Prepairing Launch of Minecraft:Advanced! [not Mojang]

[Silicate Wielder]

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/66928589/MCA/logo_large.png

Okay, I'm testing some things with a Java Decompiler i just got and partially figured out how Mojangs updater system works. anyways Minecraft's updater system is going to be useful in helping me rebuild a clone of their databases, which in return will allow for rewriting of the minecraft Client.

If someone can help me figure out their updating xml document PM me and I will give you the link to it.

EDIT:
found out waht files are used, now to upload the server clone and compile the new launcher, then I will start working on advanced block or tool creation

[TheMatrix]

I still didn't know it was that easy to decompile the Java class files. Well, if it's free(as in, more or less sounds like the GPL), I might even try it out.
That is, if you plan to distribute it.

[Darknova8]

Same, I'll try it to.

[Silicate Wielder]

I use JD GUI for decompiling, however I'm still looking into Java compilers. right now I just use notepad for editing my code. if someone can suggest a java studio and/or compiler that would be great, however it should be a small download, it takes me an hour to download a 75Mb file.

[darkwoon]

Hum, I'm not sure if you were aware of that, but a lot of retro-engineering work has already been performed. Check The Minecraft Coalition Wiki (http://wiki.vg/Main_Page) and, of course, their IRC channel on FreeNode. There are also tons of informations available on Spout's website (http://www.spout.org) - note that they are already developing a GPLed clone of Minecraft (actually, they are trying to develop an even broader platform for voxel-based games, of which Minecraft is just an example of).

Decompiling Java code is pretty easy. What is usually not is understanding how the source code you get works, since it is usually obfuscated in most non-free programs.

I don't quite understand why you want to decompile the client - if your goal is to create a new client or a clone server, what you actually need to do is to grab the network exchanges performed with a tool like Wireshark (and anyway, the protocol has already been decoded - see the links above).

As for a good Java IDE, I like Netbeans, but Eclipse is also good. For a lightweight editor, Notepad++ or JEdit are worth looking at. And of course, the usuals: emacs and vi :). As for the java compilers, well, why not simply use javac from the official JDK/OpenJDK 7 ? Unless you have very specific needs, you don't need any third-party compiler.