RichLocalTextLib
If you have ever tried to translate a mod or a resource pack, you know the pain: language files are plain, lifeless strings, and the moment you want a colored word or a bold header, you are stuck writing code. RichLocalTextLib is a small but powerful library that fixes exactly that problem. It allows modders and pack-makers to use translated rich text, so you can add font styles and colors anywhere without touching a single line of Java.
Think of it as a bridge between the plain text stored in language files and the colorful, formatted text Minecraft can actually display. Instead of hardcoding styles, you write them directly into your localization strings, and the library handles the rest.
What RichLocalTextLib Actually Does
At its core, the mod reads standard language files and interprets formatting tags inside them. That means translators and pack authors can style text the same way they would with a tellraw command, but from inside a simple .json or .lang entry. Colors, bold, italic, underlined text, and even more complex component structures become available to anyone editing translations.
Key features at a glance
- Rich text formatting inside language files, no code required
- Support for colors and font styles on any translated string
- Placeholder support through indexed components for strings that already contain variables
- Zero additional dependencies, so it plays nicely with lightweight modpacks
- Works as a shared library, meaning multiple mods can rely on it at once
The library targets modern Minecraft releases on the Fabric and NeoForge loaders, with builds maintained for the most recent 1.20.x and 1.21.x versions. Because it is a library rather than a content mod, you will rarely see it do anything on its own. Its job is to sit quietly in the background and make other mods and packs look better.
How to Install RichLocalTextLib
Installation is refreshingly simple, which is one of the reasons server owners and pack authors keep it in their loadouts. If you are wondering how to install it, the process takes less than a minute.
- Make sure you already have Fabric Loader or NeoForge installed for your Minecraft version
- Download RichLocalTextLib and place the .jar file into your /mods folder
- Launch the game once so the library loads alongside your other mods
- Enjoy rich localization text in any mod or pack that supports it
There are no extra dependencies to chase down and no configuration files to edit. If a mod you use lists RichLocalTextLib as a requirement, dropping the jar in the folder is all you need to do.
For players who prefer a hands-off approach, the foxygame.net launcher handles the whole process with one-click install, pulling RichLocalTextLib straight into your mod profile and keeping it updated automatically whenever a new build drops.
Using Rich Text in Language Files
Once the library is active, you can write tellraw-style formatting directly into your translation strings. A typical entry might color a word red or make a title bold simply by wrapping it in the familiar formatting syntax.
Handling placeholders
Some vanilla strings contain format placeholders. When you override one of those, you cannot use the normal placeholder syntax. Instead, you reference the argument by index using a component such as {"index":n}. This lets you restyle default text, like the chat format, while still keeping the dynamic values intact.
One quirk worth remembering: if your first text component is styled, every component that follows inherits that style. This is a Minecraft behavior rather than a bug in the library, and it means you should plan your component order carefully if you want mixed formatting in a single line.
Who Should Download RichLocalTextLib
This library is aimed at a specific audience, but that audience benefits enormously. Mod developers who want their interfaces to support translated styling, resource pack creators building multilingual experiences, and server administrators running localized communities will all find it useful. Casual players usually encounter it indirectly, as a dependency quietly listed on a mod page.
If you are building a pack that ships in several languages, RichLocalTextLib removes the awkward choice between clean translations and attractive formatting. You no longer have to pick one.
Final Thoughts
RichLocalTextLib solves a narrow problem extremely well. It gives translators and pack-makers the same expressive power that developers enjoy in code, without asking them to learn a programming language. The installation is trivial, the dependency list is empty, and the payoff is text that looks intentional rather than flat. Whether you are polishing a single mod or localizing an entire modpack, this library deserves a place in your setup.