MCA JSON vs McpeTool

MCA JSON is a command-line toolkit and TypeScript library for handling Minecraft Java Edition region and data files. Its commands convert MCA and NBT data to JSON and back, list chunks, find signs, remove chunks, and inspect player locations. The library supplies typed methods for parsing and changing MCA, NBT, and SNBT data. The maker reports region structure and NBT reading across versions, with files tried from Minecraft 1.2.1 through 1.21. It reads zlib, gzip, LZ4, and uncompressed chunks; changes are saved with zlib. Installation is documented through npm, with Deno, Bun, pnpm, and other package managers also usable. The library can be bundled for browser use, is distributed only as ES modules, and requires Node.js 20 or newer. It supports Java Edition, not Bedrock. Separate .mcc chunks over 1 MiB and chunks using custom compression cannot be read, though they can be listed and removed. A largely untouched region produced about 1 gigabyte of JSON in an example; compact and condensed output options are documented. The software is free.

McpeTool is a free, offline utility for reading and writing Minecraft Bedrock Edition world data. Its command-line interface and local HTTP API provide get, put, and delete operations. Database commands list, retrieve, write, and delete key/value pairs in a world’s LevelDB store. Level-data commands retrieve or replace level.dat contents using JSON, YAML, hex dump, base64, or binary formats. NBT data can be converted to JSON and YAML, and relevant commands accept or produce base64 and binary data. The API starts a local HTTP server and handles GET, PUT, and DELETE requests for database keys. The tool runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows and can be self-hosted or used through its API. It is MIT-licensed and intended as a basic access layer for people building more capable world editors. McpeTool cannot be used while Minecraft is running the world because LevelDB allows only one process at a time. The maker calls it a work in progress, says input validity is not currently checked, and advises backing up worlds before changes.