Chest Separators is a lightweight, client-side utility mod designed to enhance inventory management UX without altering server-side data. Unlike traditional mods that require crafting physical items (wasting inventory slots), this project implements a Virtual Overlay System, allowing users to draw visual dividers directly onto the container GUI.
⚠️ Engineering Focus This project demonstrates advanced Java Bytecode Manipulation using Mixins for rendering hooks and implements a custom HSV-to-RGB Color Engine for real-time dynamic palette generation.
The user experience focuses on fluidity ("Drag & Paint") and deep customization via the new RGB Engine.
New in v1.1: Layered UI rendering with depth control. The editor now floats independently over the container grid, preventing Z-fighting artifacts.
Moving away from static byte arrays, the mod now uses real-time Math.hsvToRgb conversion. Users can generate any color (16.7M possibilities) and persist them into custom NBT slots.
Utilizes a custom slot-hitting algorithm to allow fluid "painting" across the GUI. Updates are rendered in real-time on the client tick event, ensuring zero input lag.
Implements a deep-copy mechanism. Complex layouts are serialized into NBT data to replicate designs across multiple containers (Chests, Barrels, Shulkers) instantly.
Precise control over the visual layer. The Smart Eraser modifies specific bits in the array, while the Trash Can triggers a full array reset for the container.
The core engineering challenge in v1.1 was integrating a complex UI state (Color Picker) while maintaining the zero-conflict rendering pipeline.
To achieve the visual effect where lines appear behind items but above the background texture, the rendering logic is split:
- Layer 1 (Background): Injected at the
HEADof thedrawSlotsmethod. This renders the persistent separator data relative to the container's coordinate system. - Layer 2 (Transient UI): The new v1.1 Editor and Color Picker are rendered at the
TAILof the render loop. This ensures high Z-Index priority for the floating windows and tooltips.
The mod employs a Polymorphic Data Strategy to save configurations:
- Static Blocks: Uses
BlockPos+DimensionIDto create unique NBT files. - Dynamic Entities: Detects if the inventory belongs to an entity (e.g., Llama, Minecart) and uses the entity's persistent
UUID.
- Prerequisites: Install Minecraft Java Edition and Fabric Loader.
- Fabric API: Ensure the Fabric API is installed.
- Deployment: Drop the ChestSeparators-v1.1.0.jar file into your
.minecraft/modsfolder. - Usage: Open any chest and click the Pencil (✎) icon to access the new UI.
Looking for the source code? Check the src folder for the Mixin implementation.