Some slight edits after some comments.. SORRy, title misnomer.. this is installing mods, not coding new mods.. I is not this smartz to compile and obfurticate...

This will hopefully provide a method to quickly update minecraft when the inevitable updates occur and minimize your down time before being able to get back to your down time.

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So many people love playing minecraft as basic as possible.. they are drag and dropping, /pos before dyin 8x8 bit graphic luvin foo's .. but that is not I. I like to simplify my life as much as possible, which I messed up when I got married and decided to pursue two college degrees at the same time.. but here in minetown I'm livin easy.. How? I use mods..

You may be saying "Use mods, but they are in charge and they technically may own me?" True, if you are refering to MODerator, but I am refering to MODifications.

Modding can be difficult in MC, with unzipped jars and rars and mac/win unpackedness.. It is enough to make one pull pixels out of our cuboid heads... but there is a solution..

This is a simple list of how to select and install some mods that I find to be Vital when playing minecraft. Note that I use windows and have no clue how macs work other than that they work way better than windows...

First: Backing up..

Back up you say, but we haven't gone forward yet.. I know, but trust me on this it is vital and will serve purposes far greater than the modifications we are talking about here.

Since most of us have a gagillionbillion extra terragigawatz on our computers, this is the easiest way to backup minecraft.

• 
  
• Press <WINKEY><R>, then type "%appdata%" (no quotes) and <enter>
  
• Find ".minecraft" folder, highlight it (not open) then press <CTRL><C> to copy
  
• Immediately press <CTRL><V> to paste your copy, this will make a ".minecraft - copy" folder
  

Now if you have any problems you simply delete ".minecraft" and then rename ".minecraft - copy" to ".minecraft" .. Your other programs, launchers, shortcuts etc will be none the wiser and you will be happy. Very useful for the dreaded "Minecraft has updated to version 12.12.bajillion, but there is not yet a stable bukkit build so don't update if you want to play minetown."

Get Magic Launcher

Minecraftforums.net post here.

Minecraft updates alot, and the so will all of your mods. What is an easy and fast way to keep them up to date and still update your minecraft.jar all over again, in the right order?

You simply download the app, and it will recognize current minecraft installs on your computer. The best part is that it seems to be well supported and is stable enough that it required no significant updates through MC 1.0 to 1.1 and 1.2.zillion.

Some key points to this app:

• 
  
• It does not directly modify your minecraft.jar, allowing you to easily swap out or reorder modifications.
  
• The bad news.. it is not fully compatible with some of the advanced visual mods, like shaders for example, but you can mod your shaders manually then still use magic launcher for the rest. Just know that any manual modding you do will require manual updating when MC updates too..
  
• You can reorder the installation order, allowing for some mods that may conflict to work.
  
• It runs a compatibility check upon setup of a new mod, allowing you to either make tough choices or rearrange the loading order.. this allows some mods that may conflict to work, as long as they are in the right order. If it says (errors) then try moving it up or down the list, it may work.
  
• No unpacking and repacking of downloaded .zip files, just point the launcher to the .zip file and add
  
• When the app updates, it tells you and offers to download the new version (0.9.7 is pretty stable and has not updated in a while
  
• When MC updates the app does not autoupdate MC.. helpful since updating MC before MT is ready is death to your free time killer while you wait for bukkit to update allowing MT to update allowing you again to kill time.
  
• When you are ready to update MC, run the normal MC launcher, let it update. Magic Launcher will automatically find the updated MC and use it, plus tell you all your other mods are now worthless <object class="emojione" data="https://resources.enjin.com/1489581540/themes/core/images/emojione/svg/1f642.svg?0" type="image/svg+xml" standby=":)">:)</object>
  
• ditching these now worthless mods afterupdate is now as easy as removing them from magic launcher setup. Simply dowload the new updated mods into another folder and point Magic there.
  

I have a folder where I place all my mods (seperated by MC version). In magic launcher you use the setup button to point to this folder and select the .zip files you wish to use. That easy. Be sure to read the documentation on the website linked above on details on how to do this..

Another tip, make a folder and put webshortcuts to the mod's development site (i.e. a bookmark to the minecraftforums page or download site etc) so when you need to update you simply use this to go get the latest version. I updated 1.2.4 in about 5 mins using this method.

ModLoader

ModLoader Page here

This is essential because it allows many other mods to work. It should be the first on your list in MagicLauncher.

Optifine

Link to mod page

Another "vital" because of the performance updates. This is needed to run the "HiDef" texture packs plus gives a noticeable performance boost, especially when running on less then optimal hardware or running more intense texture packs. Plus it adds some video options to your game menu. Put this second on your list.

ModMacros

ModMacros Page

I like this one because it has a cool user interface with pretty pictures and in game instructions. It allows for single key assignment and GUI menus for things like /warp <place> and /tell <friend or foe>..

with minimal scripting or coding... plus the coding uses dollar signs.. so its money..

REIminimap

very handy for finding your deathspot and marking the place of that giant virgin nether-fortress. get it here

InvTweeks

inventory management, for dummies.. and I am king dumb... here

This is just a sampling, but it is an easy way to improve your minetown experience in a satisfying way.. plus avoid the hassle that comes from updates and re-installs.. (hey isn't MC 1.2.5 due any day now???)

DISCLAIMER: I don't know MAC, so I don't know if this works with MAC.. though it prob. does work with MAC exceedingly well and I don't know Jack, mac. Also all mods listed here are in compliance with MT rules. Using these tips to break those rules don't absolve you of responsibility, though this disclaimer does absolve me.. yay me... Finally, I am a forum newbie, so I apologize if the format of this does not blow your mind.. I am sure there are way better people here that will add to this and make it much better.. till then have fun doing MODs (again, modifications... you sick sick minded indeviduals)..

So essentially, a wild assumption?

But good post anyway - I was expecting it to be a guide to modding though, you only explained how to install mods. Out of interest, do you do any modding?

Thanks man I could never find how to this on the internet..

Coffeey is GRATEFUL FOR THE FIRST TIME! AHMAHGAWD!!

tprezzle- no modding, so i suposenit is a misnomer in the post title.. just modifyin..

and yes, i have a tendency to make wild, unadulterated unsubstantiated assumptions with no basis in fact despite the authoratative tone used to add merit.. hey wait a minute, that means i could work for fox news!!!!

I have seen coffey grateful before... i am sure of it.. it has to be here somewhere....

coffeey: kinda like the illigitamate offspring of Al Gore and Google, i make the internet finially make sense, get great gas milage in town and on the highway, and I am also an arrogant know it all bastardo despite being obviously irrelevant...

all joking aside, thanks for the comments unless they are sarcastic, but that might just be the parnoid schitzophrenic in me.. 'what's that me, oh i guess so' well have to go, i need me..

cheers!

Are you saying my comment was crazy enough to trigger schizophrenic symptoms?

... Cool <object class="emojione" data="https://resources.enjin.com/1489581540/themes/core/images/emojione/svg/1f60e.svg?0" type="image/svg+xml" standby=":cool:">:cool:</object>

no, my triggers include inspiration, lime soda, digitalis, forgetting meds, loud boomy noises, quiet irritating noises, threading needles, any type of "manual labor", when thinking develops into pondering, pandas, pandering and generally any word where the first letter is p and the fourth letter is d.

Oh, and pudding..

i say this gets stickied!! this is good stuff.

Thank You..