AI-Powered Mod Creation, Migration & Compatibility System for the Modrinth App

[KarolRichter-creator]

Please confirm the following.

• I checked the existing issues for duplicate feature requests
• I have checked that this feature request is not on our roadmap

What parts of Modrinth is your feature request related too?

Modrinth App

Is your suggested feature related to a problem? Please describe.

Currently, the Modrinth app provides excellent hosting and mod management, but both users and developers face structural challenges within the modding ecosystem.
For users, modding can be complex because programming knowledge is required to create custom mods. In addition, compatibility issues between mods and versions are common.
For developers, maintenance effort is particularly high whenever a new Minecraft version is released. API changes, deprecated methods, and loader differences require significant time investment for version updates instead of new feature development.
There is also ongoing fragmentation between different modloader systems, which further complicates compatibility.

Describe the solution you'd like

I propose expanding the Modrinth app with an AI-powered modding system.

This system could include:

An integrated AI mod generator that allows users to create mods by simply describing their idea in natural language.

Automatic AI-assisted version migration for developers, where API changes are analyzed and update suggestions or adjusted builds are generated.

Intelligent compatibility monitoring that detects conflicts and warns users before launch.

These features could be offered as an optional Premium tier, while the base app remains free.
Instead of a monthly subscription (e.g., €5 per month), a one-time payment model (e.g., €20–30 lifetime access) might be more attractive. Many users are more willing to pay a higher one-time fee than commit to a recurring subscription that may be canceled after a few months.
A portion of Premium revenue could be distributed proportionally to mod developers based on usage or downloads.

As a long-term vision, Modrinth could also explore either stronger standardization between modloaders or AI-based cross-loader translation to reduce ecosystem fragmentation.

I am aware that such a system would be technically complex and challenging to implement, but it could significantly improve and simplify the overall modding experience.

Describe alternatives you've considered

As alternatives, users and developers can already rely on external tools.
Developers can use independent AI tools, IDE plugins, or custom scripts to assist with version migration and refactoring. Some projects also attempt cross-loader abstraction layers outside of Modrinth.
For users without programming knowledge, the only current alternative is to learn Java and the Minecraft modding APIs themselves or rely on external mod-creation tools, which are often limited, outdated, or disconnected from a central distribution platform.
However, these approaches are fragmented and not integrated into a single ecosystem. They require technical knowledge, manual setup, and external services.
Integrating AI-based mod creation and migration directly into the Modrinth app would provide a centralized, trusted, and seamless solution. It would especially empower regular players — not just developers — to participate in mod creation and innovation without needing deep technical expertise.
This could significantly lower the barrier of entry and expand the creator base within the Minecraft community.

Additional context

I understand that this proposal would require significant technical effort and long-term planning. My intention is simply to share a strategic idea that could potentially strengthen the Modrinth app in the future.
I am aware that such features would not be simple to implement, especially regarding AI infrastructure and cross-loader considerations. However, even incremental steps — such as starting with AI-assisted migration tools — could already bring measurable value.
I wanted to contribute this idea as a possible long-term direction that could further position Modrinth as an innovation leader within the modding ecosystem.
Thank you for your time and consideration.

[HungryBoy02]

hey guys let's just take all the creativity out of this artform we all love. sounds like a great idea.

[KarolRichter-creator]

hey guys let's just take all the creativity out of this artform we all love. sounds like a great idea.

I understand the concern, but the intention is not to replace creativity — it’s to lower the barrier to entry and reduce repetitive maintenance work.

AI wouldn’t replace developers or creative ideas. It would act as a tool — similar to how IDEs, code generators, and build systems already assist developers today.

• The goal is to:

• help beginners get started

• simplify repeated version updates

• improve compatibility transparency

The actual ideas, design, and innovation behind a mod would still come entirely from people.
It’s about enabling more creativity, not removing it.

[HungryBoy02]

hey guys let's just take all the creativity out of this artform we all love. sounds like a great idea.

I understand the concern, but the intention is not to replace creativity — it’s to lower the barrier to entry and reduce repetitive maintenance work.

AI wouldn’t replace developers or creative ideas. It would act as a tool — similar to how IDEs, code generators, and build systems already assist developers today.

• The goal is to:

• help beginners get started

• simplify repeated version updates

• improve compatibility transparency

The actual ideas, design, and innovation behind a mod would still come entirely from people.
It’s about enabling more creativity, not removing it.

Programming is an art form. If you want to make mods, more power to you. If you want to use ai as an educational tool to do that, that's okay although there are much better alternatives that can help you truly understand what your code does.

However, entrusting the process entirely to ai means you do not understand what you're doing at a fundamental level. This doesn't lower the barrier, it actually raises it by discouraging upcoming developers from learning how to code mods.

If you want to learn to code, there are many great resources, like boot.dev or khanacademy (free btw)

[KarolRichter-creator]

Hey Leute, lasst uns einfach die ganze Kreativität aus dieser Kunstform entfernen, die wir alle lieben. Klingt nach einer tollen Idee

Ich verstehe die Bedenken, aber die Absicht ist nicht, Kreativität zu ersetzen – es geht darum, die Einstiegshürde zu senken und sich wiederholende Wartungsarbeiten zu reduzieren
KI würde weder Entwickler noch kreative Ideen ersetzen. Sie würde als Werkzeug fungieren – ähnlich wie IDEs, Codegeneratoren und Build-Systeme Entwickler heute bereits unterstützen.

• Das Ziel ist:
• Anfängern den Einstieg erleichtern
• Vereinfachung wiederholter Versionsaktualisierungen
• Kompatibilitätstransparenz verbessern

Die eigentlichen Ideen, das Design und die Innovation hinter einer Mod würden immer noch vollständig von Menschen stammen.
Es geht darum, mehr Kreativität zu ermöglichen, nicht sie zu entfernen

Programmieren ist eine Kunstform. Wenn du Mods erstellen willst, nur zu! Wenn du KI als Lernwerkzeug dafür nutzen möchtest, ist das auch in Ordnung, obwohl es deutlich bessere Alternativen gibt, die dir helfen können, die Funktionsweise deines Codes wirklich zu verstehen.

Wenn man den Prozess jedoch vollständig der KI überlässt, bedeutet das, dass man die Grundlagen nicht versteht. Das senkt die Hürde nicht, sondern erhöht sie sogar, indem es angehende Entwickler davon abhält, das Programmieren von Mods zu lernen.

Wenn du programmieren lernen möchtest, gibt es viele großartige Ressourcen, wie zum Beispiel boot.dev oder Khan Academy (übrigens kostenlos).

I agree that programming can absolutely be an art form, and I respect that perspective.
My intention is not to replace learning or discourage people from understanding how things work. I also believe that truly understanding code is important.
However, I see AI more as an entry point rather than a replacement. For many people, the first barrier is simply getting started. If someone can generate a basic structure and then explore, modify, and improve it, that could actually spark deeper interest in learning.
The goal would not be to “let AI do everything,” but to:
help beginners overcome the initial technical complexity
reduce repetitive maintenance tasks for experienced developers
provide guidance rather than complete automation
Learning resources like boot.dev or Khan Academy are great, and they should absolutely remain part of the path for anyone serious about programming.
The idea is not to remove the craft — but to make the door easier to open.

[HungryBoy02]

Hey Leute, lasst uns einfach die ganze Kreativität aus dieser Kunstform entfernen, die wir alle lieben. Klingt nach einer tollen Idee

Ich verstehe die Bedenken, aber die Absicht ist nicht, Kreativität zu ersetzen – es geht darum, die Einstiegshürde zu senken und sich wiederholende Wartungsarbeiten zu reduzieren
KI würde weder Entwickler noch kreative Ideen ersetzen. Sie würde als Werkzeug fungieren – ähnlich wie IDEs, Codegeneratoren und Build-Systeme Entwickler heute bereits unterstützen.

• Das Ziel ist:
• Anfängern den Einstieg erleichtern
• Vereinfachung wiederholter Versionsaktualisierungen
• Kompatibilitätstransparenz verbessern

Die eigentlichen Ideen, das Design und die Innovation hinter einer Mod würden immer noch vollständig von Menschen stammen.
Es geht darum, mehr Kreativität zu ermöglichen, nicht sie zu entfernen

Programmieren ist eine Kunstform. Wenn du Mods erstellen willst, nur zu! Wenn du KI als Lernwerkzeug dafür nutzen möchtest, ist das auch in Ordnung, obwohl es deutlich bessere Alternativen gibt, die dir helfen können, die Funktionsweise deines Codes wirklich zu verstehen.

Wenn man den Prozess jedoch vollständig der KI überlässt, bedeutet das, dass man die Grundlagen nicht versteht. Das senkt die Hürde nicht, sondern erhöht sie sogar, indem es angehende Entwickler davon abhält, das Programmieren von Mods zu lernen.

Wenn du programmieren lernen möchtest, gibt es viele großartige Ressourcen, wie zum Beispiel boot.dev oder Khan Academy (übrigens kostenlos).

I agree that programming can absolutely be an art form, and I respect that perspective.
My intention is not to replace learning or discourage people from understanding how things work. I also believe that truly understanding code is important.
However, I see AI more as an entry point rather than a replacement. For many people, the first barrier is simply getting started. If someone can generate a basic structure and then explore, modify, and improve it, that could actually spark deeper interest in learning.
The goal would not be to “let AI do everything,” but to:
help beginners overcome the initial technical complexity
reduce repetitive maintenance tasks for experienced developers
provide guidance rather than complete automation
Learning resources like boot.dev or Khan Academy are great, and they should absolutely remain part of the path for anyone serious about programming.
The idea is not to remove the craft — but to make the door easier to open.

I understand your intent, however ai that generates code is inherently counteractive to learning code, because when you can just ask ai to do something for you, it's no longer about learning to do it yourself. I'm not saying the door should be hard to open, but this isn't the way to open it, this is a teleporter to the other side of the door without any of the journey or the learning that comes with it. I'm not saying you can't learn from ai, or that you shouldn't use it, but just generating a mod isn't the way to go. If you were to suggest something more along the lines of MCreator, a mod generator that is limited in scope but encourages people to take the code it makes and build upon it, that would be more reasonable. But you don't need AI to do that. A simple rule based generator like MCreator is enough

Also, isn't this off topic from modrinth as a whole aside from them both being Minecraft related? Like, this would be a whole project entirely separate from a place where you publish already developed mods

[KarolRichter-creator]

Hey Leute, lasst uns einfach die ganze Kreativität aus dieser Kunstform entfernen, die wir alle lieben. Klingt nach einer tollen Idee

Ich verstehe die Bedenken, aber die Absicht ist nicht, Kreativität zu ersetzen – es geht darum, die Einstiegshürde zu senken und sich wiederholende Wartungsarbeiten zu reduzieren
KI würde weder Entwickler noch kreative Ideen ersetzen. Sie würde als Werkzeug fungieren – ähnlich wie IDEs, Codegeneratoren und Build-Systeme Entwickler heute bereits unterstützen.

• Das Ziel ist:
• Anfängern den Einstieg erleichtern
• Vereinfachung wiederholter Versionsaktualisierungen
• Kompatibilitätstransparenz verbessern

Die eigentlichen Ideen, das Design und die Innovation hinter einer Mod würden immer noch vollständig von Menschen stammen.
Es geht darum, mehr Kreativität zu ermöglichen, nicht sie zu entfernen

Programmieren ist eine Kunstform. Wenn du Mods erstellen willst, nur zu! Wenn du KI als Lernwerkzeug dafür nutzen möchtest, ist das auch in Ordnung, obwohl es deutlich bessere Alternativen gibt, die dir helfen können, die Funktionsweise deines Codes wirklich zu verstehen.
Wenn man den Prozess jedoch vollständig der KI überlässt, bedeutet das, dass man die Grundlagen nicht versteht. Das senkt die Hürde nicht, sondern erhöht sie sogar, indem es angehende Entwickler davon abhält, das Programmieren von Mods zu lernen.
Wenn du programmieren lernen möchtest, gibt es viele großartige Ressourcen, wie zum Beispiel boot.dev oder Khan Academy (übrigens kostenlos).

I agree that programming can absolutely be an art form, and I respect that perspective.
My intention is not to replace learning or discourage people from understanding how things work. I also believe that truly understanding code is important.
However, I see AI more as an entry point rather than a replacement. For many people, the first barrier is simply getting started. If someone can generate a basic structure and then explore, modify, and improve it, that could actually spark deeper interest in learning.
The goal would not be to “let AI do everything,” but to:
help beginners overcome the initial technical complexity
reduce repetitive maintenance tasks for experienced developers
provide guidance rather than complete automation
Learning resources like boot.dev or Khan Academy are great, and they should absolutely remain part of the path for anyone serious about programming.
The idea is not to remove the craft — but to make the door easier to open.

I understand your intent, however ai that generates code is inherently counteractive to learning code, because when you can just ask ai to do something for you, it's no longer about learning to do it yourself. I'm not saying the door should be hard to open, but this isn't the way to open it, this is a teleporter to the other side of the door without any of the journey or the learning that comes with it. I'm not saying you can't learn from ai, or that you shouldn't use it, but just generating a mod isn't the way to go. If you were to suggest something more along the lines of MCreator, a mod generator that is limited in scope but encourages people to take the code it makes and build upon it, that would be more reasonable. But you don't need AI to do that. A simple rule based generator like MCreator is enough

Also, isn't this off topic from modrinth as a whole aside from them both being Minecraft related? Like, this would be a whole project entirely separate from a place where you publish already developed mods

I understand and respect the view that programming can be an art form.
My idea is not about replacing that craft. It is about acknowledging that there are people who either do not have the opportunity or simply do not want to learn programming, yet still have creative ideas for mods.
Programming can absolutely remain an art. Those who are skilled programmers and enjoy the craft will continue to do so. An AI system would not make those skills obsolete. In fact, someone who already knows how to program could become even more efficient with AI-assisted tools.
At the same time, it is realistic to assume that AI-supported development tools will become more integrated across many fields over time. If one platform chooses not to explore that direction, another platform likely will. Technological shifts tend to happen regardless of individual preferences.
The intention is not to eliminate craftsmanship, but to provide an additional pathway. Those who want to learn and master programming still can. Those who simply want to implement an idea would also have an opportunity.
The goal is not to remove creativity, but to expand access.