What Prickle works with.
| Platform | Java Edition |
|---|---|
| Loaders | Fabric, NeoForge, Quilt |
| Minecraft versions | 1.21, 1.21.11, 26.1.2, 26.2, 26.3 |
| Environment | Client, Server |
The Prickle mod is a config library by Darkhax. It brings a JSON-based configuration format into Minecraft Java, with support for comments and decorators. It runs on Fabric, NeoForge and Quilt, plus older Forge builds, and it is needed on both client and server.
Loaders and versions
- Fabric: Minecraft 1.21 to 26.3. The newest build requires Fabric API.
- NeoForge: Minecraft 1.21 to 26.3. The newest build needs no dependencies.
- Quilt: Minecraft 1.21 to 1.21.11. The newest build requires Fabric API.
- Forge: Minecraft 1.21 to 1.21.1, builds stopped after September 2025. The newest build needs no dependencies.
What Prickle does
Prickle is not a gameplay mod. It is a format and a library. Files stay valid JSON, so existing JSON tools and syntax highlighting keep working, but each property value is wrapped in an object. That wrapper leaves room for metadata such as comments, which plain JSON cannot hold.
Darkhax built it after running into the limits of plain JSON configs, which lack comments and default values. Other formats such as TOML were passed over because of gaps in their Java implementations. Minecraft already uses JSON for datapacks and commands, so the syntax looks familiar.
How the format works
- Each property holds its data under a `value` key.
- The `//` key carries a comment, either one string or an array of strings for several lines.
- Decorators are named comments that describe a property without changing how it parses.
- Available decorators include `//default`, `//reference`, `//range`, `//regex` and `//empty-allowed`.
Installing Prickle
Match the file to your loader and Minecraft version, then drop it into the mods folder. Fabric and Quilt also need Fabric API. If you are new to modding, the Java mod install guide covers the steps.
Questions about Prickle.
4 questions
What is the Prickle mod used for?
Prickle is a library that brings a JSON-based config format with comments and decorators into Minecraft. It is a format and a library rather than a gameplay mod, and it is needed on both client and server.
Is a Prickle file still valid JSON?
Yes. Prickle is fully backwards compatible with JSON and supports its features, tools and syntax highlighting. The difference is that each property value sits inside an object, which lets a comment, default value or other metadata be attached to it.
Why is it called Prickle?
A group of hedgehogs is called a prickle. Darkhax, the creator, likes hedgehogs and compares them to config files, which can look intimidating at first but turn friendly once you understand them.
Does Prickle work on Forge?
Only on older releases. Forge builds cover Minecraft 1.21 to 1.21.1 and stopped after September 2025. For newer Minecraft versions, use NeoForge or Fabric, which both have builds up to 26.3.
