PulseNet

A server-sided fabric networking optimization mod that uses packet batching and other optimizations. Fully compatible with Krypton.

Quick challenge

How far can you run before the mobs catch you?

PulseNet

The Heartbeat of High-Performance Networking - Fabric Edition by BorisShoes

PulseNet is a Fabric mod that brings high-performance packet batching to your Minecraft server. By replacing standard per-packet network flushes with intelligent batching, PulseNet reduces system call overhead and CPU usage while maintaining low-latency delivery of critical packets.

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Project Overview

PulseNet is a Fabric mod that replaces Minecraft's default per-packet network flushing with a smart batching system. Outgoing packets are grouped and flushed together, drastically reducing kernel syscall overhead and event loop task scheduling while keeping combat, chat, and other latency-sensitive packets instant. Designed to work seamlessly alongside other Fabric mods via Mixin compatibility.

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Installation

PulseNet is a server-side Fabric mod. Drop it into your `mods/` folder alongside Fabric API.

Requirements: * Requirements: 0.18.5+ * %%MD1%% * Minecraft 26.1+ * Java 25+

* Latest Builds: https://modrinth.com/mod/pulsenet

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Features

| Feature | Description | | :--- | :--- | | Hot-Reloadable Config | Groups outgoing packets within a tick and flushes them in a single kernel syscall instead of one per packet. Supports three modes: `smart_execution`, `strict_tick`, and `interval`. | | Hot-Reloadable Config | Replaces per-packet event loop task submissions with a single batched write task, eliminating lambda allocations and cross-thread scheduling overhead. | | Hot-Reloadable Config | Bundles similar low-priority packets (particles, sounds) into `BundlePacket`s, reducing the client's received packet count. | | Hot-Reloadable Config | Detects mass block changes from explosions and replaces individual block update packets with a full chunk resend when a configurable threshold is exceeded. | | Hot-Reloadable Config | Automatically classifies packets as Critical, Instant, Chat, Ignored, or Coalesce — ensuring latency-sensitive packets (keepalive, disconnect, combat) always bypass the buffer. Fabric infrastructure packets (`minecraft:register`, `minecraft:unregister`) are handled at the Connection level to prevent mod handshake failures. | | Hot-Reloadable Config | Built-in metrics system tracking logical/physical PPS, bandwidth, CPU usage, memory savings, and write queue efficiency. Viewable via commands or an in-game boss bar. | | Hot-Reloadable Config | Uses a `@WrapOperation` approach that runs *after* all other mixins (Polymer, server-side translations, etc.), ensuring full compatibility with the Fabric mod ecosystem. | | Hot-Reloadable Config | All settings are configurable via `pulse.properties` and in-game commands (`/pulse config`, `/pulse reload`) with no restart required. |

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Commands

| Command | Description | |:-------------------------------------------|:--------------------------------------------------------| | `/pulse` | Displays the current PulseNet version. | | `/pulse reload` | Reloads the configuration from disk. | | `/pulse config` | View and modify all configuration settings in-game. | | `/pulse netstats [network|cpu|ram|all]` | Displays real-time network, CPU, and memory statistics. | | `/pulse netstats bar` | Toggles the metrics boss bar overlay. | | `/pulse netstats reset` | Resets all metrics counters to zero. | | `/pulse packetNames` | Lists all observed packet class names and channel IDs. | | `/pulse packetNames classes` | Lists only observed packet class names. | | `/pulse packetNames channels` | Lists only observed custom payload channel IDs. | | `/pulse packetNames reset` | Clears the observed packet name lists. |

Config Commands

The following commands can be used to adjust configurable settings in the `pulse.properties` file without a server reboot (Use `/pulse reload` after running these commands to hotswap changes). These commands can be suffixed with a value to set the setting, or used without a value to view the current setting. * `/pulse config batchingEnabled` Master toggle for the smart packet batching system. When true, outgoing packets are buffered and flushed in batches instead of individually. (default: true) * `/pulse config batchingMode` Batching mode: smart_execution (flush on tick + limits), strict_tick (flush only on tick end), interval (flush on a timer). (default: smart_execution) * `/pulse config batchingMaxBatchSize` Maximum number of packets to buffer before forcing a flush. (default: 1024) * `/pulse config batchingMaxBatchBytes` Maximum bytes to buffer before forcing a flush. (default: 32000) * `/pulse config batchingFlushInterval` Interval in milliseconds for the INTERVAL batching mode. (default: 25) * `/pulse config batchingSafetyMarginBytes` Safety margin in bytes subtracted from the max batch bytes limit to prevent overflow. (default: 64) * `/pulse config batchingInstantPackets` List of packet class names that should flush the buffer immediately when sent. (default: ClientboundHurtAnimationPacket, ClientboundDamageEventPacket, ClientboundBlockEntityDataPacket) * `/pulse config batchingIgnoredPackets` List of packet class names that should always bypass the buffer entirely. (default: []) * `/pulse config batchingInstantChannels` List of plugin channel IDs (e.g. `axiom:hello`) whose custom payload packets should flush the buffer immediately when sent. Use `/pulse packetNames channels` to discover channel IDs. (default: []) * `/pulse config batchingIgnoredChannels` List of plugin channel IDs whose custom payload packets should always bypass the buffer entirely. Use `/pulse packetNames channels` to discover channel IDs. Note: `minecraft:register` and `minecraft:unregister` are handled at the Connection level and always bypass the buffer regardless of this list. (default: []) * `/pulse config batchingChatPacketsBypass` When true, chat-related packets bypass the buffer for instant delivery. (default: true) * `/pulse config batchingOffThreadBypass` When true, packets sent from off the server thread bypass the buffer. (default: true) * `/pulse config batchingWriteQueue` When true, buffered packets are queued and written in a single event loop task instead of calling Connection.send() per packet, eliminating per-packet lambda allocations and cross-thread task scheduling. (default: true) * `/pulse config batchingPacketCoalescing` When true, packets in the coalesce list are bundled together into BundlePackets on flush, reducing the client's received packet count. (default: true) * `/pulse config batchingCoalescePackets` List of packet class names to coalesce into BundlePackets (e.g. particles, sounds). Supports inner classes with dot syntax (Foo.Bar). (default: ClientboundLevelParticlesPacket, ClientboundSoundPacket, ClientboundSoundEntityPacket) * `/pulse config batchingCoalesceBundleLimit` Maximum number of sub-packets per BundlePacket. Vanilla client enforces a hard limit of 4096. (default: 4000) * `/pulse config optExplosionsEnabled` When true, block updates from explosions are grouped by chunk and replaced with full chunk resends if they exceed the threshold. (default: true) * `/pulse config optExplosionsBlockChangeThreshold` Number of block changes in a single chunk required to trigger a full chunk resend instead of individual updates. (default: 512) * `/pulse config optExplosionsLogOptimizations` When true, logs a message each time the explosion optimization replaces block updates with a chunk resend. (default: false) * `/pulse config metricsEnabled` When true, the metrics collection system is active and computes network statistics. (default: true) * `/pulse config metricsUpdateInterval` How often (in seconds) the metrics system recomputes derived statistics. (default: 1) * `/pulse config metricsModuleNetwork` Enables the network metrics module (PPS, bandwidth). (default: true) * `/pulse config metricsModuleCpu` Enables the CPU metrics module (process CPU usage estimation). (default: true) * `/pulse config metricsModuleMemory` Enables the memory metrics module (saved allocation estimation). (default: true) * `/pulse config metricsModuleWriteQueue` Enables the write queue metrics module (event loop task savings tracking). (default: true)

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Permission Nodes

PulseNet uses the Fabric Permissions API for command permissions. Each node has a fallback vanilla permission level for servers without a permissions mod.

General

| Node | Default | Description | |:-----|:--------|:------------| | `pulsenet.pulse` | `ALL` | Access the `/pulse` base command (shows version) | | `pulsenet.reload` | `GAMEMASTERS` | Reload the PulseNet config file | | `pulsenet.netstats` | `GAMEMASTERS` | View network, CPU, and memory statistics | | `pulsenet.netstats.bar` | `GAMEMASTERS` | Toggle the metrics boss bar overlay | | `pulsenet.netstats.reset` | `GAMEMASTERS` | Reset all metrics counters to zero | | `pulsenet.packetnames` | `GAMEMASTERS` | List observed packet class names and channel IDs |

Config

Config commands are generated dynamically per config value. The `<name>` below corresponds to the camelCase config key (e.g. `batchingEnabled`, `metricsUpdateInterval`).

| Node | Default | Description | |:-----|:--------|:------------| | `pulsenet.config` | `GAMEMASTERS` | List all config values | | `pulsenet.config.<name>.get` | `GAMEMASTERS` | Read a specific config value | | `pulsenet.config.<name>.set` | `GAMEMASTERS` | Change a specific config value |

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