ServerRoles
github.com
What it is
ServerRoles is a free role-based permissions and prefix management plugin for Paper or Purpur servers. Administrators use `/role` commands to configure display names, prefixes, hex colors, priorities, permissions, inheritance, and operator status. Roles can be assigned for a duration using day, hour, and minute values, then revert to the default role when they expire. Expiry checks run when players join and every five minutes, so a role may remain active for up to five minutes beyond its set duration. Permissions can be inherited or negated with a leading hyphen, and a configurable feature can add role prefixes and colors to chat. YAML is the default storage option, with SQLite and MySQL also supported. Optional PlaceholderAPI integration provides nine placeholders, and other plugins can query or change roles through the developer API. Requirements are Paper or Purpur 1.21.11 and Java 21 or later. The project is GPL-3.0 licensed; installation uses a release JAR in the server's `plugins/` folder.
Spec sheet
- Purpose
- ServerRoles is a lightweight role-based permission and prefix management plugin for Paper and Purpur 1.21.11 servers running Java 21 or later.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Integrations
- Optional PlaceholderAPI integration provides nine placeholders, usable by compatible plugins such as TAB, DeluxeChat, Essentials, HolographicDisplays, DecentHolograms, and scoreboard plugins.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- License
- The repository identifies the project as GPL-3.0 licensed.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Access control
- All /role administration commands require the serverroles.admin permission, which defaults to operators.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Chat formatting
- The plugin can automatically add a player's role prefix and color to chat, and this feature can be toggled in configuration.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Developer API
- Other plugins can query and change player roles and permissions through the ServerRoles API, and listen for a cancellable role-change event that fires for online players.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Expiry timing
- Expired temporary roles are checked every five minutes and when a player joins, so scheduled expiry may be delayed by up to five minutes.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Installation
- Installation consists of placing the downloaded ServerRoles JAR in the server's plugins folder and starting or restarting the server.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Localization
- Player-facing messages are translatable, and the repository lists English (en_US) and Portuguese (pt_PT) as bundled options.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Notable limitation
- The project says ServerRoles is designed to be the sole permission provider, and warns that another permission plugin such as LuckPerms may conflict.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Permission provider limitation
- The documentation says ServerRoles is designed to be the sole permission provider and warns that another permission plugin such as LuckPerms may conflict.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Permission rules
- Roles support permission nodes, inherited permissions, and permission negation using a leading hyphen.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Requirements
- The documented requirements are Paper or Purpur 1.21.11 and Java 21 or later.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Role management
- It lets admins create and edit roles with display names, hex-colored prefixes, priorities, permission inheritance, and optional operator status.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Storage
- Role data can be stored in YAML, SQLite, or MySQL, with YAML as the default backend.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Temporary assignments
- Temporary roles accept combined day, hour, and minute durations, then revert players to the default role when they expire.Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
- Temporary roles
- Roles can be assigned for a set duration and revert to the default role when they expire.Read 2 Oct 2026 · github.com
Strong points and limits
Strong points
- Supports YAML, SQLite, and MySQL storage.
- Roles support inheritance and permission negation.
- Temporary roles accept day, hour, and minute durations.
- Optional PlaceholderAPI integration provides nine placeholders.
- Other plugins can query or change roles through its API.
Limits
- Requires Paper or Purpur 1.21.11.
- Requires Java 21 or later.
- Another permission plugin may conflict.
- Role expiry checks can be delayed by up to five minutes.
Who it suits
It suits administrators of Paper or Purpur servers who want role and prefix management with configurable storage. Its documentation says it is designed to be the sole permission provider, so it may not suit servers relying on another permission plugin.
Verdict
ServerRoles offers role configuration, temporary assignments, and several integration paths for supported servers. Check its version and Java requirements, and account for the documented potential conflict with another permission provider.
Where Specifiction places it
- Minecraft Permissions Plugins#7 of 126.5