Package org.bukkit.plugin

Class PluginDescriptionFile

java.lang.Object
org.bukkit.plugin.PluginDescriptionFile
public final class PluginDescriptionFile
extends Object
This type is the runtime-container for the information in the plugin.yml. All plugins must have a respective plugin.yml. For plugins written in java using the standard plugin loader, this file must be in the root of the jar file.

When Bukkit loads a plugin, it needs to know some basic information about it. It reads this information from a YAML file, 'plugin.yml'. This file consists of a set of attributes, each defined on a new line and with no indentation.

Every (almost* every) method corresponds with a specific entry in the plugin.yml. These are the required entries for every plugin.yml:

Failing to include any of these items will throw an exception and cause the server to ignore your plugin.

This is a list of the possible yaml keys, with specific details included in the respective method documentations:

The description of the plugin.yml layout
Node Method Summary
name getName() The unique name of plugin
provides getProvides() The plugin APIs which this plugin provides
version getVersion() A plugin revision identifier
main getMain() The plugin's initial class file
author
authors		 getAuthors() The plugin authors
contributors getContributors() The plugin contributors
description getDescription() Human readable plugin summary
website getWebsite() The URL to the plugin's site
prefix getPrefix() The token to prefix plugin log entries
load getLoad() The phase of server-startup this plugin will load during
depend getDepend() Other required plugins
softdepend getSoftDepend() Other plugins that add functionality
loadbefore getLoadBefore() The inverse softdepend
commands getCommands() The commands the plugin will register
permissions getPermissions() The permissions the plugin will register
default-permission getPermissionDefault() The default default permission state for defined permissions the plugin will register
awareness getAwareness() The concepts that the plugin acknowledges
api-version getAPIVersion() The API version which this plugin was programmed against

A plugin.yml example:

name: Inferno
provides: [Hell]
version: 1.4.1
description: This plugin is so 31337. You can set yourself on fire.
# We could place every author in the authors list, but chose not to for illustrative purposes
# Also, having an author distinguishes that person as the project lead, and ensures their
# name is displayed first
author: CaptainInflamo
authors: [Cogito, verrier, EvilSeph]
contributors: [Choco, md_5]
website: http://www.curse.com/server-mods/minecraft/myplugin

main: com.captaininflamo.bukkit.inferno.Inferno
depend: [NewFire, FlameWire]
api-version: 1.13

commands:
  flagrate:
    description: Set yourself on fire.
    aliases: [combust_me, combustMe]
    permission: inferno.flagrate
    usage: Syntax error! Simply type /<command> to ignite yourself.
  burningdeaths:
    description: List how many times you have died by fire.
    aliases: [burning_deaths, burningDeaths]
    permission: inferno.burningdeaths
    usage: |
      /<command> [player]
      Example: /<command> - see how many times you have burned to death
      Example: /<command> CaptainIce - see how many times CaptainIce has burned to death

permissions:
  inferno.*:
    description: Gives access to all Inferno commands
    children:
      inferno.flagrate: true
      inferno.burningdeaths: true
      inferno.burningdeaths.others: true
  inferno.flagrate:
    description: Allows you to ignite yourself
    default: true
  inferno.burningdeaths:
    description: Allows you to see how many times you have burned to death
    default: true
  inferno.burningdeaths.others:
    description: Allows you to see how many times others have burned to death
    default: op
    children:
      inferno.burningdeaths: true

  • Constructor Details

  • Method Details

    • getName

      @NotNull public String getName()
      Gives the name of the plugin. This name is a unique identifier for plugins.
      • Must consist of all alphanumeric characters, underscores, hyphon, and period (a-z,A-Z,0-9, _.-). Any other character will cause the plugin.yml to fail loading.
      • Used to determine the name of the plugin's data folder. Data folders are placed in the ./plugins/ directory by default, but this behavior should not be relied on. Plugin.getDataFolder() should be used to reference the data folder.
      • It is good practice to name your jar the same as this, for example 'MyPlugin.jar'.
      • Case sensitive.
      • The is the token referenced in getDepend(), getSoftDepend(), and getLoadBefore().
      • Using spaces in the plugin's name is deprecated.

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named name.

      Example:

      name: MyPlugin
      Returns:
      the name of the plugin

    • getProvides

      @NotNull public List<String> getProvides()
      Gives the list of other plugin APIs which this plugin provides. These are usable for other plugins to depend on.
      • Must consist of all alphanumeric characters, underscores, hyphon, and period (a-z,A-Z,0-9, _.-). Any other character will cause the plugin.yml to fail loading.
      • A different plugin providing the same one or using it as their name will not result in the plugin to fail loading.
      • Case sensitive.
      • An entry of this list can be referenced in getDepend(), getSoftDepend(), and getLoadBefore().
      • provides must be in YAML list format.

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named provides.

      Example: 

      provides:
- OtherPluginName
- OldPluginName
      Returns:
      immutable list of the plugin APIs which this plugin provides

    • getVersion

      @NotNull public String getVersion()
      Gives the version of the plugin.
      • Version is an arbitrary string, however the most common format is MajorRelease.MinorRelease.Build (eg: 1.4.1).
      • Typically you will increment this every time you release a new feature or bug fix.
      • Displayed when a user types /version PluginName

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named version.

      Example:

      version: 1.4.1
      Returns:
      the version of the plugin

    • getMain

      @NotNull public String getMain()
      Gives the fully qualified name of the main class for a plugin. The format should follow the ClassLoader.loadClass(String) syntax to successfully be resolved at runtime. For most plugins, this is the class that extends JavaPlugin.
      • This must contain the full namespace including the class file itself.
      • If your namespace is org.bukkit.plugin, and your class file is called MyPlugin then this must be org.bukkit.plugin.MyPlugin
      • No plugin can use org.bukkit. as a base package for any class, including the main class.

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named main.

      Example: 

      main: org.bukkit.plugin.MyPlugin
      Returns:
      the fully qualified main class for the plugin

    • getDescription

      @Nullable public String getDescription()
      Gives a human-friendly description of the functionality the plugin provides.
      • The description can have multiple lines.
      • Displayed when a user types /version PluginName

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named description.

      Example: 

      description: This plugin is so 31337. You can set yourself on fire.
      Returns:
      description of this plugin, or null if not specified

    • getLoad

      @NotNull public PluginLoadOrder getLoad()
      Gives the phase of server startup that the plugin should be loaded.

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named load.

      Example:

      load: STARTUP
      Returns:
      the phase when the plugin should be loaded

    • getAuthors

      @NotNull public List<String> getAuthors()
      Gives the list of authors for the plugin.
      • Gives credit to the developer.
      • Used in some server error messages to provide helpful feedback on who to contact when an error occurs.
      • A SpigotMC forum handle or email address is recommended.
      • Is displayed when a user types /version PluginName
      • authors must be in YAML list format.

      In the plugin.yml, this has two entries, author and authors.

      Single author example: 

      author: CaptainInflamo
      Multiple author example: 
      authors: [Cogito, verrier, EvilSeph]
      When both are specified, author will be the first entry in the list, so this example: 
      author: Grum
authors:
- feildmaster
- amaranth
      Is equivilant to this example: 
      authors: [Grum, feildmaster, aramanth]
      Returns:
      an immutable list of the plugin's authors

    • getContributors

      @NotNull public List<String> getContributors()
      Gives the list of contributors for the plugin.
      • Gives credit to those that have contributed to the plugin, though not enough so to warrant authorship.
      • Unlike getAuthors(), contributors will not be mentioned in server error messages as a means of contact.
      • A SpigotMC forum handle or email address is recommended.
      • Is displayed when a user types /version PluginName
      • contributors must be in YAML list format.

      Example: 

      authors: [Choco, md_5]
      Returns:
      an immutable list of the plugin's contributors

    • getWebsite

      @Nullable public String getWebsite()
      Gives the plugin's or plugin's author's website.
      • A link to the Curse page that includes documentation and downloads is highly recommended.
      • Displayed when a user types /version PluginName

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named website.

      Example: 

      website: http://www.curse.com/server-mods/minecraft/myplugin
      Returns:
      description of this plugin, or null if not specified

    • getDepend

      @NotNull public List<String> getDepend()
      Gives a list of other plugins that the plugin requires.
      • Use the value in the getName() of the target plugin to specify the dependency.
      • If any plugin listed here is not found, your plugin will fail to load at startup.
      • If multiple plugins list each other in depend, creating a network with no individual plugin does not list another plugin in the network, all plugins in that network will fail.
      • depend must be in YAML list format.

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named depend.

      Example: 

      depend:
- OnePlugin
- AnotherPlugin
      Returns:
      immutable list of the plugin's dependencies

    • getSoftDepend

      @NotNull public List<String> getSoftDepend()
      Gives a list of other plugins that the plugin requires for full functionality. The PluginManager will make best effort to treat all entries here as if they were a dependency, but will never fail because of one of these entries.
      • Use the value in the getName() of the target plugin to specify the dependency.
      • When an unresolvable plugin is listed, it will be ignored and does not affect load order.
      • When a circular dependency occurs (a network of plugins depending or soft-dependending each other), it will arbitrarily choose a plugin that can be resolved when ignoring soft-dependencies.
      • softdepend must be in YAML list format.

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named softdepend.

      Example: 

      softdepend: [OnePlugin, AnotherPlugin]
      Returns:
      immutable list of the plugin's preferred dependencies

    • getLoadBefore

      @NotNull public List<String> getLoadBefore()
      Gets the list of plugins that should consider this plugin a soft-dependency.
      • Use the value in the getName() of the target plugin to specify the dependency.
      • The plugin should load before any other plugins listed here.
      • Specifying another plugin here is strictly equivalent to having the specified plugin's getSoftDepend() include this plugin.
      • loadbefore must be in YAML list format.

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named loadbefore.

      Example: 

      loadbefore:
- OnePlugin
- AnotherPlugin
      Returns:
      immutable list of plugins that should consider this plugin a soft-dependency

    • getPrefix

      @Nullable public String getPrefix()
      Gives the token to prefix plugin-specific logging messages with.
      • This includes all messages using Plugin.getLogger().
      • If not specified, the server uses the plugin's name.
      • This should clearly indicate what plugin is being logged.

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named prefix.

      Example:

      prefix: ex-why-zee
      Returns:
      the prefixed logging token, or null if not specified

    • getCommands

      @NotNull public Map<String,​Map<String,​Object>> getCommands()
      Gives the map of command-name to command-properties. Each entry in this map corresponds to a single command and the respective values are the properties of the command. Each property, with the exception of aliases, can be defined at runtime using methods in PluginCommand and are defined here only as a convenience.
      The command section's description
      Node Method Type Description Example
      description Command.setDescription(String) String A user-friendly description for a command. It is useful for documentation purposes as well as in-game help. 
      description: Set yourself on fire
      aliases Command.setAliases(List) String or List of strings Alternative command names, with special usefulness for commands that are already registered. Aliases are not effective when defined at runtime, so the plugin description file is the only way to have them properly defined.

      Note: Command aliases may not have a colon in them.

      		 Single alias format: 
      aliases: combust_me
      or multiple alias format: 
      aliases: [combust_me, combustMe]
      permission Command.setPermission(String) String The name of the Permission required to use the command. A user without the permission will receive the specified message (see below), or a standard one if no specific message is defined. Without the permission node, no CommandExecutor or PluginCommand.setTabCompleter(TabCompleter) will be called. 
      permission: inferno.flagrate
      permission-message Command.setPermissionMessage(String) String
      • Displayed to a player that attempts to use a command, but does not have the required permission. See above.
      • <permission> is a macro that is replaced with the permission node required to use the command.
      • Using empty quotes is a valid way to indicate nothing should be displayed to a player. 
      permission-message: You do not have /<permission>
      usage Command.setUsage(String) String This message is displayed to a player when the PluginCommand.setExecutor(CommandExecutor) returns false. <command> is a macro that is replaced the command issued. 
      usage: Syntax error! Perhaps you meant /<command> PlayerName?
      It is worth noting that to use a colon in a yaml, like `usage: Usage: /god [player]', you need to surround the message with double-quote: 
      usage: "Usage: /god [player]"
      The commands are structured as a hiearchy of nested mappings. The primary (top-level, no intendentation) node is `commands', while each individual command name is indented, indicating it maps to some value (in our case, the properties of the table above).

      Here is an example bringing together the piecemeal examples above, as well as few more definitions:

      commands:
  flagrate:
    description: Set yourself on fire.
    aliases: [combust_me, combustMe]
    permission: inferno.flagrate
    permission-message: You do not have /<permission>
    usage: Syntax error! Perhaps you meant /<command> PlayerName?
  burningdeaths:
    description: List how many times you have died by fire.
    aliases:
    - burning_deaths
    - burningDeaths
    permission: inferno.burningdeaths
    usage: |
      /<command> [player]
      Example: /<command> - see how many times you have burned to death
      Example: /<command> CaptainIce - see how many times CaptainIce has burned to death
  # The next command has no description, aliases, etc. defined, but is still valid
  # Having an empty declaration is useful for defining the description, permission, and messages from a configuration dynamically
  apocalypse:
      Note: Command names may not have a colon in their name.
      Returns:
      the commands this plugin will register

    • getPermissions

      @NotNull public List<Permission> getPermissions()
      Gives the list of permissions the plugin will register at runtime, immediately proceding enabling. The format for defining permissions is a map from permission name to properties. To represent a map without any specific property, empty curly-braces ( {} ) may be used (as a null value is not accepted, unlike the commands above).

      A list of optional properties for permissions:

      The permission section's description
      Node Description Example
      description Plaintext (user-friendly) description of what the permission is for. 
      description: Allows you to set yourself on fire
      default The default state for the permission, as defined by Permission.getDefault(). If not defined, it will be set to the value of getPermissionDefault().

      For reference:

      		 
      default: true
      children Allows other permissions to be set as a relation to the parent permission. When a parent permissions is assigned, child permissions are respectively assigned as well.
      • When a parent permission is assigned negatively, child permissions are assigned based on an inversion of their association.
      • When a parent permission is assigned positively, child permissions are assigned based on their association.

      Child permissions may be defined in a number of ways:

      • Children may be defined as a list of names. Using a list will treat all children associated positively to their parent.
      • Children may be defined as a map. Each permission name maps to either a boolean (representing the association), or a nested permission definition (just as another permission). Using a nested definition treats the child as a positive association.
      • A nested permission definition must be a map of these same properties. To define a valid nested permission without defining any specific property, empty curly-braces ( {} ) must be used.
      • A nested permission may carry it's own nested permissions as children, as they may also have nested permissions, and so forth. There is no direct limit to how deep the permission tree is defined.
      		As a list: 
      children: [inferno.flagrate, inferno.burningdeaths]
      Or as a mapping: 
      children:
  inferno.flagrate: true
  inferno.burningdeaths: true
      An additional example showing basic nested values can be seen here.
      The permissions are structured as a hiearchy of nested mappings. The primary (top-level, no intendentation) node is `permissions', while each individual permission name is indented, indicating it maps to some value (in our case, the properties of the table above).

      Here is an example using some of the properties:

      permissions:
  inferno.*:
    description: Gives access to all Inferno commands
    children:
      inferno.flagrate: true
      inferno.burningdeaths: true
  inferno.flagate:
    description: Allows you to ignite yourself
    default: true
  inferno.burningdeaths:
    description: Allows you to see how many times you have burned to death
    default: true
      Another example, with nested definitions, can be found here.
      Returns:
      the permissions this plugin will register

    • getPermissionDefault

      @NotNull public PermissionDefault getPermissionDefault()
      Gives the default default state of permissions registered for the plugin.

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named default-permission.

      Example:

      default-permission: NOT_OP
      Returns:
      the default value for the plugin's permissions

    • getAwareness

      @NotNull public Set<PluginAwareness> getAwareness()
      Gives a set of every PluginAwareness for a plugin. An awareness dictates something that a plugin developer acknowledges when the plugin is compiled. Some implementions may define extra awarenesses that are not included in the API. Any unrecognized awareness (one unsupported or in a future version) will cause a dummy object to be created instead of failing.
      • Currently only supports the enumerated values in PluginAwareness.Flags.
      • Each awareness starts the identifier with bang-at (!@).
      • Unrecognized (future / unimplemented) entries are quietly replaced by a generic object that implements PluginAwareness.
      • A type of awareness must be defined by the runtime and acknowledged by the API, effectively discluding any derived type from any plugin's classpath.
      • awareness must be in YAML list format.

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named awareness.

      Example:

      awareness:
- !@UTF8

      Note: Although unknown versions of some future awareness are gracefully substituted, previous versions of Bukkit (ones prior to the first implementation of awareness) will fail to load a plugin that defines any awareness.

      Returns:
      a set containing every awareness for the plugin

    • getFullName

      @NotNull public String getFullName()
      Returns the name of a plugin, including the version. This method is provided for convenience; it uses the getName() and getVersion() entries.
      Returns:
      a descriptive name of the plugin and respective version

    • getAPIVersion

      @Nullable public String getAPIVersion()
      Gives the API version which this plugin is designed to support. No specific format is guaranteed.
      • Refer to release notes for supported API versions.

      In the plugin.yml, this entry is named api-version.

      Example:

      api-version: 1.13
      Returns:
      the version of the plugin

    • getClassLoaderOf

      @Deprecated @Nullable public String getClassLoaderOf()
      Deprecated.
      unused
      Returns:
      unused

    • save

      public void save​(@NotNull Writer writer)
      Saves this PluginDescriptionFile to the given writer
      Parameters:
      writer - Writer to output this file to

    • getRawName

      @Deprecated @NotNull public String getRawName()
      Deprecated.
      Internal use
      Returns:
      internal use