Guide

How to make a Minecraft plugin

Updated October 7, 2026

A Minecraft plugin is a Java program that a Spigot or Paper server loads to add commands, rules or whole minigames. You can write one by hand, or describe it and let an AI write, compile and test it. Here are both ways.

Describe it in your own words, or start from this example.

Generate this with Codexe

Step by step

  1. 1.Choose the server software and version

    Plugins run on Bukkit-based servers: Spigot, Paper or Folia (BungeeCord and Velocity for proxies). Pick the Minecraft version your server runs, from 1.8 to 26.x.

  2. 2.Describe what the plugin does

    Write the commands, permissions, what happens in game and what should be configurable. Example: "/sethome, /home and /delhome, max 3 homes per player, 3-second warmup, messages in config.yml".

  3. 3.Let Codexe write and compile it

    Codexe writes the Java classes, plugin.yml, config.yml and pom.xml, runs a real build and fixes compile errors before calling the project Ready.

  4. 4.Test it on a real server

    Press Try it now to join a private Minecraft server with the plugin installed. Codexe's test players run every command and check what you asked for.

  5. 5.Download and install the .jar

    Download the built .jar, put it in your server's plugins/ folder and restart the server. Configuration files appear in plugins/<PluginName>/.

What a Minecraft plugin is

A plugin is a .jar file that a Minecraft server loads from its plugins/ folder. It adds commands, game rules, economies, minigames or anything else, on the server only: players join with the normal game, no mods needed.

Plugins are written in Java (or Kotlin) against the server API: Spigot and Paper for game servers, BungeeCord or Velocity for proxies. A plugin also needs a plugin.yml that tells the server its name, main class, commands and permissions.

The manual way: Java, Maven and the Spigot or Paper API

It takes longer to learn but gives full control. Codexe produces the same kind of project, so you can start from a generated plugin and continue by hand.

  1. Install a JDK (Java 21 for 1.20.5 to 1.21.x, Java 25 for 26.x) and an IDE such as IntelliJ IDEA.
  2. Create a Maven or Gradle project and add the paper-api or spigot-api dependency for your version, with provided scope.
  3. Write a main class that extends JavaPlugin, with onEnable() and onDisable().
  4. Add plugin.yml in src/main/resources with name, version, main, api-version and your commands.
  5. Register commands with getCommand("name").setExecutor(...) and listeners with getServer().getPluginManager().registerEvents(...).
  6. Build with mvn package, copy the .jar from target/ into a test server's plugins/ folder and restart.

Questions

Do I need to know Java?

Not with an AI generator: you describe the plugin and test it. Java helps if you want to change the code yourself.

Is it free?

Creating, compiling and testing on Codexe are free on the free plan (50,000 tokens refilled every 24 hours); downloading the .jar needs a plan or a download pack.

Make your first plugin

This prompt opens ready to send:

“A Paper 1.21.4 plugin with /sethome, /home and /delhome: up to 3 homes per player, a 3-second warmup that cancels on movement, every message in config.yml.”

Generate this with Codexe
How to make a Minecraft plugin (with or without coding) | Codexe