Getting Started with Fabric Modding

Published on April 1, 2025 by M4rioLS

Minecraft modding has been a gateway for creativity in the gaming community for over a decade. This guide will walk you through setting up a Fabric modding environment using VS Code and creating your first basic mod.

VS Code interface with Fabric modding tools — Fabric modding setup in VS Code.

Why Fabric?

Fabric is a lightweight modding toolkit for Minecraft that emphasizes flexibility and performance. Its modular system and rapid updates make it ideal for modern mod development.

Prerequisites

Java JDK 17+
VS Code with Java extensions
Minecraft Java Edition
Basic Java knowledge

Setting Up with VS Code

Step 1: Create Project Template

Visit the Fabric template generator
Fill in your mod details and download the ZIP
Extract the files to your workspace

Step 2: Configure VS Code

// Install these extensions:
// - Microsoft Java Extension Pack
// - Gradle for Java
// - Fabric for VS Code (optional)

Open the project folder in VS Code. The IDE will automatically detect the Gradle project. Allow it to import dependencies.

Step 3: Run Configuration

Create a new run configuration in .vscode/launch.json:

{
    "configurations": [
        {
            "type": "java",
            "name": "Minecraft Client",
            "request": "launch",
            "mainClass": "net.fabricmc.devlaunchinjector.Main"
        }
    ]
}

Your First Mod

Create a simple console message when Minecraft launches:

public class ExampleMod implements ModInitializer {
    @Override
    public void onInitialize() {
        System.out.println("Hello, Fabric!");
    }
}

Adding Custom Items

Expand your mod with a new game item:

public class ModItems {
    public static final Item CUSTOM_ITEM = 
        new Item(new FabricItemSettings());
    
    public static void register() {
        Registry.register(Registries.ITEM, 
            new Identifier("mymod", "custom_item"), 
            CUSTOM_ITEM);
    }
}

Resources

With these basics mastered, you're ready to explore more complex modding concepts. Stay tuned for our next guide on custom blocks and GUI elements!