ModsFinder

CrankShaft

by movblock

CrankShaft is a client-side library that switches its rendering backend to match the graphics API Minecraft is using, so instanced visuals keep working on OpenGL and Vulkan.

FabricForgeNeoForgeClient-side onlyMIT LicenseOpen source1.12.2 – 26.2

What it does

CrankShaft is an unofficial port of Flywheel, the instanced rendering library, and it selects a native backend for whichever of Minecraft 26.2's two graphics APIs is active. When a requested backend is not supported on the hardware, it falls back to the next one that works. Players change the graphics API under Options, Video Settings, Graphics API, then restart the game, and the mod picks up the Vulkan renderer on its own with no separate setting to adjust.

When an Iris shaderpack is active, CrankShaft selects the Iris counterpart of the native OpenGL backend and sends instances through the pack's own programs, including shadows. Packs that follow the Colorwheel shaderpack contract are supported. A pack's own renderer may draw things a little differently than the mod does.

The mod is released under the MIT License and is open source, and its source code and issue tracker are public. It is published for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge, with the 26.2 builds updated on 2026-10-11. Sodium 0.9.2 or newer is needed for terrain integration below 0.10, and opaque and full-block terrain depends on Sodium as well.

Key features

  1. Automatic backend selection

    The backend that matches the active graphics API is chosen without configuration, and the strongest supported hardware backend is used when several exist.

  2. Order-independent transparency

    Overlapping translucent instances blend correctly without sorting, and translucent chunk terrain joins the same transparency path by default.

  3. Iris shaderpack rendering

    Instanced visuals are drawn through the active shaderpack's own programs, including the shadow pass.

  4. Terrain integration

    When Sodium is present, chunk terrain is drawn through the same instancing system as the other visuals.

Compatibility

Latest build for each game version and loader.

26.21.6.0+mc26.2Not available1.6.0+mc26.2
1.12.2Not available1.0.0Not available
ReleaseBetaAlphaNot available

Only full game releases are shown. This mod publishes no snapshot builds.

Questions

Does CrankShaft need Sodium to work?

Terrain integration with Sodium is optional, but opaque and full-block terrain depends on Sodium, and Sodium 0.9.2 or newer is needed below 0.10.

Which graphics API should players select?

Either OpenGL or Vulkan works. CrankShaft detects the chosen renderer and switches backends, and only shaderpack support requires OpenGL.

Does CrankShaft need to be installed on a server?

No. Players add it to their own game, and a server needs no copy.

In the catalog

CrankShaft is one of 3,514 Library mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,348 Library mods for Fabric. 13,894 mods support Minecraft 26.2.

Library mods3,514Fabric modsMods for 26.213,894

Similar mods

Fabric API1.14 – 26.3Cloth Config API1.14 – 26.3YetAnotherConfigLib (YACL)1.19 – 26.3Architectury API1.16.5 – 26.3Just Enough Items (JEI)1.8 – 26.3Geckolib1.12.2 – 26.3

What the author says

Shipped alongside CrankShaft is Vanillate, the 26.2 counterpart to Vanillin: instanced rendering for vanilla entities and block entities via Flywheel. It is bundled inside the CrankShaft jar and is off by default — until you opt in, it registers nothing and vanilla renders as usual. Turn it on with "enabled": true in…
movblock, on the Modrinth page

Official listing

Owner
movblock
Published
2026-05-20
Updated on Modrinth
2026-10-11
Facts verified
2026-10-15

Tags

Library
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