What installation options does BlueMap support for Minecraft servers and clients?

BlueMap can be installed in three ways: as a Spigot/Paper or Sponge plugin, as a Fabric or Forge mod, or as a standalone command-line tool that runs without any Minecraft server. Which one fits you depends on whether you already run a server, which server software it uses, and whether you want a live map tied to a running world or an offline render of world files.

Plugin: Spigot/Paper or Sponge

Choose this if you already run a Minecraft server on Spigot, Paper, or Sponge and want the map generated from that live server.

• BlueMap is installed into the server's plugin directory and runs alongside your existing world.
• According to the BlueMap site, when installed as a plugin or mod, BlueMap renders asynchronously to your Minecraft server thread. It does not block the server thread directly, so as long as your CPU is not fully utilized, the server should not be slowed down while rendering.
• This is the option that keeps the map continuously updated as players explore and build.

Mod: Fabric or Forge

Choose this if your setup is modded rather than plugin-based.

• BlueMap ships as a Fabric or Forge mod, so it fits a modded client or server environment where plugins are not the delivery mechanism.
• The same asynchronous rendering behavior described on the site applies to the mod form as well.

Standalone command-line tool

Choose this if you do not have a server, or you want to render world files without running Minecraft at all.

• BlueMap can be used without any server, from the command line, as a standalone tool.
• It reads your Minecraft world files and generates the map and 3D models of the surface, which you then view in the browser-based web app.
• This is the right fit for one-off renders, archived worlds, or machines where you do not want to run a full server.

How to decide

In every case the output is the same kind of result: BlueMap reads your world files, generates a map plus 3D models of the whole surface, and you view it in the web app in your browser — either as if you were in-game or zoomed out for an overview.

Getting started

BlueMap is downloaded from the official site, and the site points to installation instructions for setup. It also maintains a list of addons and tools that work with BlueMap, which is worth checking if you plan to extend the map. If you get stuck, the project offers a Discord server and the r/BlueMap community for questions.