Paper vs Purpur vs Pufferfish: Server Software Compared

A common pitfall for new Minecraft server owners is blindly choosing server software without understanding its implications, often leading to unnecessary lag, instability, or missed opportunities for customization. While the vanilla server jar is a starting point, it quickly becomes apparent that specialized forks like Paper, Purpur, and Pufferfish offer significant improvements designed to enhance performance, stability, and gameplay. Selecting the right one for your community can drastically alter the player experience, ensuring smooth gameplay and a thriving environment.

When you decide to host a Minecraft server, the core software you run is as crucial as the hardware it sits on. Beyond the official Mojang server, a vibrant ecosystem of third-party server software has evolved, each built upon the last, adding layers of optimization and functionality. These forks aim to address the performance demands of multiplayer gameplay, introduce new features, and provide a more stable foundation for plugins. Understanding the nuances between Paper, Purpur, and Pufferfish is key to building a successful and enjoyable server.

Paper: The Reliable Foundation

Understanding Paper’s Core

• Paper stands as a high-performance fork of Spigot, itself built upon CraftBukkit, engineered primarily to boost server stability and overall efficiency.
• It integrates hundreds of performance patches, features like asynchronous chunk loading, and optimized entity processing to keep your server running smoothly.
• Paper also addresses numerous vanilla bugs and exploits, such as TNT duplication and bedrock breaking, preventing abuse and maintaining server integrity.
• It offers an expanded API, enabling plugins to operate faster and with greater capabilities.
• Considered the standard and most popular choice, Paper is ideal for most plugin-based servers, including Survival MultiPlayer (SMPs), minigames, and networks, particularly those with fewer than 30 players.

Getting Started with Paper

• Begin by downloading the latest Paper JAR file directly from the official PaperMC website.
• Create a dedicated folder for your server and place the downloaded JAR file inside it. It’s good practice to rename it to something simple like paper.jar.
• Next, create a startup script (e.g., run.bat for Windows or run.sh for Linux). This script should contain the command to launch the server with specified RAM allocation, for instance: java -Xms<MIN_RAM> -Xmx<MAX_RAM> -jar paper.jar --nogui.
• Execute this startup script once. This action will generate a eula.txt file in your server directory. Open this file and change eula=false to eula=true to agree to the Minecraft EULA.
• Run the startup script again to fully launch your PaperMC server.

Optimizing Your Paper Server

• Employ modern JVM flags, such as Aikar’s flags, for superior garbage collection and performance.
• Fine-tune the paper.yml, spigot.yml, and bukkit.yml configuration files. Adjust settings like explosion handling, auto-save chunk limits, and entity activation ranges for specific optimizations.
• Pre-generate your world using tools like Chunky. This helps prevent lag spikes that occur when new chunks are generated during player exploration.
• Regularly monitor server performance using diagnostic tools like Spark or Aikar’s timings reports to identify and address lag sources.
• Implement routine server restarts to mitigate memory leaks and ensure consistent performance over time.

Avoiding Common Paper Pitfalls

• One frequent error is incorrectly allocating RAM. Too much can strain the system, while too little will cause lag. Start with a conservative amount and adjust based on performance monitoring.
• Be wary of using outdated or poorly coded plugins, as they can significantly degrade server performance.
• Failing to agree to the EULA or misconfiguring the startup script are common reasons a server might fail to launch.
• Ensure the server is run from the correct directory; otherwise, configuration changes may not apply as intended.

Purpur: Feature-Rich and Customizable

Delving into Purpur’s Distinctives

• Purpur is a direct fork of Paper, meaning it inherits all of Paper’s performance enhancements and maintains excellent plugin compatibility.
• Its primary distinction lies in its extensive configurability, offering a multitude of new gameplay features and quality-of-life additions.
• It includes hundreds of extra configuration options, such as custom mob behaviors, rideable mobs, AFK kick toggles, and much more, though many of these are disabled by default.
• In terms of raw performance, Purpur generally performs on par with Paper, offering similar efficiency.
• It seamlessly supports Bukkit, Spigot, and Paper plugins, ensuring a wide range of extensibility.

Setting Up Your Purpur Server

• Download the Purpur JAR from its official download page.
• Similar to Paper, create a dedicated server directory, place the JAR file within it, and prepare your startup script.
• After the initial run, modify the eula.txt file to change eula=false to eula=true.
• Launch the server using your configured startup script.

Maximizing Purpur’s Potential

• It is crucial to review and customize the purpur.yml file. Many of Purpur’s unique features and configurations are disabled by default, so active configuration is needed to activate desired functionalities.
• Purpur can often reduce the need for numerous minor plugins by incorporating many features directly into the server software, streamlining your server setup.
• Given its foundational codebase, Purpur benefits from the same optimization tips and practices recommended for Paper servers.

Avoiding Purpur Configuration Issues

• A common mistake is not actively exploring and configuring purpur.yml, thereby missing out on its extensive unique features.
• Be cautious about making excessive configuration changes without fully understanding their implications, as this can lead to unexpected behavior.

Pufferfish: Performance for the Masses

Understanding Pufferfish’s High-Performance Focus

• Pufferfish is a highly optimized fork of Paper, specifically engineered to deliver maximum performance and stability for large-scale servers.
• It prioritizes raw speed by integrating additional optimizations beyond those found in Paper, sometimes achieving this by streamlining or removing less critical features.
• This software aims to provide “enterprise” features that are well-suited for highly demanding server environments.
• Pufferfish offers noticeable TPS (Ticks Per Second) improvements under heavy server load, making it especially beneficial for servers with 40 or more players or those running resource-intensive plugins.
• Its optimizations include faster crafting, more efficient chunk loading, and improved entity and block ticking performance.

Deploying a Pufferfish Server

• Obtain the Pufferfish JAR file from its official repository.
• If you are utilizing a hosting panel, there might be a convenient one-click installation option available for Pufferfish.
• Place the JAR file in your server directory and ensure your startup command correctly references its filename.
• Start the server with appropriate JVM flags to ensure optimal performance.
• As with other server software, agree to the EULA after the initial server startup.

Advanced Pufferfish Optimization

• Pufferfish is most effective for large servers, typically those with 50 or more concurrent players, or environments that consistently experience TPS bottlenecks.
• Leverage the specific optimization settings found within its pufferfish.yml file for advanced tuning tailored to your server’s needs.
• Always combine Pufferfish with recommended JVM flags (such as Aikar’s flags) and general server optimization practices for the best possible results.

Common Mistakes with Pufferfish

• Choosing Pufferfish for smaller servers (e.g., under 30 players) is often unnecessary, as the performance benefits might be negligible compared to Paper, potentially introducing unwanted complexity without significant gains.
• Be aware that a small number of plugins with deep hooks into Minecraft’s mob code might encounter compatibility issues with Pufferfish due to its aggressive optimizations.
• If using a host panel, be careful not to accidentally wipe existing server files during installation unless a fresh install is your intention.

Which Server Software is Right for You?

The choice between Paper, Purpur, and Pufferfish ultimately depends on your specific server’s needs and scale:

• Paper: This is the ideal starting point and the go-to for most Minecraft server owners. It provides a robust, stable, and performant foundation with excellent plugin compatibility. It’s perfect for small to medium-sized communities, including general SMPs, small minigame servers, and creative builds.
• Purpur: Opt for Purpur if you desire more built-in features, quality-of-life additions, and granular control over gameplay mechanics without the need for numerous extra plugins. It’s excellent for servers that wish to significantly customize the vanilla experience or offer unique gameplay twists.
• Pufferfish: Reserve Pufferfish for large-scale operations or servers that consistently struggle with TPS issues under heavy load, typically with 40 or more concurrent players or complex, resource-intensive plugins. Its priority is raw performance, making it the choice for demanding environments.

Ultimately, the ‘best’ server software is the one that best fits your server’s specific needs and community size. Paper offers a robust and widely supported foundation. Purpur builds upon that with extensive customization options for those who crave more control over gameplay. Pufferfish pushes the boundaries of performance for the most demanding environments. By understanding their individual strengths and weaknesses, you can make an informed decision that ensures your Minecraft server runs smoothly, efficiently, and provides the best possible experience for your players.