- Home
- Minecraft World Map Viewers
- The Explorer's Friend
The Explorer's Friend
What it is
The Explorer's Friend is a free, MIT-licensed server-side Minecraft map mod or plugin. It renders explored areas as a live topographic map and serves the map through an embedded web server. Players can open it in a browser using a vanilla Minecraft client, without installing a client mod. The project supports Fabric, Quilt, NeoForge, Spigot and Paper, with different artifacts depending on platform and Minecraft version. Toggleable map layers cover claims, player positions, markers and Waystones. Player positions can be disabled or rounded; invisible players and spectators are hidden by default. The embedded web server binds to 127.0.0.1 by default and has no built-in account system, so the project recommends a reverse proxy for public maps. It supports live updates and dimension maps. The project says live access uses budgeted chunk snapshots, while full renders read region files on worker threads without loading chunks. Forge is not shipped, and sub-path reverse proxying is not supported.
For and against
For
- Free and MIT-licensed.
- Players need no client mod to view the map.
- Supports Fabric, Quilt, NeoForge, Spigot and Paper.
- Map layers include claims, players, markers and Waystones.
- Player positions can be disabled or rounded.
Against
- Forge is not shipped.
- There is no built-in account system.
- Sub-path reverse proxying is unsupported.
- Public maps call for a reverse proxy.
The verdict
The Explorer's Friend provides a server-side live map with browser access and configurable layers. Check its server-platform support and web-server limitations before exposing a map publicly.
Who it suits
This tool suits Minecraft server operators who want players to view a live world map in a browser without a client mod. It may also suit operators who need toggleable map layers or claim overlays.
Plans and prices
The Explorer's Friend
MIT-licensed server-side Minecraft map mod/plugin
Read 3 Oct 2026 · github.com
On the record
- Additional integrations
- Waystones is an optional integration on Fabric, Quilt and NeoForge, while LuckPerms can provide command permission nodes.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- API
- The project documents read-only HTTP endpoints for world and status data, player data and map tiles, plus versioned overlay endpoints and optional Prometheus metrics.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Claim integrations
- Claim overlays can integrate with FTB Chunks, Open Parties and Claims, Common Protection API and GriefPrevention on supported platforms and versions, or use JSON import.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- License and support
- The repository is MIT-licensed and says issues are processed every Wednesday.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Map features
- The map includes separately toggleable overlays for claims, player positions, markers and Waystones.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Map overlays
- The map has toggleable claim, player, marker and waystone layers.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Map rendering
- Explored chunks appear as players move around, and full renders read region files on worker threads without loading chunks.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Mod block colors
- At startup, the project scans installed mod JARs and resolves block colors from their textures; manual color overrides are available.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Mod developer API
- An experimental API lets other mods provide block colors, hide players, listen for scan or tile-render events, and read documented HTTP endpoints.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Network security
- The embedded server binds to 127.0.0.1 by default, supports only GET and HEAD, and has no built-in account system; the project recommends a reverse proxy for public maps.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Notable limitation
- Forge is not shipped, and the documentation says Paper/Bukkit 26.x uses default biome tints because Minecraft 26.x removed world-generation JSONs from the server and client JARs.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Notable limitations
- The project says Forge is not shipped, and its listed limitations include no built-in authentication and no sub-path reverse proxying.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Outbound data
- The security page says the only optional outbound connection is a one-time download of Mojang's vanilla client JAR and that nothing is uploaded.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Performance
- The project says live world access uses budgeted chunk snapshots and full renders read region files on worker threads without loading chunks.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Player privacy
- Player display can be disabled, invisible players and spectators are hidden by default, and positions can be rounded before serving.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- The Explorer's Friend is a server-side Minecraft world mapper that renders a live topographic map and serves it through an embedded web server.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Server platforms
- It supports Fabric, Quilt, NeoForge, Spigot and Paper, with different artifacts depending on platform and Minecraft version.github.com · read 2 Oct 2026
- Server-side setup
- Install one JAR on the server; players can use the map in a browser with a vanilla client and no client mod.github.com · read 3 Oct 2026
