> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://hayston.gitbook.io/flp-wiki/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://hayston.gitbook.io/flp-wiki/understand-flp/requirements.md).

# Requirements and deployment choices

## Choose the path

| Deployment                      | Install FLP on                                         | Authentication account lives on                                  |
| ------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ---------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Standalone Spigot/Paper         | Bukkit backend                                         | Backend auth plugin                                              |
| Standalone Folia                | Folia backend                                          | Folia-compatible auth plugin                                     |
| Velocity + Spigot/Paper/Folia   | Velocity and each participating Bukkit/Folia backend   | Backend auth plugin                                              |
| BungeeCord + Spigot/Paper/Folia | BungeeCord and each participating Bukkit/Folia backend | Backend auth plugin, or the separately supported BungeeAuth hook |
| Velocity + Fabric 26.2          | Velocity and Fabric backend                            | EasyAuth on Fabric                                               |

For a new Paper/Folia proxy network, prefer Velocity modern forwarding. Plain Spigot does not natively support modern forwarding; use the [legacy branch of the Velocity guide](/flp-wiki/install-and-deploy/velocity.md) or BungeeCord with backend isolation. Fabric requires modern forwarding through FabricProxy-Lite, not BungeeCord.

## Java requirements

| FLP artifact | Plugin bytecode minimum | Additional requirements                                                        |
| ------------ | ----------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| Bukkit       | Java 8                  | Server, authentication plugin and packet library may require newer Java        |
| Folia        | Java 21                 | A compatible Folia server and Folia-compatible dependencies                    |
| BungeeCord   | Java 17                 | Proxy's own requirement also applies                                           |
| Velocity     | Java 17                 | Proxy's own requirement also applies                                           |
| Fabric 26.2  | Java 25                 | Minecraft 26.2, Fabric Loader >=0.19.3, Fabric API, FabricProxy-Lite, EasyAuth |

Run the highest Java version required by the whole installation. A bytecode minimum does not promise that a modern Paper or ProtocolLib release runs on Java 8. Building FLP is separate: Gradle runs on JDK 25.

## Dependencies and support limits

* Standalone Bukkit/Folia needs a compatible packet library and authentication plugin. FLP compiles against ProtocolLib 5.3.0; use a ProtocolLib build compatible with your exact server, not merely a version numerically above 5.3.0. ProtocolSupport is an alternate compatibility path, not a dependency of proxy backends.
* Proxy backends do not use FLP's ProtocolLib interception. The proxy handles the online-mode handshake. Other plugins may still need ProtocolLib themselves.
* AuthMe 5.x and 6.x differ; see the [AuthMe version comparison](/flp-wiki/compatibility-and-integrations/authme.md). Other authentication plugins may not provide the same account-management features.
* Fabric's reference integration is EasyAuth 3.4.4. The loader accepts `>=3.4.0 <3.5.0`; other patch builds are not a blanket runtime guarantee. Use local SQLite for the supported Fabric storage combination; other EasyAuth stores are unverified.
* Geyser/Floodgate and every auth plugin have independent server and Java requirements. Check their own documentation.

The artifact list is not a tested matrix of every Minecraft release. Check login on your actual server setup before opening it to players. Fabric support does not extend automatically to other Minecraft versions, linked Bedrock accounts or multiple-backend account migration.


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