Kore vs Sandstone

Kore is a Kotlin library for generating Minecraft datapacks from code. It runs during the build and produces ordinary datapack files, so the server does not need Kore or a Kore plugin. Its typed game data can catch errors in items, blocks, sounds, and commands before a datapack is reloaded. The site lists 65+ typed commands, 50+ JSON resource types, and 80+ generated registries. Kore supports commands, recipes, loot tables, advancements, custom dimensions, functions, and predicates; Kotlin functions, loops, and variables can also generate repeated content. If its typed DSL does not cover a command, function bodies can include raw command lines. Existing datapacks can be moved over gradually, with handwritten parts continuing to run alongside generated ones. Kore is available as a Maven Central dependency, and the maker recommends a JDK and Kotlin IDE. An optional Gradle plugin can build, link, and reload a datapack on save. A browser playground can generate a datapack ZIP. The project is free and open source.

Sandstone is a TypeScript library for building, debugging, and sharing Minecraft datapacks and resource packs. It gives developers command and resource autocomplete, with Wiki documentation for datapack elements such as predicates, loot tables, and advancements. You can group multiple functions, advancements, or loot tables in one file, or keep Minecraft’s one-per-file arrangement. Built-in control-flow tools include if/else, boolean logic, loops, switch statements, and sleep; vanilla commands are also available with build-time and run-time checks. The CLI scaffolds and builds packs, watches for file changes, and can rebuild automatically. Documentation snippets can be edited with a live datapack preview without installing Sandstone. The CLI installs Smithed and Sandstone libraries, and npm-compatible package managers are also supported. Functions can be published to NPM for use in other packs. Sandstone is open source and free, and is listed for Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. Local installation requires Bun and Node.js; the documentation recommends a code editor such as Visual Studio Code.