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[Java Edition] Performance Enhancements For Minecraft Servers (Multithreading?)

Performance is a serious issue for servers, and since the release of 1.13 the issues preventing servers from upgrading only seem to rise. Adding multithreading support will allow for Minecraft Servers to be able to upgrade to 1.14, which is known to have issues with chunk loading and lighting. 

The inability to use more than one thread is a huge restriction for servers. There are certain processes that can and should be done in parallel, some ideas are below. Server software like Spigot and PaperSpigot has implemented some of these, but others require such far reaching changes to Minecraft that only Mojang can implement it and have it work for everyone.

Some things that should be added include

  1. multithreaded chunk loading
  2. multithreaded chunk generation
  3. per-dimension tick threads, with synchronization on going through a portal
  4. chunk serialization and gzipping for saving to disk to be done in a separate thread
  5. an option to make lighting not calculated server side
  6. all mobs AI should be ticked simultaneously, this includes mob pathing to players and other things
  7. move as much packet handling as possible to the netty thread
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154 Comments

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  • 5
    Registered User commented
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    oh this is so needed i think only this makes minecraft an old game

  • 4
    Registered User commented
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    This is what we really need mojang we don't need new blocks and stuff if it where me i would do that first we will probably never get this so anarchy will stay laggy :(

  • 2
    Registered User commented
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    Strange, I thought some of this was implemented in version 1.8? However I can't find that information now :(

     

    Either way, these suggested implementations are excellent ideas and have my vote!

  • 5
    Registered User commented
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    Simply saying "just make everything async" is just wrong, that's not how games work.

    While yes, chunk loading and generation - and especially saving - should definitely be improved (and moved off the main thread?), per-dimension ticking may have a loooot of unforseen consequences, especially with the plugin frameworks, such as Spigot/Paper and its events, not to mention A LOT of other concurrency issues and workarounds that would make such a process even worse.

    The rest of that list is also plain and simple wrong (5.: lighting has already been greatly improved in 1.14 and doesn't really put any strain on the server anymore, 6.: no two entities will have the same exact path to find, unless they are in the same exact position and have the same exact data and goals, 7.: no).

  • 2
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    This is somethign that really does need to be done, and if they are going to help the moddign community they might as well do this and then implement full support working along with the Forge dev team to do so. If they rewrite the game in c++, which they already have bedrock, that might be the end for servers and modding for a loooong time. It is best they take their time to rewrite it in Java to use as many cores as possible.

  • 3
    Registered User commented
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    Please yes please yes please please add this!

  • 7
    Registered User commented
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    Or just make Minecraft multithreaded in general. That way everyone will have a better experience with the game, online and offline.

  • 2
    Registered User commented
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    make a point in the server.properties using threads and the number of threads you want to use

  • 8
    Registered User commented
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    A similar block-building Java-based game, Avorion, uses multi-threading for their servers. Usually you got "worker threads" to handle the AI, "generator threads" to generate the world, and "script background threads" which is whats in the name. And in Minecraft's case, they could have dedicated "garbage collection" threads too, or combine that into the script background threads.

     

    With anyone having cheap access to used server gear (I have a dual Xeon E5530 system myself, 96gb of RAM, SSD, the works), it opens up more chances for people to host Minecraft servers for a large group of friends, or even the world, with ease, their only limit being their internet bandwidth.

    So I fully support development for multi-threaded server support, we're going into 2020, its pretty much a must at this point.

  • 5
    Registered User commented
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    Fully agreed - I stumbled over this suggestion while googling for "Minecraft multithreaded server support", so fingers crossed for Mojang to do something about this once and for all.

  • 4
    Registered User commented
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    Vote #1100 here. This is 2019. Multithread it, or open source the server code and let the community handle it.

  • 6
    Registered User commented
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    Newer cpus are getting more and more threads, which is why I believe that taking advantage of this would be great. I'm a little surprised to learn that servers only use a single thread, that is really old school.

  • 8
    Registered User commented
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    This would be great for every server, including mine, which i struggle to run on a slow CPU. This idea would help people in third world countries who have low CPU speed but high core count. So they can put their skills to an idea with less restrictions and maybe even have a small source of income. I strongly promote this idea, it would make it easier for everyone, and i'm asking why wasn't this done ages ago?

  • 5
    Registered User commented
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    Yeah, pls do this. The plugins on minigame servers already lead to a lot of lag so if you don't have a good ping, the lag is often immensely frustrating. I would say that this is something that servers would hugely benefit from because it's a key issue.

  • 5
    Registered User commented
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    This would be very appreciated. Even the fastest single core CPUs struggle with high player counts.

  • 4
    Registered User commented
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    It's a good idea. That update will be helpful for all the server owner and some mini games server or survival server. Please update it!

  • 8
    Registered User commented
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    This is what I exactly need. My server version is on 1.14.4. I always want players play in the latest version. Because of the 1.14.4, my server can't run the server more than 35 players :(

    1. multithreaded chunk loading
    2. multithreaded chunk generation
    3. chunk serialization and gzipping for saving to disk to be done in a separate thread

    this is the most important thing for me

    Intel e 1240 v3

    32 ddr4

    with 128 sata ssd

  • 7
    Registered User commented
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    *Mojang please, let this be 1.16 update*

  • 16
    Registered User commented
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    It's 2020, AMD has just announced a 64 core CPU.

    how could a game that would MASSIVELY benefit from Parallelization/Multithreading still be single-threaded?

    I get bedrock is nice and all, but both you and I know Java is not going to go away, Java is Minecraft's curse and blessing the modding scene is incredible. and you could hardly get that on bedrock unless? doing an opensource of bedrock? Sorry, better write that down on the joke list. 

    Anyway, why cost your players so much? Lag? Degraded play experience? Hosting costs and, yes, even the environment. it would be a tremendous WIN-WIN.

    Mojang, please, if you truly care about the community, this would be one of the best ways to show it.

    And you don't need to roll out one massive update. if you could start with the low hanging fruit, make it a transition, the faster the better. 

    - Mvh Alve Larsson.

  • 4
    Registered User commented
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    I don't get why this isn't number 1 priority... Oh wait ... realms...

  • 2
    Registered User commented
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    Only thing I would like to comment on is redstone needs to be handled carefully and not become non-deterministic like in bedrock. So either redstone needs to stay single threaded or there needs to be a way to assign loaded adjacent chunks (including adjacency via portals) all to the same redstone thread

  • 4
    Registered User commented
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    The Minecraft Bedrock Server also need multithreading support !

    It's process's main two  threads "Minecraft_server" and "LevelDB(0)" can only use one core

     

  • 4
    Registered User commented
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    I've really needed this, my server which I'm using for other things has a great multi-thread performance for a good price, but single threaded minecraft is sub-optimal.

  • 3
    Registered User commented
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    I own a survival server and all my players are literally spamming me to update the server to 1.15, or future 1.16. 

    Mine is a survival server so I am in need especially. 

    I can't promise them anything and I am not willing to update version on my server unless the future versions would be way more stable. Stable as 1.12. Rn, I am running it on 1.12.

    Honestly, this could help a lot of survival server. hope this works

  • 3
    Registered User commented
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    If this game is going to survive then this is a must.

  • 5
    Registered User commented
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    Or just make Minecraft multithreaded in general. That way everyone will have a better experience with the game, online and offline.

     

    Please vote for this comment so Mojang can see it

  • 4
    Registered User commented
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    Please do this. Wanna use the new blocks, but it's hard to justify it when the entire server dies for it. :(

  • 5
    Registered User commented
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    the thing is that if mojang did that, it would devalue the shitty windows 10 version that they are pushing people towards (the one with fortnite tier micro transactions and such) They are trying to kill the java edition which is why they have not added MT yet.

  • 3
    Registered User commented
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    I had no idea that they servers didn't support multithreading! My CPU clock rate ain't that good but I have a lot of cores. So yeah, this definitely would be a good addition to Minecraft.

  • 3
    Registered User commented
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    Please, we need this