Kestom

Kestom is a Java-based, open source library used for creating and managing Minecraft servers. It was first released in 2017 by developers who sought a lightweight, modular alternative to the popular server implementations such as Spigot and Paper. The library is built on the Spigot API framework but offers greater flexibility by allowing developers to write custom server logic from the ground up.

Unlike full‑featured server distributions, Kestom provides only the core engine and a set of APIs. Server administrators and plugin authors can extend or replace nearly every component: networking, entity handling, block physics, and world generation. This modularity makes Kestom well suited for academic research, custom game modes, or experimental modifications that require deep control over the server’s inner workings. The active community maintains a registry of plugins, examples, and documentation that help new developers get started.

The project runs on the Java Virtual Machine and is compatible with all standard Minecraft modding versions from release 1.18 onward. It uses Maven or Gradle for dependency management and is distributed under the Apache 2.0 license, allowing commercial and non‑commercial use. Security updates and feature releases are coordinated through GitHub, with contributors submitting pull requests that are reviewed by the core team.

In addition to being a server engine, Kestom has been used as the foundation for research projects in distributed computing within the gaming industry, providing a sandbox where researchers can test network protocols and performance optimizations. Although it does not yet have the same breadth of plugins as its rival server projects, Kestom remains a popular choice for developers who prioritize customization, performance, and clean integration with Java tooling.