FREX
ModA library needed by some rendering mods to work.
Why gradeD
How grades workStrengths
Points lost
- No release in 2.8 years−26 points
- Under 5 million downloads−1 point
All 11 criteria
Maintenance
18 points lost9 / 27Last releaseHow long ago the newest file came out, or an existing file was marked as working on a new Minecraft version.2.8 years ago (21 Jan 2024) 0 / 12Supports popular versionsWhether the project has a file for a Minecraft version that 15% or more of the popular mods updated in the last 6 months also support. A version many modpacks use, like 1.20.1 or 1.21.1, also counts after a release in the last 12 months.1.20.2 on Fabric and Quilt. 15% or more of the popular mods updated in the last 6 months also have files for 1.20.1. Latest Minecraft: 26.3. 9 / 9Regular releasesIn how many of the last 24 months a new file came out. Full points at 8 months.No release in the last 24 months 0 / 6Stability
Full points15 / 15Removed from modpacksHow many modpacks removed it in a later version of the pack. We can only see this in modpacks with two or more versions. A pack that swaps it for another edition of the same project, or that is rebuilt from scratch, does not count.1 of the 4 modpacks with two or more versions removed it in a later one (25%) 10 / 10Quick fixesHow often a release needed a quick fix: a new release within 3 days to fix a problem in it.Not measured yet.Known conflictsHow many projects say they do not work with it, compared with how widely it is used. Packs, small projects, forks, ports, add-ons, alternatives and old versions do not count.None 5 / 5Transparency
Full points10 / 10Source codeWhether the project page links to its source code, so anyone can read what it does.GitHub · vram-guild/frex 7 / 7Place to report problemsWhether the project page links to a place where players can report problems: an issue tracker.GitHub issues · vram-guild/frex 3 / 3Popularity
1 point lost3 / 4DownloadsDownloads on Modrinth and CurseForge. Full points from 5 million.39,495 3 / 4Track record
8 points lost0 / 8AgeHow long the project has existed. It counts less when no new file came out recently.7.1 years, 59 releases 0 / 8Security
PassedFile checksThis check adds no points. It can only take points away.Our checks found nothing harmful in the latest file for recent Minecraft versions. See Security
36.7 of the 64 points that apply = 57 out of 100. The points above are rounded to whole numbers.
About
FREX is a rendering API that lets Minecraft mods and rendering implementations build visual features beyond what the game normally supports, while providing a shared interface so they need not depend directly on one specific renderer. It includes Pastel, a built-in renderer that implements most FREX features, and Canvas is another renderer that supports the API. For developers creating rendering pipelines, FREX provides configurable options that appear in the renderer’s settings and can also control shader definitions and whether individual rendering passes run. Pipeline options can be booleans, bounded numeric values, or enumerated choices, allowing users to tune behavior while shaders use the selected settings. The API also supports physically based rendering textures and exposes smoothed world-brightness, rain, and thunder values to shaders, enabling pipelines to respond gradually to lighting and weather changes. FREX handles texture-atlas and physical-texture data for materials, including sprite tracking, format conversion, and default texture mapping, while the renderer builds and populates the physical atlas. Its material system covers blocks, items, block entities, entities, and particles, with pipeline shaders able to use custom image samplers and distinguish rendering targets such as solid terrain, translucent terrain, and particles.
Written from Modrinth and the GitHub README . How we write it
In-game changes
Changes the game's code in 3 areas, as a library other mods build on: Rendering and graphicsChanges 15 game code files in this area: drawing mobs, items, particles and textures on screen., World renderingChanges 6 game code files in this area: drawing the terrain, sky, clouds and weather. and Blocks and fluidsChanges 1 game code file in this area: how blocks, fluids and redstone work..
Libraries packed inside it change 25 more game code files: parts of 
Fabric API.
Adds no new blocks, items or other content.
Keeps all of vanilla Minecraft's textures, models and sounds.
Details
- Creators
- grondag and spiralhalo
- License
- GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 only
- Downloads
- 39K
- Created
- 11 Apr 2019
- Official pages
- Modrinth , CurseForge
- Links
- Source code , Issues , Wiki , Discord
Security
No harmful code found
We checked its files and read their code, without running it.
Why we show this: a mod runs on your computer like any program, so harmful code in it can take your accounts or files. Our checks look for known signs of harm. They cannot prove that a file is harmless. In the grade: malware means no grade, and a Warning in a latest file for a recent Minecraft version lowers it.
How we checked
- FilesWe download the files from Modrinth or CurseForge and look at what is inside them and what their code can do, without running them. Fixed rules tell what is harmful.18 latest files: the newest file for each Minecraft version and loader. The answer above is about the one for a recent version. Recent versions: those released in the last 2 years, plus 1.20.1 and 1.21.1, among the most played in modpacks. See each file in Releases
- Their codeWe turn the code of the files back into readable code and follow what it does, without running it. This shows what it downloads, what it sends and where your login goes.Read without running it
- Author on ModrinthThe disclosure form on Modrinth, where the author declares that the project reads or edits things on your system outside the game. Since 13 Aug 2026, Modrinth's rules require it when this applies.Nothing declared about your system outside the game.
- Looked for, not foundWe looked for these in the file and did not find them.The internet, folders outside the game, other programs, updating itself, the webcam or microphone, an AI service.
Privacy
We found nothing it sends
We read its code without running it: it contacts no web address while you play.
Why we show this: a mod can send things about you over the internet, like your player name or your login. Contacting an address to check for updates or download files sends nothing about you. Not in the grade: sending data can be normal for what a mod does.
How we checked
- Files readWe read the code without running it. We list each web address the code contacts while you play, and what it sends. Code that is never used is left out.The code of its one file, for recent Minecraft versions. See each file in Releases
- Author on ModrinthThe disclosure form on Modrinth, where the author declares crash reports, usage data and advertisements. Since 13 Aug 2026, Modrinth's rules require it when a project collects data on its users or shows advertisements.Nothing declared about crash reports, usage data or advertisements.
AI
No sign so far that AI was used to make it
We looked for AI tools in its texts, files and images and found none.
We have not read its code history yet.
No sign of AI in the game
We found no AI service, AI library or AI model file in its code.
Why we show this: some players and servers avoid projects made with AI, and AI in the game can send what you write to an online service. Not in the grade: using AI does not tell whether a project works well or is kept up to date.
How we checked
- Author on ModrinthThe disclosure form on Modrinth. Since 13 Aug 2026, Modrinth's rules require it when a substantial part of the code is AI output, when an asset is mainly AI output, or when the project or its page relies on generative AI.No AI content or AI features declared.
- Code historyThe public code on GitHub: who made each change, credit lines such as "Co-authored-by", and its files.Not read yet
- Description and changelogsThe description, project page and newest changelogs: sentences saying an AI tool was used, and text pasted from an AI chat.Nothing found3 of 40 changelogs read
- Its filesFiles that AI coding tools leave behind (like AGENTS.md), and the texts inside the files you download.Nothing found
- Images in its filesHidden data in the images of the files you download, where AI image tools write their name and settings.Nothing found1 image read
- Code of the modThe code and files of the mod, read without running it: addresses of AI services, AI libraries, AI model files and a place for your own AI key.No AI service, AI library or AI model file347 code files read
Compatibility
See all 59 filesPoint at or tap a version to see its loaders.
Modpacks using this project
Find modpacks with itModpacks that include FREX in at least one of their versions, most downloaded first.
Randomly Added Mods: Fabric Edition6.3K downloadslast version with it 15 Feb 2020
the snacpac1.7K downloadslast version with it 27 Aug 2022
Myth SMP Modpack [Fabric]401 downloadslast version with it 25 Sep 2022
Globey's Grand Adventuring!383 downloadslast version with it 29 Oct 2022
Project Eternalz366 downloadslast version with it 12 Jan 2023Latest files
The newest file for each Minecraft version and loader. The files for recent versions come first. Recent versions: those released in the last 2 years, plus 1.20.1 and 1.21.1, among the most played in modpacks.