Some Minecraft stuff as a CLI:

• No GUI
• uNiX pHiLoSoPhY
• Does work offline if all necessary files have been downloaded previously
• Launch Minecraft
  • client and server
  • works at least for recent-ish versions (>= 1.7)
  • automatic Forge installation (in particular for > 1.12)
  • automatic Fabric installation
• Manage CurseForge mods
  • install
  • update
  • deduplicate
• Install and update CurseForge modpacks

Launch Vanilla MC:

hellsmack launch client 1.16.5 /path/to/game/dir

Launch MC 1.12.2 with latest Forge:

hellsmack launch client 1.12.2 -f latest /path/to/game/dir

One can also use recommended.

Launch MC 1.16.5 with specific Forge version (see Forge download page):

hellsmack launch client 1.16.5 -f 35.1.13 /path/to/game/dir

Similarly, you can use a specific Fabric version:

hellsmack launch client 1.16.5 --fabric 0.11.3 /path/to/game/dir

Again, you can use recommended or latest to select the latest stable or latest version, resp.

In each case, one can use server instead of client.

By default, the client is launched in offline mode. To log in with a Mojang account, use

hellsmack auth login [email protected] correcthorsebatterystaple

and then use the flag -a/--authenticate:

hellsmack launch -a client 1.16.5 /path/to/game/dir

Search for "openc" in MC 1.12.2 on CurseForge and install by selecting e.g. OpenComputers:

hellsmack curse mods search-install 1.12.2 openc

Install OpenComputers-MC1.12.2-1.7.5.192 (https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/mc-mods/opencomputers/files/2828357) via its file ID (also accepts multiple arguments):

hellsmack curse mods install 2828357

Interactively update mods in current directory (has multiple options):

hellsmack curse mods update .

Deduplicate different versions of the same mod in the current directory:

hellsmack curse mods deduplicate .

Search and install a client modpack (has multiple filtering options) into the current directory:

hellsmack curse modpacks search-install client "all the mods"

Install a modpack (https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/modpacks/all-the-mods-6/files/3145702) by file ID into the current directory:

hellsmack curse modpacks install client 3145702

In each case, one can use server instead of client (if a server pack is available).

To update a modpack:

1. Backup your saves and customizations in options.txt, config/ etc.
2. Remove all folders except mods.
3. Install the new modpack version like above (this will take care of only downloading new/changed mods in the mods folder).
4. Reapply your customizations.

If you are using Nix on Linux x86_64, you can use pkgs.nur.repos.amesgen.hellsmack via NUR.

Alternatively, pre-built binaries can be found on the release page.

Bash/zsh/fish completions are also available, run one of

hellsmack --bash-completion-script /path/to/hellsmack
hellsmack --zsh-completion-script  /path/to/hellsmack
hellsmack --fish-completion-script /path/to/hellsmack

This is an ordinary Cabal project, so you can e.g. build the main executable via

cabal build exe:hellsmack

Alternatively, you can use haskell.nix to build a fully static Linux x86_64 binary:

nix build .#binaries-Linux

There are a myriad of resources about Minecraft launchers out here, but I found wiki.vg particularly helpful.