Minecraft Datapack Language
Minecraft Datapack Language (MDL) compiles a JavaScript-style language into Minecraft datapacks.
What Minecraft Datapack Language is
Minecraft Datapack Language (MDL) compiles a JavaScript-style language into Minecraft datapacks. It supports if/else statements, while loops, number variables, arithmetic expressions, and variable scopes for expressing logic and calculations. Projects can span multiple files, with variables from every file merged automatically. MDL can reference external JSON files for Minecraft registry types such as recipes, loot tables, and advancements. Its command-line tool creates projects, checks code, builds datapacks, and builds directories containing multiple files. A VS Code extension adds syntax highlighting, real-time error checking, build commands, workspace validation, and raw text blocks. Python bindings support programmatic datapack creation, including variables, control flow, nested functions, and MDL scopes. Documentation gives Makefile, npm scripts, and GitHub Actions examples for building and checking projects. MDL is open source under the MIT License and is listed as free. Supported platforms include API, extension, Linux, macOS, and Windows; stated requirements include Python 3.8 or higher and Minecraft 1.20+ or 1.19+.
Good
- Supports conditionals, loops, variables, and arithmetic.
- Projects can span multiple files.
- CLI can build and check datapacks.
- VS Code extension includes live error checking.
- Open source under the MIT License.
Watch out
- Requires Python 3.8 or higher.
- Requires Minecraft 1.20+ or 1.19+.
Who it suits
MDL suits Minecraft datapack creators who want a programming language, command-line workflow, VS Code support, or Python bindings. It can also suit projects organized across multiple files or built through common automation tools.
Verdict
MDL offers several ways to create, validate, and build Minecraft datapacks, including CLI, editor, and Python workflows. It is free and open source, with Python and Minecraft version requirements to consider.
Plans and prices
From Minecraft Datapack Language's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Minecraft Datapack Language | Free | Open source · MIT License |
| Minecraft Datapack Language (MDL) | Free | Python CLI · VS Code/Cursor extension · Minecraft datapack compilation · No charge stated; distributed as open-source software |
The facts
Each one read from Minecraft Datapack Language's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Build integrations
- Official examples show Makefile targets, npm scripts and GitHub Actions workflows running mdl check and mdl build.checked 14 Oct 2026
- CLI
- The command-line tool can build datapacks, check code, create projects, and build directories containing multiple files.checked 4 Oct 2026
- CLI build
- The mdl build command compiles a file or directory and creates a datapack directory plus a ZIP archive by default.checked 14 Oct 2026
- CLI project creation
- The mdl new command creates a starter project containing source, README, documentation and local documentation-serving scripts.checked 14 Oct 2026
- CLI validation
- The mdl check command scans MDL files for syntax and semantic errors and reports locations, context and suggestions.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Control flow
- The language implements if, else-if, else and while constructs that compile into Minecraft conditional logic.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Documentation depth
- The documentation set includes getting started, language reference, CLI reference, multi-file projects, Python bindings, examples and extension guidance.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Editor integration
- The VS Code extension supports syntax highlighting, real-time error checking, build commands, workspace validation, and raw text blocks.checked 4 Oct 2026
- GitHub repository activity
- The public repository page shows one star, one fork, one open issue, no pull requests and 1,436 commits.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Independent description
- A Reddit announcement describes MDL as a language intended to simplify datapack creation with functions, tags, conditionals, a Python API, VS Code support and multi-file projects.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Installation
- The recommended installation is pipx install minecraft-datapack-language, with pip and editable source installation also documented.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Latest PyPI release
- PyPI shows version 18.0.3 released on September 11, 2025.checked 14 Oct 2026
- License
- MDL is open source software licensed under the MIT License.checked 4 Oct 2026
- License in contributing guide
- The contributing guide states that MDL is licensed under GPL-3.0, creating a license inconsistency across official pages.checked 14 Oct 2026
- License on homepage
- The homepage identifies MDL as open source under the MIT License.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Lifecycle hooks
- on_load and on_tick declarations generate Minecraft load and tick function tags.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: ecosystem duplication
- A Reddit commenter questioned the need for another datapack language because Beet and Bolt already provide Python-like datapack workflows.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: generated-code workflow
- A Reddit commenter said generated datapacks can become large and complex, making in-game modification of datapacks or scoreboards difficult.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Limit: production adoption
- A Reddit commenter said they had not used datapack languages in production and found basic text-replacement tooling faster for their work.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Multi-file projects
- Only the main file needs a pack declaration; additional files are merged automatically during builds.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Namespaces
- Namespaces organize functions and variables and are supported across multi-file projects.checked 14 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- MDL compiles a JavaScript-style language into Minecraft datapacks.checked 4 Oct 2026
- PyPI maintainer
- PyPI lists aaron777collins as the verified project maintainer.checked 14 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker identity
- The repository and site identify the maintainer as aaron777collins, whose GitHub profile names him Aaron Collins.checked 14 Oct 2026
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