How to add a Bukkit, Spigot or Paper plugin to your Cardboard server

Cardboard lets a Fabric server load plugins the same way a Bukkit-style server does. Plugins are server-side only, so players do not install anything.

Steps

1. Stop the server. Adding jars while it runs can cause half-loaded plugins.

2. Open the server folder and find the plugins folder. If it does not exist, start the server once with Cardboard installed and it should be created. Then stop the server again.

3. Copy the plugin .jar file into plugins. Put in the plugin file itself, not a zip archive.

4. If the plugin lists other plugins as required (its page will say "dependency" or "requires"), add those jars too.

5. Start the server and watch the console. You should see the plugin being loaded and then enabled.

Check that it worked

• Run plugins in the console, or /plugins in game. Working plugins are listed, usually in green.
• A folder named after the plugin should appear inside plugins. This is where its config files are generated.
• Try one of the plugin's commands in game.

Tips

• Add one plugin at a time so you can tell which one causes a problem.
• Back up your world and plugins folder before adding anything new.
• Cardboard is still in development, so not every plugin works. If one fails, see the troubleshooting guide.