🟩 ChunkDeck

Host and manage your own Minecraft server from your browser — free, open source, no monthly fees.

A complete web control panel for a Minecraft server: live console, one-click start/stop, player management, backups, scheduling, plugins, and one-click "play with friends" over the internet. Vanilla JS + Express, no build step.

Download · Website · Report a bug

[!IMPORTANT] Windows may warn you the first time you run it. Because this is free, open-source software that isn't code-signed, Windows Security / SmartScreen can say "Windows protected your PC" or flag it as unsafe. It is not a virus — every line is public here on GitHub. To allow it: right-click the downloaded .zip → Properties → tick ☑ Unblock before extracting, or if you see the popup, click More info → Run anyway. Full details in Quick install and Troubleshooting below.

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Contents

• Quick install
• Tutorial: your first server in 5 minutes
• Playing with friends
• Backups & schedules
• Plugins & mods
• Keeping it up to date
• Changelog
• Features
• Troubleshooting
• Security
• Configuration
• Run manually / as a service

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🚀 Quick install (normal people version)

1. Download the ZIP.
2. Open your Downloads folder, right-click the ZIP, and choose Extract All / Unzip.
3. Open the extracted folder.
4. Start the launcher:
   • Windows: double-click start.bat
   • macOS: open Terminal in the folder and run ./start.sh
   • Linux: open a terminal in the folder and run ./start.sh
5. Keep the launcher window open. Your browser opens at http://localhost:8080.
6. In the browser, create a password, download Paper or Vanilla, accept the EULA, and press Start.

The launcher installs Node.js if it's missing, and the dashboard downloads Java by itself the first time it starts (into a java/ folder next to it — nothing is installed system-wide). If macOS says Node.js is missing, install Homebrew, then run ./start.sh again:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

⚠️ Windows Security says "not safe" or blocks it?

That's normal for free open-source apps that are not code-signed. Windows Security / SmartScreen may say "Windows protected your PC", "unknown publisher", or even quarantine one of the launcher files. It is not a virus: this is open source and you can read every line on GitHub. To allow it:

• Best: right-click the downloaded .zip → Properties → tick ☑ Unblock → OK, then extract and run. This clears the warning from every file at once.
• If you see "Windows protected your PC": click More info → Run anyway.
• If Windows quarantined a file: open Windows Security → Protection history, choose the ChunkDeck item, then click Allow or Restore. After that, extract the ZIP again.
• If your browser blocked the download: click Keep / Keep anyway.

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📖 Tutorial: your first server in 5 minutes

This walks you all the way from "just downloaded it" to "playing with friends."

1. Start the dashboard

Run start.bat (Windows) or ./start.sh (Linux/macOS). A browser tab opens at http://localhost:8080. Keep the little launcher window open — closing it stops the dashboard.

2. Create your password

On the very first visit it asks you to create a password. This protects your dashboard so only you can control the server. Pick something memorable (you'll use it every time you log in).

3. Download a server

Go to Settings → Server software. Choose:

• Paper — recommended. Fast, and supports plugins.
• Vanilla — the pure Mojang server.

Pick a version (the latest is fine) and click Download. The dashboard fetches it for you — no hunting for files.

4. Accept the EULA

Back on the Dashboard page you'll see a notice asking you to accept the Minecraft EULA (Mojang requires this). Click Accept EULA.

5. Press Start

Click the green Start button. The first launch takes a minute while it generates the world — watch it happen live on the Console page. When you see Done!, your server is running. 🎉

6. Join your own server

Open Minecraft → Multiplayer → Add Server, and use:

• On the same PC: localhost
• Another device on your home Wi-Fi: your computer's local IP (e.g. 192.168.1.20)

7. Make it your own

On the Settings page, edit server.properties — MOTD, difficulty, max players, gamemode, PVP and more, each with a proper toggle/dropdown. Or apply a one-click preset (Survival, Creative, Hardcore, Peaceful, Anarchy). Click Save, then restart the server to apply.

That's it — you have a working server. Next, invite friends. 👇

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🌍 Playing with friends

You don't need to mess with your router. Open the Play Online tab:

This is the beginning of the README. Read the rest at the original. Read the full README ↗