ModsFinder

Shadow Config

by ShadowKing21_

Shadow Config is a configuration library for mods, with automatic config migration and comment injection through annotations, built for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge.

FabricForgeNeoForgeClient or server, optionalCreative Commons Attribution 4.01.12.2 – 1.21.1

What it does

Mod developers use the library to define and read configuration files without writing the parsing code themselves. One config class can be written out as JSON, JSONC, TOML or YAML, so the same settings model works for any of those formats. Output is kept clean and formatted, and comments can be preserved when the file is rewritten.

Nested structures, lists and primitive values are handled through Jackson-based serialization. When a config changes shape between versions, the library migrates existing files automatically instead of requiring a hand-written mapping. Comments are injected from annotations, so the documentation in a file stays in step with the code that defines it.

The library is aimed at mod developers who want a small, focused dependency. Its runtime footprint is kept minimal, and it is published for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge so one codebase can serve several loaders. It is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license and is not open source. The current files cover 1.12.2, 1.20.1, 1.21 and 1.21.1, and the library is required by three other mods: Stylish Battle Ranks, Regenerating Blocks and LegacyChecker.

Key features

  1. Multiple config formats

    One config definition can be stored as JSON, JSONC, TOML or YAML without changing the code that reads it.

  2. Automatic migration

    Existing config files are updated when the config structure changes, so no manual version mapping is needed.

  3. Annotation-based comments

    Comments in the generated file come from annotations on the config fields, keeping the documentation close to the code.

  4. Nested structures and lists

    Jackson-based serialization handles nested objects, lists and primitive values in the same config.

Compatibility

Latest build for each game version and loader.

1.21.11.2-1.21.1Not available1.2-1.21.1
1.211.2-1.21.1Not available1.2-1.21.1
1.20.11.2-1.20.11.2-1.20.11.2-1.20.1
1.12.2Not available1.2-1.12.2Not available
ReleaseBetaAlphaNot available

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

Required by 3 mods

Use cases

Mod settings

A mod author defines its options once and lets the library write, read and migrate the file.

Multi-loader projects

A developer building one mod for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge can keep a single config setup across all three.

Who it’s for: Mod developers who want a lightweight configuration library with automatic migration and annotation-based comments, rather than writing their own file handling.

Questions

Which loaders does Shadow Config support?

It is published for Fabric, Forge and NeoForge. The latest Fabric and NeoForge files target 1.21.1, and the latest Forge file targets 1.12.2.

Does Shadow Config have to be installed on the server?

Installing it on either the client or the server is enough, and neither side requires it.

Which mods require Shadow Config?

Three catalog mods depend on it: Stylish Battle Ranks, Regenerating Blocks and LegacyChecker.

Which file formats can a config be written in?

Configs can be written as JSON, JSONC, TOML or YAML from the same definition.

In the catalog

Shadow Config 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.

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What the author says

Shadow Config is a lightweight configuration library for mods, focused on clarity, automation, and minimalism.
ShadowKing21_, on the Modrinth page

Official listing

Owner
ShadowKing21_
Published
2026-01-08
Updated on Modrinth
2026-06-14
Facts verified
2026-10-15

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