Minecraft Forge Server Manager (Windows GUI)

Version 8

A no-console Python .pyw GUI for starting/stopping a Forge (Java) Minecraft server on Windows. It uses Forge’s official arg files (@user_jvm_args.txt and @...\win_args.txt), shows live logs, lets you send server commands, manage the whitelist, view online players, and integrates with backups and Windows Task Scheduler.

This repo archives the manager script so it’s easy to move to a new PC.
It does not include the Forge server files themselves.

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Features

• One-click start/stop (or auto-start on launch).
• Command box (send any server command).
• Whitelist tools: add/remove and view current list.
• Online players panel (auto-refresh every 30 s; manual refresh button).
• Backup button (runs backup.bat; refuses if the server is running).
• Watches stop.flag (handy for Task Scheduler shutdowns).
• Optional splash image (PNG/ICO) and player join/leave log.
• Runs as .pyw → no black console window.
• Stable filename: minecraft_server_manager.pyw (version noted in header comment).

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Requirements

• Windows 10/11
• Java (JDK 17+; tested with JDK 21). Update JAVA_PATH in the script.
• A Forge server folder created with “Install server” (this produces libraries\...\forge\...\win_args.txt).

Optional:

• Tailscale (or similar) if you’re letting friends connect privately.
• Pillow only if you want to generate a .ico from the PNG for a desktop shortcut icon.

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Quick start

1. Place the manager in your server root, e.g.

   C:\Users\<you>\Minecraft\IceAndFireServer\
   

   alongside user_jvm_args.txt, libraries\, mods\, etc.

2. Open minecraft_server_manager.pyw in a text editor and adjust:

   JAVA_PATH = r"C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-21\bin\java.exe"
   XMS = "2G"   # initial heap
   XMX = "10G"  # max heap

   Optional splash image at: assets\IceFireYinYangTransparent.png

3. Run it:

   • Double-click the .pyw, or
   • Shortcut target:

     %SystemRoot%\pyw.exe "C:\...\minecraft_server_manager.pyw"
     

   The GUI opens and (by default) auto-starts the server.

If you see “Forge win_args.txt not found”, run the Forge installer with Install server pointed at this folder.

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Buttons & panels

• Start / Stop – Launch/quit the server (clean stop).
• Save All – Flush world to disk.
• Backup – Runs backup.bat (refuses while server is running).
• Make stop.flag – Creates a stop.flag; the app detects it and issues stop (great for Task Scheduler).
• Exit – save-all → clean stop → small delay → closes GUI.
• Whitelist – Add/remove players and view the list (remove works offline by editing whitelist.json if needed).
• Online Players – Shows who’s on; auto-refreshes every 30 s; Refresh sends list on demand.
• Command – Send any server command (e.g., whitelist on, op <name>, gamerule keepInventory true).

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Backups

• Add your own backup.bat in the server root.
• The Backup button streams script output into the GUI log.
• The app refuses to run backup while the server is running (to avoid corrupt snapshots).

Example backup.bat (sample – adjust paths):

@echo off
set SRC=%CD%
set DST=D:\Backups\MinecraftBackups
if not exist "%DST%" mkdir "%DST%"
set TS=%DATE:~10,4%-%DATE:~4,2%-%DATE:~7,2%_%TIME:~0,2%-%TIME:~3,2%
set TS=%TS: =0%
powershell -NoProfile -Command "Compress-Archive -Path '%SRC%\world' -DestinationPath '%DST%\world_%TS%.zip' -Force"
echo Done.

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Scheduling (start/stop daily)

Windows_task_creator.ps1 builds the Windows Task Scheduler entries for you. Edit the times at the top of the script and run it from an elevated PowerShell prompt to register start tasks (launch minecraft_server_manager.pyw) and stop tasks (run StopServer-And-Hibernate.ps1).

Typical plan:

• Start tasks (wake PC) → run the GUI; auto-start kicks in.
• Stop tasks → drop stop.flag, wait for a clean exit, hibernate or shutdown.

Make sure Power Options → Allow wake timers is enabled.

If StopServer-And-Hibernate.ps1 is blocked by antivirus, add it as an exception. Bitdefender steps:

1. Open Bitdefender.
2. Go to Protection → Antivirus → Settings.
3. In Exceptions, click Add exception.
4. Browse to StopServer-And-Hibernate.ps1 and add it, keeping both On-access and On-demand scanning enabled.
5. Save. The script runs normally afterwards.

Alternatively, you could use the optional StopServer-And-Hibernate.bat which has similar function to StopServer-And-Hibernate.ps1 using cmd rather than powershell.

Optional helper scripts

• Windows_task_creator.ps1 – registers start/stop tasks in Windows Task Scheduler based on configurable times.
• StopServer-And-Hibernate.ps1 – drops stop.flag, waits for exit, then hibernates (add to AV exceptions if flagged).
• make_icon.py – turns assets\IceFireYinYangTransparent.png → assets\IceFireYinYang.ico (requires Pillow).
• create_shortcut.ps1 – creates a desktop shortcut that points to the .pyw and assigns the icon.

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Folder layout (suggested)

MinecraftServerManager/
├─ minecraft_server_manager.pyw
├─ StopServer-And-Hibernate.ps1
├─ make_icon.py                 # optional
├─ create_shortcut.ps1          # optional
├─ README.md
├─ .gitignore
├─ CHANGELOG.md
└─ assets/
   └─ IceFireYinYangTransparent.png  # optional splash/icon

Do not commit your actual server (world/, libraries/, mods/, whitelist.json, etc.). Those are large and/or private.

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Troubleshooting

• Java not found – Update JAVA_PATH.
• Forge args missing – Re-run Forge Installer → Install server into this folder.
• Firewall – If using a 3rd-party firewall, allow Java for local LAN; for Tailscale, no inbound port-forwarding is needed.
• Backup fails – Stop the server first (the app enforces this on the Backup button).

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License

MIT License (see LICENSE in this repo).