BetterModel

⚡Lightweight BlockBench model engine for Bukkit

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This plugin implements the fully server-side 3D model by using an item-display packet.

• Importing Generic BlockBench model (.bbmodel)
• Auto-generating resource pack
• Playing animation
• Syncing with base entity
• Custom hit box
• Supports 12-limb player animation

🔥Why do I create BetterModel even though ModelEngine already exists?

The main reason I created it is:

• To reduce traffic usage—MEG’s traffic optimization is outdated and insufficient for modern servers.
• To enable faster updates—We can’t afford to wait for MEG’s slow update cycle anymore.
• To provide a more flexible API—MEG is closed-source with a very limited API, which makes extending or integrating difficult.
• To restore vanilla behavior-MEG breaks several vanilla entity features and physics, which this project aims to fix.

Also, you can refer my document to compare both ModelEnigne and BetterModel.

🛞General model/animation

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This plugin, of course, implements a Generic BlockBench model with animation.

Network optimization

• Culling by sight-trace
• Skip sending a packet if a scale is zero
• Parallel bundling of an animation packet
• Keyframe optimization

You can see the report of network optimization in here.

Custom hitbox

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This plugin provides custom hitbox both client and server. (tracking animation rotation)

MythicMobs support

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Like MEG, This plugin supports MythicMobs, you can use some MEG's mechanics in BetterModel too.

💡Player model/animation

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This plugin supports player model with using user's custom skin without textures.

🚀Plugin support

Platform

• Spigot
• Paper or a fork (e.g., Folia)

⚠️Paper is highly recommended.

Version

• Java 21
• Minecraft server 1.20.5-1.21.8

Command

/bettermodel reload — Reloads this plugin.  
/bettermodel spawn <model> — Summons this model to husk.  
/bettermodel disguise <model> — disguises self.  
/bettermodel undisguise [model] — undisguises self  
/bettermodel play <model> <animation> — Plays player animation.
/bettermodel test <model> <animation> [player] [location] — Tests some model's animation to specific player

🔧Build info

Library

• Kotlin stdlib: modern functional programming
• semver4j: semver parser
• CommandAPI: command
• adventure: component
• stable player display: player animation
• expiringmap: concurrent map cache
• DynamicUV: player model-uv
• molang-compiler: compiling and evaluating molang expression

Build

./gradlew build

API

We are using maven central.

repositories {
    mavenCentral()
}

dependencies {
    compileOnly("io.github.toxicity188:BetterModel:VERSION")
}