Freedom251 › Minecraft Mod Development Tools

Vineflower

Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hostedWindows

What Vineflower is

Vineflower is a free, open-source Java decompiler intended to turn Java bytecode into accurate, readable code. Its site says it supports modern Java, including J21 and later, and lists automatic output reformatting and multithreaded decompilation. You can run it from the command line using a JAR and input archives or files, use it as a Maven or Gradle library, or install the IntelliJ plugin. The main JAR distribution is available through GitHub releases and Maven Central, and running it requires a Java 17 or newer JVM.

Command-line settings let you save results to an archive or folder, or print them to the console when no output destination is selected. An option can decompile Kotlin classes as Kotlin rather than Java. The full distribution includes a Kotlin plugin, which is experimental, as well as plugins for IntelliJ IDEA @NotNull bytecode and variable renaming. A slim artifact omits built-in plugins. Vineflower also has an experimental plugin system for changing output or supporting other JVM languages, and the project says its plugin API is still in development. The project describes itself as a work in progress and welcomes contributions. It is available for Linux, macOS, Windows and self-hosted use, and is licensed under Apache-2.0.

Who it suits

Vineflower suits Java developers who need to inspect or recover readable code from Java class files, and who are comfortable using a JAR, an IDE plugin or a build dependency. It can also suit users working with Kotlin classes who want to try its experimental Kotlin decompiler.

What it does well

Supports modern Java, including J21 and later.
Offers command-line, Maven, Gradle and IntelliJ use.
Can save output to an archive or folder, or print it.
Includes automatic reformatting and multithreaded decompilation.
Free and open source under Apache-2.0.

What to know first

Running it requires a Java 17 or newer JVM.
The Kotlin decompiler is experimental.
The plugin API is still in development.
The slim artifact omits built-in plugins.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Vineflower	No paid plans or usage limits stated	Free

As vineflower.org lists them, read 11 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Install or use a Java 17 or newer JVM.
Get the JAR from GitHub releases or Maven Central.
Run the JAR from the command line with input files or archives.
Choose an output archive or folder, or print results to the console.
Alternatively, add Vineflower through Maven or Gradle, or use the IntelliJ plugin.

Verdict

Choose Vineflower if you want a free Java decompiler with command-line, library and IntelliJ integration. Keep its work-in-progress status and experimental Kotlin and plugin features in mind if those capabilities are important to your use.

Questions

Is Vineflower free?

Yes. Vineflower is free and open source under the Apache-2.0 license; no paid plans or usage limits are stated.

What Java versions does it support?

The site says Vineflower supports modern Java, including J21 and later. Running it requires a Java 17 or newer JVM.

Can Vineflower decompile Kotlin?

A command-line option can decompile Kotlin classes as Kotlin. The built-in Kotlin plugin is experimental and is not included in the slim JAR.

How can I use Vineflower?

You can run its JAR from the command line, add it as a Maven or Gradle library, or use the IntelliJ plugin.

What does the slim artifact include?

The slim artifact omits the built-in plugins and is intended for cases where those plugins are not needed or a smaller dependency is desired.

What platforms is Vineflower available for?

It is listed for Linux, macOS, Windows and self-hosted use; the site does not state separate operating-system-specific builds.

Facts from Vineflower's own pages

Command line: Vineflower can be run from the command line with a JAR and input files. · vineflower.org, 5 Oct 2026
Configurable output: Command-line options can write output to an archive or folder, or print it to the console when no output is specified. · vineflower.org, 5 Oct 2026
Developer support: Users can ask questions through the project’s Discord, Matrix, or IRC community spaces and mailing lists. · vineflower.org, 11 Oct 2026
Development status: The project describes itself as work in progress and welcomes contributions. · vineflower.org, 5 Oct 2026
Distribution: The primary distribution is a JAR available from GitHub releases and Maven Central. · vineflower.org, 5 Oct 2026
Extensibility: Vineflower has an experimental plugin system for modifying output or implementing new JVM languages, and its plugin API is still in development. · vineflower.org, 11 Oct 2026
How to run: Vineflower can be run from the command line as a JAR using a Java 17 or newer JVM. · vineflower.org, 11 Oct 2026
IDE integration: An IntelliJ plugin is available for using Vineflower in IntelliJ IDEA. · vineflower.org, 11 Oct 2026
Inputs and outputs: Command-line inputs may include archives or files, and output can be saved to an archive or folder, or printed to the console. · vineflower.org, 11 Oct 2026
Java support: The site says Vineflower supports modern Java (J21+), including automatic output reformatting and multithreaded decompilation. · vineflower.org, 11 Oct 2026
Kotlin plugin: The built-in Kotlin plugin provides an experimental decompiler for Kotlin classes, except in the slim JAR distribution. · vineflower.org, 11 Oct 2026
Kotlin support: A command-line option enables decompiling Kotlin classes as Kotlin instead of Java. · vineflower.org, 5 Oct 2026
Library use: Vineflower is published on Maven Central and can be added as a dependency in Maven or Gradle projects. · vineflower.org, 11 Oct 2026
License: The project’s GitHub repository identifies its license as Apache-2.0. · github.com, 11 Oct 2026
Other built-in plugins: The full distribution includes plugins for IntelliJ IDEA @NotNull bytecode and variable renaming; the slim artifact omits plugins. · vineflower.org, 11 Oct 2026
Output features: The site lists automatic output reformatting and multithreaded decompilation. · vineflower.org, 5 Oct 2026
Project status: Vineflower is described as a work-in-progress project, and contributions are welcomed. · vineflower.org, 11 Oct 2026
Purpose: Vineflower is a modern Java decompiler designed for accurate, readable output. · vineflower.org, 11 Oct 2026
Runtime requirement: Running Vineflower requires a Java 17 or newer JVM. · vineflower.org, 5 Oct 2026
Security and compliance: The opened official pages provide no security or compliance claims for the decompiler. · vineflower.org, 11 Oct 2026
Slim artifact: A slim artifact is available without built-in plugins for cases where those plugins are not needed or a smaller dependency is desired. · vineflower.org, 5 Oct 2026
Usage requirement: Running Vineflower requires a Java 17 or newer JVM; the site does not state separate operating-system-specific builds. · vineflower.org, 11 Oct 2026

Where Vineflower stands on Freedom251

Minecraft Mod Development Tools#20 of 35