Recipe GUI (Vanilla, CraftTweaker, KubeJS)
Datapack tinkering and script writing are powerful, but staring at raw JSON or a wall of ZenScript just to add one shaped recipe gets old fast. Recipe GUI (Vanilla, CraftTweaker, KubeJS) solves that problem by giving pack authors a visual, in-game interface for building and editing recipes without leaving Minecraft. If you have ever mistyped a single ingredient ID and spent twenty minutes hunting for the error, this add-on was made for you.
What Recipe GUI (Vanilla, CraftTweaker, KubeJS) Does
At its core, the mod adds a graphical recipe editor that opens directly inside the game. Instead of hand-writing recipe files, you drag items into a grid, set the output, and let the mod generate the correct code. The original feature set covers full Vanilla recipe creation, with the exception of smithing recipes, which are handled separately by the game's own systems.
For modded content, the add-on reaches beyond Vanilla through JSON recipe support. That support requires the Load My Resources mod to be installed alongside it, since JSON recipes need that library to function properly. Once both are present, you gain access to a much wider range of machines and crafting types.
Supported Recipe Types
- Avaritia Extreme Crafting, including shapeless variants
- Avaritia Compressor recipes
- Applied Energistics 2 Inscriber Press and Inscribe recipes
- Draconic Evolution Fusion Crafting on 1.16.5
- AE2 Grinder recipes on 1.16.5
The scope grows with each version. On 1.16.5, the mod supports KubeJS and CraftTweaker for Vanilla recipes, plus Draconic Evolution Fusion Crafting. With Load My Resources installed, JSON recipes open up for AE2 Inscriber and Grinder machines. On 1.18.2, Vanilla recipes work through CraftTweaker, and Load My Resources unlocks AE2 Inscriber recipes along with Avaritia Extreme Crafting and Compressor recipes.
Opening the Editor In-Game
Access changed between builds, so check which version you are running. In version 0.0.3, you open the interface with the command /ctg. Starting with version 0.0.4, the command became /r_gui. Both commands bring up the same editing window, and the mod's wiki offers a far more detailed walkthrough than any summary can provide.
If you prefer a frictionless setup, the foxygame.net launcher handles the busywork: it lists Recipe GUI (Vanilla, CraftTweaker, KubeJS) in its add-on catalog and installs it with a single click, so you skip manual file placement entirely. That convenience matters when a pack depends on several libraries at once.
Minecraft Versions and Mod Loaders
Recipe GUI (Vanilla, CraftTweaker, KubeJS) for Minecraft is built for the Forge mod loader, and the two actively maintained branches target Minecraft 1.16.5 and 1.18.2. Each branch carries its own feature set, so a recipe type available on one version may not exist on the other. Before you download Recipe GUI (Vanilla, CraftTweaker, KubeJS), confirm that your Minecraft version and Forge build match the file you intend to use, and remember that Load My Resources is a hard requirement for anything involving JSON recipes.
How to Install
- Install the correct Forge version for Minecraft 1.16.5 or 1.18.2.
- Place the Recipe GUI jar in your mods folder.
- Add Load My Resources if you want JSON recipe support.
- Add CraftTweaker or KubeJS depending on your target version.
- Launch the game and run /r_gui or /ctg to open the editor.
What Is Coming Next
The roadmap is ambitious. Planned features include recipe manipulation that works without CraftTweaker or KubeJS at all, plus support for Extended Crafting, Botania, Mekanism, Immersive Engineering, Blood Magic, Pedestals, and more. For pack developers who want to support many mods without juggling multiple scripting APIs, that direction is genuinely exciting.
Final Thoughts
Recipe GUI (Vanilla, CraftTweaker, KubeJS) fills a real gap in the modding toolkit. It lowers the barrier for newcomers who find script syntax intimidating while still giving experienced authors a faster way to prototype recipes. The version-specific quirks and the Load My Resources dependency are worth noting, but once everything is in place, the workflow is smooth. If you build or maintain modpacks for Minecraft 1.16.5 or 1.18.2, this add-on deserves a spot in your mods folder.