Starlight (Forge)
ModFaster lighting updates and fewer lighting errors in your world.
Why no grade
How grades workFinished or replaced projects get no grade: they will not get fixes or new versions.
- Archived on Modrinth.
- The project page: This project is available as a part of Moonrise
All 11 criteria
Maintenance
Last releaseHow long ago the newest file came out, or an existing file was marked as working on a new Minecraft version.3 years ago (27 Oct 2023). 1,354 modpacks released in the last 6 months still include it, so it keeps 80% of these points.Supports 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 Forge. 15% or more of the popular mods updated in the last 6 months also have files for 1.20.1. Latest Minecraft: 26.3.Regular releasesIn how many of the last 24 months a new file came out. Full points at 8 months.No release in the last 24 monthsStability
Removed 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.78 of the 363 modpacks with two or more versions removed it in a later one (21%)Quick 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.3 of 4 known conflicts count in the grade See the 4 known conflictsTransparency
Source codeWhether the project page links to its source code, so anyone can read what it does.GitHub · PaperMC/StarlightPlace to report problemsWhether the project page links to a place where players can report problems: an issue tracker.GitHub issues · PaperMC/StarlightPopularity
DownloadsDownloads on Modrinth and CurseForge. Full points from 5 million.61,539,448Track record
AgeHow long the project has existed. It counts less when no new file came out recently.5.1 years, 7 releasesSecurity
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
About
Starlight rewrites Minecraft’s light engine to improve light-propagation performance and address lighting errors, with a design originally aimed at the demands of large dedicated servers. It changes how light sections are managed alongside chunks, helping avoid issues caused by missing light sections and enabling server chunk systems to schedule light updates and generation in parallel. The performance gains are in light propagation rather than client frame rate, which the project says is unlikely to be affected.
Written from Modrinth and the GitHub README . How we write it
In-game changes
Changes the game's code in 5 areas: Chunk loading and storageChanges 7 game code files in this area: how the game loads, tracks, saves and unloads chunks., Server and world logicChanges 3 game code files in this area: the world, commands, scoreboards, saved data and game rules., Networking and multiplayerChanges 1 game code file in this area: connections, the server list and what is sent between your game and a server., Blocks and fluidsChanges 1 game code file in this area: how blocks, fluids and redstone work. and Game coreChanges 1 game code file in this area: the main loop, lighting and other code the whole game uses..
Adds no new blocks, items or other content.
Keeps all of vanilla Minecraft's textures, models and sounds.
Often used with it
See all 30Details
- Creator
- spottedleaf
- License
- GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 only
- Downloads
- 61.5M
- Created
- 12 Sep 2021
- Official pages
- Modrinth , CurseForge
- Links
- Source code , Issues , 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.6 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 description, files, images and code history and found none.
We have not read its changelogs 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.Nothing found
- Description and changelogsThe description, project page and newest changelogs: sentences saying an AI tool was used, and text pasted from an AI chat.Nothing found in the descriptionChangelogs not read yet
- 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 file35 code files read
Compatibility
See all 7 filesPoint at or tap a version to see its loaders.
Known conflicts
These projects do not work together with Starlight (Forge): their authors or the author of Starlight (Forge) say so. If you install both, the game can crash or some features can stop working. Some of them do the same job as Starlight (Forge), so you only need one.
Modpacks using this project
Find modpacks with it| Oct 2024 | 518 |
|---|---|
| Nov 2024 | 511 |
| Dec 2024 | 500 |
| Jan 2025 | 580 |
| Feb 2025 | 553 |
| Mar 2025 | 463 |
| Apr 2025 | 418 |
| May 2025 | 385 |
| Jun 2025 | 389 |
| Jul 2025 | 399 |
| Aug 2025 | 384 |
| Sep 2025 | 338 |
| Oct 2025 | 363 |
| Nov 2025 | 343 |
| Dec 2025 | 379 |
| Jan 2026 | 399 |
| Feb 2026 | 388 |
| Mar 2026 | 399 |
| Apr 2026 | 367 |
| May 2026 | 343 |
| Jun 2026 | 348 |
| Jul 2026 | 369 |
| Aug 2026 | 306 |
| Sep 2026 | 263 |
10,165 modpacks include Starlight (Forge) in at least one of their versions. Here are the 30 most downloaded.
Better MC [FORGE] - BMC421.1M downloadslast version with it 27 Nov 2023
Zombie Invade 100 Days15.3M downloadslast version with it 13 Dec 2025
DawnCraft - Echoes of Legends10.5M downloadslast version with it 20 Nov 2025
DeceasedCraft - Urban Zombie Apocalypse9.8M downloadslast version with it 12 Jul 2024
All the Mods 8 - ATM89.3M downloadslast version with it 17 Dec 2023
Cisco's Fantasy Medieval RPG [Ultimate]5.1M downloadslast version with it 1 Jun 2026
BattleArmory TACZ3.8M downloadslast version with it 21 Aug 2026
SteamPunk [LPS]3M downloadslast version with it 21 Sep 2024
Fear Nightfall: Remains of Chaos2.9M downloadslast version with it 13 Sep 2025
Better MC [FORGE] BMC32.5M downloadslast version with it 22 Nov 2023Often in the same modpacks
Mods that modpacks often add together with Starlight (Forge). Share: how many of the modpacks with Starlight (Forge) also have that mod.
YUNG's Better Nether FortressesAModin 52% of the modpacks with Starlight (Forge)
YUNG's Better Ocean MonumentsAModin 49% of the modpacks with Starlight (Forge)
YUNG's Better Desert TemplesAModin 48% of the modpacks with Starlight (Forge)
sparkAModin 48% of the modpacks with Starlight (Forge)
AttributeFixAModin 48% of the modpacks with Starlight (Forge)
AI Improvements: Performance TuningAModin 46% of the modpacks with Starlight (Forge)
Server Performance - Smooth Chunk SaveAModin 46% of the modpacks with Starlight (Forge)
Better Fps - Render DistanceBModin 45% of the modpacks with Starlight (Forge)
Sodium Dynamic LightsCModin 43% of the modpacks with Starlight (Forge)
YUNG's Better Witch HutsAModin 43% of the modpacks with Starlight (Forge)Latest 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.