Ceres

Overview

Ceres is a high-performance network optimization mod designed for Minecraft .It aims to reduce network traffic, lower latency, and enhance multiplayer gaming experiences. Through various methods, Ceres significantly decreases the data volume transmitted between Minecraft clients and servers, making it particularly suitable for poor network conditions or large-scale server environments.
It features a native implementation of Velocity's Netty framework and integrates the high-performance libdeflate compression library.

Acknowledgments to Velocity and Pluto

Key Features

Packet Compression

1. Compresses only packets exceeding a threshold to avoid overhead for small packets
2. Balances compression ratio and performance as needed
3. Automatically uses raw data if compression yields larger sizes

Duplicate Packet Filtering

• Smart Detection: Identifies and filters redundant network packets
• Type Filtering: Configurable filtering for position, chunk, and entity packets
• Safety Mechanisms: Timeout and max consecutive duplicates ensure game state synchronization

Network Optimization Modes

• Vanilla Mode: Uses Forge's networking system for maximum compatibility
• Modern Mode: Leverages Netty directly for stronger optimizations (may conflict with some mods)

Packet Batching

• Intelligent Batching: Merges small packets into larger ones to reduce overhead
• Configurable Latency: Adjust batching delays to balance responsiveness and efficiency
• Priority Handling: Ensures critical packets are never delayed

Performance Impact

In our tests, Ceres excels across various network conditions:

Scenario	Traffic Reduction	Latency Improvement
High-entity-density areas	Up to 75%	15-30%
Large redstone machines	Up to 60%	10-25%
Rapid chunk exploration	Up to 50%	5-20%
Multiplayer PVP	Up to 40%	10-15%

Feature	JAVA	LIBDEFLATE
CPU Usage	Moderate	Low
Compression Ratio	Good	Excellent
Compatibility	Best	Requires native
Performance	Standard	2-4x faster

Configuration Options

Ceres offers extensive configuration:

General Settings

• Optimization mode (Vanilla/Modern)
• Packet compression toggle
• Compression threshold/level
• Duplicate filtering settings

Client Settings

• Client optimization toggle
• Batching latency/size
• Network stats display

Server Settings

• Server optimization toggle
• Server batching parameters
• Chunk update optimizations

/ceres compression stats     - Show compression statistics  
/ceres compression reset     - Reset stats  
/ceres compression engine <type> - Switch compression engine  
/ceres compression benchmark - Run performance tests  

Compatibility

Ceres is designed for compatibility with most Minecraft mods. Vanilla Mode ensures maximum compatibility, while Modern Mode prioritizes optimizations.

If encountering issues, try switching to Vanilla Mode or disabling specific optimizations.

Notes

• May conflict with other network optimization mods
• LIBDEFLATE requires supported OS/architecture

Installation

1. Ensure Minecraft 1.19.2 and compatible Forge are installed
2. Download the Ceres mod file
3. Place the file in Minecraft's mods folder
4. Launch the game – Ceres auto-configures upon startup

Performance Monitoring

Ceres includes built-in monitoring tools:

1. Press F3 to open the debug screen
2. Locate [Ceres] entries showing optimization stats
3. Stats include compression ratios, filtered packets, and network traffic

FAQ

Q: Does Ceres require installation on both server and client?
A: For best results, install on both. Client-only installation provides partial optimizations.

Q: Does Ceres affect game stability?
A: Ceres includes multiple safeguards to ensure stability. Disable specific features if issues arise.

Q: Why can't I see network stats?
A: Enable showNetworkStats in config and check the F3 debug screen.

Contributions & Support

Ceres is open-source. We welcome code contributions and suggestions. Please submit issues or PRs via our GitHub repository.