YetAnotherWhitelistPlugin (YAWL)
Managing player access on a Minecraft network can quickly become a headache, especially when you are juggling multiple backend servers behind a Velocity proxy. That is where YetAnotherWhitelistPlugin (YAWL) steps in. True to its name, it is another whitelist plugin, but one that strips away all the unnecessary complexity. It is built exclusively for the Velocity proxy, ensuring that your server’s performance remains untouched while you maintain full control over who can join. If you need a no-fuss, easy-to-manage whitelist that just works, YAWL is the perfect fit.
Why Choose YetAnotherWhitelistPlugin (YAWL) for Minecraft?
The core philosophy behind YAWL is simplicity. In a world of bloated plugins with endless configuration files and database dependencies, this plugin does one thing and does it exceptionally well. It manages a whitelist using a plain text file. No MySQL, no JSON hierarchies, just a clean whitelist.txt that you can edit with any text editor. This approach makes it incredibly easy to view, modify, and back up your player list. The plugin is designed to be as performant and unobtrusive as possible, adding virtually zero overhead to your proxy.
Key Features That Set YAWL Apart
- Lightweight and Efficient: YAWL has a minimal footprint. It is written to be extremely efficient, so you will never experience lag or delays caused by the whitelist system itself.
- Simple Text-Based Management: All whitelisted players are stored in a straightforward
whitelist.txtfile. You can add or remove players directly from the file and then apply changes instantly without restarting the proxy. - Live Reload: After editing the whitelist file or tweaking the configuration, a single command reloads everything on the fly. No downtime, no disconnections for your existing players.
- Multi-Language Support: YAWL comes with a variety of pre-packaged locales, including English, German, Spanish, French, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese, Japanese, Turkish, and Portuguese. It can even automatically detect a player’s client language and display kick messages in their native tongue.
- Flexible Permissions: Fine-grained permission nodes let you control exactly which staff members can add, remove, list, or reload the whitelist, and a special bypass permission allows VIPs or admins to join even when the whitelist is active.
- Temporary Whitelisting: You can add players for a specific duration, after which they are automatically removed. The plugin also supports extending existing entries with a simple command.
How to Install YetAnotherWhitelistPlugin (YAWL)
Getting started with YAWL is a straightforward process. First, you need to download YetAnotherWhitelistPlugin (YAWL) from a trusted source like Modrinth. Once you have the .jar file, place it into the plugins folder of your Velocity proxy. If you are using a launcher like foxygame.net, you can often find the plugin directly in their add-on catalog, which allows for a seamless one-click install and ensures you always have the correct version for your proxy setup. After placing the file, simply start or restart your Velocity proxy. The plugin will automatically generate a default config.toml and an empty whitelist.txt inside the plugins/yawl directory. From there, you can open the configuration file to set your preferred language, toggle the whitelist on or off, and adjust other settings. Then, populate the whitelist file with the usernames of the players you want to allow, and use the /yawl reload command to apply your changes instantly.
Commands and Permissions
All YAWL commands are accessed through the /yawl base command. Here is a quick overview of what you can do:
/yawl add <player> [duration]— Adds a player to the whitelist, optionally for a set time./yawl remove <player>— Removes a player from the whitelist./yawl list— Displays all currently whitelisted players./yawl reload— Reloads the configuration and whitelist file without a proxy restart./yawl extend <player> [duration] [add|replace]— Extends an existing temporary whitelist entry.
To control access to these commands, assign the corresponding permission nodes: yawl.command.add, yawl.command.remove, yawl.command.list, yawl.command.reload, and yawl.command.extend. The yawl.bypass permission allows a player to join regardless of the whitelist status, which is ideal for owners and senior staff.
Configuration and Placeholders
The config.toml file is well-commented and easy to understand. You can enable or disable the whitelist entirely, set the default language, and toggle case-sensitivity for usernames. For server networks that use a placeholder system, YAWL integrates with PlaceholderAPI through its companion plugin. Once you install YetAnotherWhitelistCompanion on your backend servers, you can use the %yawl_duration% placeholder to show a player their remaining whitelist time, which is perfect for notifying temporary members before they are removed.
Final Thoughts on YetAnotherWhitelistPlugin (YAWL)
YetAnotherWhitelistPlugin (YAWL) delivers exactly what it promises: a simple, reliable, and lightweight whitelist management tool for Velocity. It avoids feature creep and focuses on doing its core job perfectly. Whether you run a small private server for friends or a large network that needs temporary access controls, YAWL’s text-based approach and live reload capability make it a joy to use. The multi-language support and optional placeholder integration add a professional touch without complicating the setup. If you are tired of over-engineered whitelist solutions, give YAWL a try — it might just be the last whitelist plugin you ever need for your Minecraft proxy.