Introduction to With Json: Modding Minecraft Without Java
Minecraft modding has always been a playground for creativity, but the barrier of learning Java can stop many builders from turning their ideas into reality. The With Json mod flips that script entirely. It lets you define new items, foods, blocks, tools, weapons, recipes, and even custom creative tabs using nothing but JSON files. If you have ever wished you could tweak Minecraft’s mechanics or add your own content without writing a single line of Java code, this mod delivers exactly that feeling of coding directly in JSON.
What Can You Create Using JSON?
The core promise of With Json is simple: you write structured JSON documents, and the mod reads them to inject fresh content into your game. This approach opens up a world of possibilities for map makers, server admins, and casual tinkerers who want to personalize their Minecraft experience. Here is a breakdown of what you can achieve right now.
Items, Foods, and Blocks
You can design entirely new items with custom textures, names, and properties. Want a mythical fruit that grants night vision? Define its hunger restoration and saturation values in a JSON object. Need a decorative block that glows like sea lanterns but looks like ancient stone? Specify its block model, light level, and hardness. The mod handles the registration, so your creations appear in the game just like vanilla content. This is especially powerful for Fabric servers where data packs already handle many functions, but With Json fills the gaps for items and blocks that data packs cannot easily add.
Tools, Weapons, and Recipes
Beyond simple blocks and items, you can craft tools and weapons with custom attack damage, mining speeds, and durability. A JSON file can define a sword that deals extra damage to undead mobs or a pickaxe that mines only in specific biomes. Recipe manipulation is equally flexible: you can add new crafting recipes or delete existing ones to rebalance your server’s economy. This means you can overhaul the entire crafting system without touching Java, making it a favorite for modpack creators who want lightweight customization.
Custom Creative Tabs
Organizing your custom items becomes effortless with the ability to create new creative inventory tabs. Instead of scattering your additions across miscellaneous categories, you can group them under a dedicated tab with a unique icon. This small feature makes large JSON-based mods feel polished and professional, keeping the player’s inventory screen clean and intuitive.
How With Json Works on Fabric and Forge
With Json is primarily designed for the Fabric mod loader, where it shines by complementing the existing data pack system. In Fabric, some features like custom blocks and items are not natively available through data packs, so this mod steps in to provide that missing layer. The JSON files you create are placed in a specific config folder, and the mod parses them at startup, registering everything automatically. For Forge, however, the developer has chosen not to expand support because the JsonThings mod already offers a more mature and feature-rich JSON modding environment on that platform. If you are playing on Forge, JsonThings is the recommended alternative, and With Json is not a port of that mod—so Thingpacks made for JsonThings will not work here.
Future Plans: Expanding JSON Modding Possibilities
The developer has an ambitious roadmap that could turn With Json into a full-fledged modding framework. Planned features include the ability to create custom events, enchantments, and potions entirely through JSON. Imagine scripting a world event that triggers a thunderstorm when a player enters a specific biome, or designing a new enchantment that lets tools auto-smelt blocks. There are also plans to generate custom trees and place them naturally in world generation, craft armor sets with unique attributes, and even package entire JSON mods into standalone JAR files. A particularly interesting goal is enabling the use of custom creative tabs in the vanilla Minecraft interface, which would make JSON mods feel even more integrated. While these features are still on the to-do list, the current version already provides a solid foundation for JSON-based modding.
Getting Started with With Json
Diving into With Json is straightforward. The mod’s documentation includes a readme file and example packs for both Minecraft 1.7.10 and modern Fabric versions. These examples serve as templates, showing you exactly how to structure your JSON to create items, blocks, and recipes. For a seamless installation experience, the foxygame.net launcher offers a convenient, flexible, and modern Minecraft launcher where you can download mods like With Json right from the menu, eliminating the need to manually place files in your mods folder. Once installed, you simply drop your custom JSON files into the designated config directory, and the mod handles the rest. No compilation, no Java IDE—just your text editor and a clear understanding of the JSON schema.
With Json vs. JsonThings: Choosing the Right Tool
If you are exploring JSON-driven modding, you will inevitably encounter JsonThings, a more established mod for Forge. With Json is not a competitor but rather a focused alternative for Fabric users. JsonThings offers a broader set of features and a well-documented Thingpack format, making it the go-to choice for complex Forge mods. With Json, on the other hand, keeps things lightweight and aligns closely with Fabric’s philosophy of modular, data-driven design. The two mods are not compatible, so you cannot use a Thingpack from JsonThings in With Json. Your choice depends on your mod loader and how deep you want to go: Fabric players who need simple item and block additions will find With Json perfectly suited, while Forge users should stick with JsonThings for its richer ecosystem.
Conclusion: Is With Json Right for Your Minecraft World?
With Json brings the joy of modding to anyone comfortable with JSON, removing the Java learning curve entirely. It excels at adding custom items, blocks, tools, and recipes on Fabric servers, and its planned features promise even greater creative freedom. While it may not replace full Java mods for complex mechanics, it fills a crucial niche for lightweight, data-driven customization. Whether you are building a themed adventure map, tweaking a private server, or just experimenting with new game mechanics, With Json lets you shape Minecraft with the same logic you would use to configure a data pack—only now, the possibilities stretch far beyond commands and loot tables. Give it a try, study the examples, and start writing your own Minecraft content in pure JSON.