUILT_INSTALLER_VERSION: "0.4.1"
      
      # Auto-install QSL and optimization mods
      MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
        qsl
        quilted-fabric-api
        lithium
        phosphor
        ferritecore
        krypton
      
      # Server Settings
      MOTD: "A Quilt Minecraft Server"
      DIFFICULTY: normal
      MODE: survival
      MAX_PLAYERS: 50
      VIEW_DISTANCE: 12
      SIMULATION_DISTANCE: 8
      
      # Performance
      MEMORY: 6G
      USE_AIKAR_FLAGS: "true"
      
      # World
      LEVEL: "world"
      SEED: "quilt-world"
      
      # Security
      ENABLE_WHITELIST: "false"
      ONLINE_MODE: "true"
    
    ports:
      - "25565:25565"
    
    volumes:
      - ./data:/data
      - ./mods:/data/mods
      - ./config:/data/config
    
    restart: unless-stopped
    
    stdin_open: true
    tty: true

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Fabric Compatibility

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Compatible Fabric Mods

Many Fabric mods work with Quilt:
  • Performance mods (Lithium, Phosphor, FerriteCore)
  • Utility mods (LuckPerms, Chunky)
  • Some content mods

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Using Fabric API Compatibility

For Fabric mods that require Fabric API: 
environment:
  MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
    qsl
    quilted-fabric-api  # Provides Fabric API compatibility

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Checking Compatibility

Always verify mod compatibility:
  1. Check mod page for Quilt support
  2. Look for “Fabric” and “Quilt” tags on Modrinth
  3. Test mods in development environment first
  4. Check mod dependencies

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Configuration Files

Quilt mods use the same configuration structure as Fabric: 
volumes:
  - ./data:/data
  - ./config:/data/config
Configuration files are stored in:
  • ./config/mod-name.toml
  • ./config/mod-name/

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Performance Tuning

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Memory Allocation

environment:
  MEMORY: 6G  # For modded servers with 20-30 players
  USE_AIKAR_FLAGS: "true"
PlayersModsRecommended RAM
1-10Light4GB
10-20Medium6GB
20-50Medium8GB
50+Heavy12GB+

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Performance Mods

environment:
  MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
    qsl
    lithium        # Overall performance
    phosphor       # Lighting performance
    ferritecore    # Memory reduction
    krypton        # Network performance
    starlight      # Lighting engine

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Troubleshooting

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Mod Compatibility Issues

Problem: Fabric mod not working with Quilt Solution:
  1. Install quilted-fabric-api: 
    MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
  qsl
  quilted-fabric-api
  2. Check mod page for Quilt compatibility
  3. Look for Quilt-specific version of the mod

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Missing QSL

Problem: Mods failing to load Solution: Ensure QSL is installed: 
environment:
  MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
    qsl

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Version Mismatch

Problem: Loader version incompatibility Solution: Specify compatible versions: 
environment:
  VERSION: "1.20.4"
  QUILT_LOADER_VERSION: "0.16.0"

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Migration Guide

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From Fabric to Quilt

1

Backup your server

docker stop minecraft
cp -r ./data ./data-backup
2

Update server type

environment:
  TYPE: QUILT  # Changed from FABRIC
  VERSION: "1.20.4"
  MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
    qsl
    quilted-fabric-api  # For Fabric mod compatibility
3

Verify mods

Check that your Fabric mods are compatible with Quilt. Most will work with quilted-fabric-api.
4

Start server

docker-compose up -d

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From Vanilla to Quilt

1

Backup your world

docker stop minecraft
cp -r ./data ./data-backup
2

Configure Quilt

environment:
  TYPE: QUILT
  VERSION: "1.20.4"
  MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
    qsl
3

Start server

docker-compose up -d
Your vanilla world will work with Quilt.
Players must install Quilt and required mods on their clients to connect to a Quilt server.

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Quilt vs Fabric

FeatureFabricQuilt
Mod CompatibilityFabric onlyFabric + Quilt
Update SpeedFastFast
PerformanceExcellentExcellent
CommunityLargeGrowing
GovernanceCentralizedCommunity-driven
ToolingGoodEnhanced
API FeaturesStandardExtended

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Next Steps

Modrinth Integration

Auto-download Quilt mods from Modrinth

Fabric Server

Compare with Fabric server

Mod Configuration

Learn about mod configuration

Hybrid Servers

Run mods with plugins

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