Datapack Example Datapack

Example Datapack

This page walks you through creating a minimal datapack called my_research_pack that adds one new research definition and one Drive Crafting recipe.

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1 Pack Structure

Create this folder structure anywhere, then copy the finished folder into your world's datapacks/ directory:

my_research_pack/
├── pack.mcmeta
└── data/
    └── my_pack/
        ├── research/
        │   └── my_awesome_research.json
        └── recipe/
            └── my_awesome_recipe.json

---

2 pack.mcmeta

This file identifies the datapack to Minecraft. Pack format 34 is correct for Minecraft 1.21.1.

{
  "pack": {
    "pack_format": 34,
    "description": "Adds awesome research to ResearchCube"
  }
}

---

3 Research Definition

data/my_pack/research/my_awesome_research.json

This research will appear in the Research Station under the ADVANCED tier. It requires the built-in Advanced Processor research to be completed first, costs 3 diamonds, and needs 2,000 mB of Pondering Fluid.

{
  "name": "Awesome Research",
  "description": "Unlocks the legendary awesome block.",
  "category": "awesome",
  "tier": "ADVANCED",
  "duration": 2400,
  "prerequisites": "researchcube:advanced_processor",
  "item_costs": [
    { "item": "minecraft:diamond", "count": 3 }
  ],
  "fluid_cost": { "fluid": "researchcube:pondering_fluid", "amount": 2000 },
  "recipe_pool": [
    "my_pack:my_awesome_recipe"
  ]
}

Key decisions:

• "tier": "ADVANCED" the player needs an metadata_enhanced Drive and an cube_advanced (or higher) Cube.
• "duration": 2400 2 minutes at default speed (scaled by researchDurationMultiplier).
• "prerequisites": "researchcube:advanced_processor" single string form; the built-in Advanced Processor research must be done first.
• "recipe_pool": ["my_pack:my_awesome_recipe"] only one possible outcome, so it always imprints this recipe.

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4 Drive Crafting Recipe

data/my_pack/recipe/my_awesome_recipe.json

This recipe becomes craftable at the Drive Crafting Table once a Drive has the my_pack:my_awesome_recipe ID imprinted on it.

{
  "type": "researchcube:drive_crafting",
  "recipe_id": "my_pack:my_awesome_recipe",
  "ingredients": [
    { "item": "minecraft:diamond" },
    { "item": "minecraft:gold_ingot" }
  ],
  "result": {
    "id": "minecraft:beacon",
    "count": 1
  }
}

Note that recipe_id here (my_pack:my_awesome_recipe) matches exactly the entry in the research recipe_pool above. This linkage is how the system works: the research imprints the ID, and the Drive Crafting recipe matches on that ID.

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5 Install and Test

1. Copy the my_research_pack/ folder into <world>/datapacks/.
2. Start (or load) the world.
3. Run /reload in chat.
4. Open the Research Station. Awesome Research should appear in the ADVANCED tier list (locked behind Advanced Processor if you haven't done that yet).
5. Complete Advanced Processor research first if needed.
6. Run Awesome Research with:
   • metadata_enhanced Drive in slot 0
   • Any ADVANCED+ Cube in slot 1
   • 3× diamond in cost slots
   • 2,000 mB of Pondering Fluid in the tank
7. On completion, the Drive receives my_pack:my_awesome_recipe.
8. Take the Drive to the Drive Crafting Table, add 1× diamond + 1× gold ingot, and craft the beacon.

If the research does not appear after /reload, check the server log for [ResearchCube] WARN messages pointing to JSON parse errors.

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Tips

• Use a unique namespace (here my_pack) to avoid conflicts with the base mod or other packs.
• You can add multiple research entries and recipes in the same pack just add more files.
• Weighted recipe pools let you make research outcomes random; see Research Definition Schema for the syntax.
• You don't need to restart the server to apply changes /reload is sufficient.

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Related Pages

• Datapack Guide overview and file location reference
• Research Definition Schema full field reference including prerequisites and recipe pools
• Drive Crafting Recipe Schema full field reference for drive crafting recipes
• Configuration adjust duration and cost multipliers to tune difficulty