ScalableLux
by ishland
ScalableLux is a Fabric and NeoForge optimization mod that speeds up light updates in Minecraft, based on the Starlight project.
What it does
Light updates are the work the game does each time a block changes the light level around it. ScalableLux replaces the way those updates are carried out with a stateless design that lets them run in parallel. The author describes the base Starlight code as still roughly twice as fast as the vanilla lighting engine, and ScalableLux keeps those improvements while adding bug fixes. Parallel light updates are optional and can be turned on for high-speed play.
The vanilla lighting engine remains a bottleneck during high-performance chunk generation, which is the main reason this mod exists. The original Starlight mod is no longer maintained, so ScalableLux carries its work forward on current game versions. It runs on Fabric and NeoForge, and its files are published for 1.21 – 26.3 on both loaders.
Key features
Faster light updates
Light changes are processed with a stateless design that avoids much of the work the vanilla engine repeats.
Optional parallel updates
Light updates can run in parallel, a setting that is turned off unless enabled.
Starlight improvements
The performance changes from the Starlight project are included, along with later bug fixes.
Fabric and NeoForge builds
Separate files exist for both loaders, so the same optimization is available on either platform.
Compatibility
Latest build for each game version and loader.
26.x5 of 5 versions with builds
1.21.x12 of 12 versions with builds
This mod also publishes snapshot builds. Snapshots are not shown in the matrix.
Required by 1 mod
Use cases
Chunk generation
Servers and players that generate large areas of new terrain can benefit from faster lighting during that work.
Heavy high-speed play
Players who travel quickly across loaded chunks can enable parallel light updates to keep lighting in step.
Who it’s for: The mod suits server owners and players who run a large world or generate many chunks, and who want the lighting work done faster on Fabric or NeoForge.
How it compares
Starlight (Fabric) is open source under the GNU Lesser General Public License v3.0 only, runs client or server optionally and covers 1.17 – 1.20.4. Starlight (NeoForge) is the NeoForge build of the same line, for 1.20.4 only, with the same license and environment. StarLight Reloaded is open source under the same license, but it is client and server, and it covers 1.21.1 – 1.21.4.
| Mod | Loaders | Game versions | Environment | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ScalableLux | Fabric and NeoForge | 1.21 – 26.3 | Client or server, optional | 2026-09-16 |
| Starlight (Fabric) | Fabric | 1.17 – 1.20.4 | Client or server, optional | 2023-12-10 |
| Starlight (NeoForge) | NeoForge | 1.20.4 | Client or server, optional | 2023-12-18 |
| StarLight Reloaded | Fabric | 1.21.1 – 1.21.4 | Client and server | 2026-02-21 |
Questions
Does ScalableLux need to be installed on both sides?
Which loaders does ScalableLux support?
Is the mod required by other mods?
In the catalog
ScalableLux is one of 3,545 Optimization mods on ModsFinder, and one of 2,575 Optimization mods for Fabric. 8,071 mods support Minecraft 26.3.
More from ishland
Similar mods
Official listing
- Modrinth page
- modrinth.com/mod/scalablelux
- Owner
- ishland
- Published
- 2024-07-02
- Updated on Modrinth
- 2026-09-16
- Facts verified
- 2026-10-15