mcwrapper

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What mcwrapper is

mcwrapper is a free Minecraft server wrapper for Linux, macOS, and other POSIX-compatible systems, aimed at server administrators. It can start, stop, restart, and check a server, send commands through a named pipe (FIFO), and follow the server log in real time. Its backup action pauses world-data writing while it copies and compresses data, then resumes writing. Backups are timestamped, a latest symlink is created, and the default retention is five backups. Restore stops the server if needed, saves current data, replaces the world directory with the selected backup, and restarts the server if it was running. Restoring interrupts service and disconnects connected clients. The install action downloads the current minecraft_server.jar from Mojang and puts it in the configured location. Configuration can be supplied through environment variables or mcwrapper.conf files in documented locations. Installation is available from RubyGems.org with gem install mcwrapper. The project provides a README and wiki pages for setup, actions, configuration, and automated backups. Its MIT license permits use and distribution subject to its conditions and disclaims warranty.

Who it suits

mcwrapper suits administrators of Minecraft Java servers on Linux, macOS, or other POSIX-compatible systems. It is relevant to operators who need server controls, local backups, and restore actions.

What it does well

Starts, stops, restarts, and checks server status.
Backups are timestamped and have a latest symlink.
Default backup retention is five backups.
Configuration supports environment variables and mcwrapper.conf files.

What to know first

Restore disconnects connected clients.
Restore replaces the world directory with a selected backup.
The default retention is five backups.

Limits

The default backup retention is five backups. Restoring a backup requires an interruption and disconnects connected clients.

Getting started

Install mcwrapper from RubyGems.org with gem install mcwrapper.
Provide configuration through environment variables or an mcwrapper.conf file in a documented location.
Use the install action to download minecraft_server.jar from Mojang.
Use the server control actions to start, stop, restart, or check status.
Consult the README or wiki for actions, configuration, and automated backups.

Verdict

mcwrapper combines server administration commands with backup, restore, and live log actions. Restoring requires an interruption, so connected clients will be disconnected.

Questions

Is mcwrapper free?

Yes. It is listed as free and distributed under the MIT License.

Which platforms does it support?

It is intended for Linux, macOS, and other POSIX-compatible operating systems.

How do I install mcwrapper?

It can be installed from RubyGems.org with the command gem install mcwrapper.

Can it back up and restore server data?

Yes. It copies and compresses world data for backups, and can restore a selected backup into the world directory. Restoration interrupts the server and disconnects connected clients.

How many backups does it keep?

The default retention is five backups. Backups are timestamped and a latest symlink is created.

What license does mcwrapper use?

It uses the MIT License, which permits use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale subject to its conditions. The license states the software is provided as-is without warranty.

Facts from mcwrapper's own pages

Backup retention: Backups are timestamped, a `latest` symlink is created, and the default retention is the latest five backups. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Backups: The `backup` action disables world-data writing, copies and compresses current world data, then re-enables writing. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Command pipe: mcwrapper exposes a configurable named pipe (FIFO) called `command_input` for sending commands to the server. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Command sending: It sends arbitrary commands to the Minecraft server through a named pipe (FIFO) called command_input. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Configuration: Configuration can come from environment variables or `mcwrapper.conf`, searched in four documented locations. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Installation: The project can be installed from RubyGems with `gem install mcwrapper`. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
License: The software is distributed under the MIT license, which permits use, copying, modification, distribution, sublicensing, and sale subject to the license conditions. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Live logging: The `log` action tails the Minecraft server log in real time. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Log reader: The log action tails the Minecraft server log in real time. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Minecraft download: The install action downloads the current minecraft_server.jar from Mojang and places it in the configured location. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Purpose: mcwrapper is a Minecraft Server wrapper for OSX and Linux that starts and stops servers, sends commands, and performs safe automatic world-data backups. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Restore: The restore action stops the server if needed, backs up current data, copies the selected backup into the world directory and restarts the server if it was running. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Restore limitation: The `restore` action disconnects connected clients because restoring cannot be done without interruption. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Server control: Actions include start, stop, restart, status, check, update, log, backup, restore, and command execution. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Server installation: The `install` action downloads the current `minecraft_server.jar` from Mojang. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Support documentation: The repository provides a README and wiki pages for getting started, actions, configuration, and automated backups. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026
Target user: It is intended for Minecraft server administrators. · github.com, 30 Sept 2026
Warranty: The MIT license states that the software is provided as-is without warranty. · github.com, 2 Oct 2026

Where mcwrapper stands on Freedom251

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