ModsFinder

Cynosure

by Maya

Cynosure is a Kotlin-only library mod for Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt that gives mod developers event, rendering, model and platform abstraction tools.

FabricForgeNeoForgeQuiltClient and serverGNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 or laterOpen source1.20.1 – 1.21.1

What it does

Developers who write mods in Kotlin can use Cynosure to reach event handling, rendering, model loading and item or block helpers from one codebase. Its platform abstractions cover parts of the Fabric API and Forge, so the same code can target several loaders. Cynosure also provides loaded-mod utilities and a color API for common tasks.

Installation needs Fabric API and Fabric Language Kotlin on Fabric and Quilt, and Kotlin for Forge on Forge and NeoForge. Cynosure is client and server, so the server and every player need it. Builds cover 1.20.1 and 1.21.1, with the latest Fabric, Quilt and NeoForge files for 1.21.1 and the latest Forge file for 1.20.1. The mod is released under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 or later and is open source. The author notes that a Java-only project can use it, but would lose much of the abstraction and utility value.

Key features

  1. Giant Event API

    A shared event system that lets mod code respond to game events across loaders with one interface.

  2. Rendering API

    Helpers for drawing and rendering that wrap the underlying loader rendering calls.

  3. Model API

    Tools for registering and handling models from Kotlin code.

  4. Kotlin item and block extensions

    Extension functions that simplify defining items and blocks in Kotlin.

  5. Render attachment and color utilities

    A render attachment API and a color API for handling attachments and color values.

Compatibility

Latest build for each game version and loader.

No stable releases
Every published file is a beta or alpha build.
1.21.11.0.3-fabricNot available1.0.3-neoforge1.0.3-fabric
1.20.10.1.16-fabric0.1.16-forgeNot available0.1.16-fabric
ReleaseBetaAlphaNot available

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

Requirements

Dependencies declared by the latest file for each loader.

Required 2

Fabric APILightweight and modular API providing common hooks and intercompatibility measures utilized by mods using the Fabric toolchain.
Required
Fabric Language KotlinThis is a mod that enables usage of the Kotlin programming language for Fabric mods.
Required

Required by 1 mod

Estrogen1.18.2 – 1.21.1

Use cases

Multiloader mod development

Developers targeting Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt can share Kotlin code paths through the platform abstractions.

Who it’s for: Mod developers who write in Kotlin and want shared abstractions across several loaders. Players and server owners only need it as a dependency of other mods.

How it compares

Full comparison

Cynosure is a Kotlin-only library, while LMCommonCore is a GPL-3.0 library for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge with files for 1.20.1 – 1.21.1. Architectury API is an LGPL-3.0 library for Fabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt that covers 1.16.5 – 26.3, a wider range than Cynosure's 1.20.1 – 1.21.1.

ModLoadersGame versionsEnvironmentUpdated
CynosureFabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt1.20.1 – 1.21.1Client and server2026-09-21
LMCommonCoreFabric, Forge and NeoForge1.20.1 – 1.21.1Client and server2026-03-09
Architectury APIFabric, Forge, NeoForge and Quilt1.16.5 – 26.3Client and server2026-10-09

Questions

Which dependencies does Cynosure need?

Fabric API and Fabric Language Kotlin are required on Fabric and Quilt. Kotlin for Forge is required on Forge and NeoForge.

Does Cynosure have to be installed on the server?

Yes. Installation covers the server and each player's game.

Is Cynosure usable without Kotlin?

Yes, though the abstractions and utilities that depend on Kotlin features are lost, so the gain from the library shrinks.

In the catalog

Cynosure is one of 3,514 Library mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,348 Library mods for Fabric. 32,366 mods support Minecraft 1.21.1.

Library mods3,514Fabric modsMods for 1.21.132,366

More from Maya

All projects
Estrogen1.18.2 – 1.21.1Create: Estrogen1.20.1 – 1.21.1Spectrum Jetpacks1.18 – 1.20.1Chat Toggle1.18.2 – 1.21.1NexusFrame1.19.4 – 1.21.1Squished1.20.1

Similar mods

Fabric API1.14 – 26.3Cloth Config API1.14 – 26.3YetAnotherConfigLib (YACL)1.19 – 26.3Just Enough Items (JEI)1.8 – 26.3Geckolib1.12.2 – 26.3Text Placeholder API1.17 – 26.3

What the author says

> “Cynosure. Cyberspace equivalent of a nuke, Militech's answer to Arasaka's Soulkiller.” — Solomon Reed Cynosure is a multiloader, mulitpurpose kotlin-only* library mod featuring a multitude of useful tools for mod development and an incredibly amount of platform abstractions. Mod is build from the ground up on…
Maya, on the Modrinth page

Official listing

Owner
Maya
Published
2025-03-24
Updated on Modrinth
2026-09-21
Facts verified
2026-10-15

Tags

CursedLibraryManagementGame mechanics
Open on ModrinthCompare