diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index a653d743..e4fd12e3 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ RUN easy-add --var os=${TARGETOS} --var arch=${TARGETARCH}${TARGETVARIANT} \
   --var version=0.1.1 --var app=maven-metadata-release --file {{.app}} \
   --from https://github.com/itzg/{{.app}}/releases/download/{{.version}}/{{.app}}_{{.version}}_{{.os}}_{{.arch}}.tar.gz
 
-ARG MC_HELPER_VERSION=1.23.1
+ARG MC_HELPER_VERSION=1.24.1
 ARG MC_HELPER_BASE_URL=https://github.com/itzg/mc-image-helper/releases/download/${MC_HELPER_VERSION}
 RUN curl -fsSL ${MC_HELPER_BASE_URL}/mc-image-helper-${MC_HELPER_VERSION}.tgz \
   | tar -C /usr/share -zxf - \
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 53dcef99..c6a8d0b1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -610,6 +610,47 @@ docker run -d --name mc-ftb -e EULA=TRUE \
 
 ## Running a server with a CurseForge modpack
 
+### New approach
+
+> **NOTE** This approach is in early access. Please include as many details as possible when reporting issues for this.
+
+To manage a CurseForge modpack automatically with upgrade support, set `TYPE` to "AUTO_CURSEFORGE". The appropriate mod loader (Forge / Fabric) will also be automatically installed with the version declared by the modpack.
+
+Use one of the following to specify the modpack to install:
+
+Pass a page URL to the modpack or a specific file with `CF_PAGE_URL` such as the modpack page "https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/modpacks/all-the-mods-8" or a specific file "https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/modpacks/all-the-mods-8/files/4248390". For example:
+
+```
+-e TYPE=AUTO_CURSEFORGE -e CF_PAGE_URL=https://www.curseforge.com/minecraft/modpacks/all-the-mods-8
+```
+
+Instead of a URL, the modpack slug can be provided as `CF_SLUG`. The slug is the short identifier visible in the URL after "/modpacks/", such as
+
+![img.png](docs/cf-slug.png)
+
+For example:
+```
+-e TYPE=AUTO_CURSEFORGE -e CF_SLUG=all-the-mods-8
+```
+
+With either the modpack page or slug approach, the latest file will be located and used. If a specific version is desired, set either `CF_FILE_ID` to the numerical file ID or use a matching substring with `CF_FILENAME_MATCHER`.
+
+The file ID can be located in the URL like
+
+![img.png](docs/cf-file-id.png)
+
+The following two examples both refer to version 1.0.7 of ATM8:
+
+```
+-e TYPE=AUTO_CURSEFORGE -e CF_SLUG=all-the-mods-8 -e CF_FILE_ID=4248390
+```
+
+```
+-e TYPE=AUTO_CURSEFORGE -e CF_SLUG=all-the-mods-8 -e CF_FILENAME_MATCHER=1.0.7
+```
+
+### Old approach
+
 Enable this server mode by adding `-e TYPE=CURSEFORGE` to your command-line,
 but note the following additional steps needed...
 
diff --git a/docs/.gitignore b/docs/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1c97488d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+/.*.bkp
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/docs/cf-file-id.png b/docs/cf-file-id.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..620541d9
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/cf-file-id.png differ
diff --git a/docs/cf-slug.png b/docs/cf-slug.png
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..08406760
Binary files /dev/null and b/docs/cf-slug.png differ
diff --git a/scripts/start-autoDeployCF b/scripts/start-autoDeployCF
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fcdfb4dd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/start-autoDeployCF
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -eu
+
+# shellcheck source=start-utils
+. "${SCRIPTS:-/}start-utils"
+
+: "${CF_PAGE_URL:=}"
+: "${CF_SLUG:=}"
+: "${CF_FILE_ID:=}"
+: "${CF_FILENAME_MATCHER:=}"
+
+resultsFile=/data/.install-curseforge.env
+
+isDebugging && set -x
+
+args=(
+  --results-file="$resultsFile"
+)
+if [[ $CF_PAGE_URL ]]; then
+  args+=(--modpack-page-url="$CF_PAGE_URL")
+fi
+if [[ $CF_FILE_ID ]]; then
+  args+=(--file-id="$CF_FILE_ID")
+fi
+if [[ $CF_SLUG ]]; then
+  args+=(--slug="$CF_SLUG")
+fi
+if [[ $CF_FILENAME_MATCHER ]]; then
+  args+=(--filename-matcher="$CF_FILENAME_MATCHER")
+fi
+
+if ! mc-image-helper install-curseforge "${args[@]}"; then
+    log "ERROR failed to auto-install CurseForge modpack"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# grab SERVER, FAMILY and export it
+set -a
+# shellcheck disable=SC1090
+source "${resultsFile}"
+set +a
+
+exec "${SCRIPTS:-/}start-setupWorld" "$@"
diff --git a/scripts/start-configuration b/scripts/start-configuration
index 8fc00414..d23ef2f6 100755
--- a/scripts/start-configuration
+++ b/scripts/start-configuration
@@ -136,11 +136,11 @@ cd /data || exit 1
 export ORIGINAL_TYPE=${TYPE^^}
 
 if isTrue "${ENABLE_AUTOPAUSE}"; then
-  ${SCRIPTS:-/}start-autopause
+  "${SCRIPTS:-/}start-autopause"
 fi
 
 if isTrue "${ENABLE_AUTOSTOP}"; then
-  ${SCRIPTS:-/}start-autostop
+  "${SCRIPTS:-/}start-autostop"
 fi
 
 if 
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ if
 then
   log "Starting RCON commands"
   # shellcheck source=start-rconcmds
-  ${SCRIPTS:-/}start-rconcmds
+  "${SCRIPTS:-/}start-rconcmds"
 fi
 
 if versionLessThan 1.7; then
@@ -196,6 +196,10 @@ case "${TYPE^^}" in
     exec "${SCRIPTS:-/}start-deployCF" "$@"
   ;;
 
+  AUTO_CURSEFORGE)
+    exec "${SCRIPTS:-/}start-autoDeployCF" "$@"
+    ;;
+
   VANILLA)
     exec "${SCRIPTS:-/}start-deployVanilla" "$@"
   ;;
diff --git a/scripts/start-deployFabric b/scripts/start-deployFabric
index 131d770f..1a942839 100755
--- a/scripts/start-deployFabric
+++ b/scripts/start-deployFabric
@@ -4,47 +4,49 @@ set -eu
 # shellcheck source=start-utils
 . "${SCRIPTS:-/}start-utils"
 
-requireVar VANILLA_VERSION
 export TYPE=FABRIC
 : "${FABRIC_LAUNCHER_VERSION:=${FABRIC_INSTALLER_VERSION:-LATEST}}"
 : "${FABRIC_LAUNCHER:=}"
 : "${FABRIC_LAUNCHER_URL:=}"
 : "${FABRIC_LOADER_VERSION:=LATEST}"
 
+resultsFile=/data/.install-fabric.env
+
 isDebugging && set -x
 
 # Custom fabric jar
 if [[ $FABRIC_LAUNCHER ]]; then
-  export SERVER=${FABRIC_LAUNCHER}
+  if ! mc-image-helper install-fabric-loader \
+    --results-file=${resultsFile} \
+    --from-local-file="$FABRIC_LAUNCHER"; then
+    log "ERROR failed to install Fabric launcher from $FABRIC_LAUNCHER"
+    exit 1
+  fi
 # Custom fabric jar url
 elif [[ $FABRIC_LAUNCHER_URL ]]; then
-  export SERVER=fabric-server-$(echo -n "$FABRIC_LAUNCHER_URL" | mc-image-helper hash)
+  if ! mc-image-helper install-fabric-loader \
+    --results-file=${resultsFile} \
+    --from-url="$FABRIC_LAUNCHER_URL"; then
+    log "ERROR failed to install Fabric launcher from $FABRIC_LAUNCHER_URL"
+    exit 1
+  fi
 # Official fabric launcher
 else
-  if [[ ${FABRIC_LAUNCHER_VERSION^^} = LATEST ]]; then
-    log "Checking Fabric Launcher version information."
-    FABRIC_LAUNCHER_VERSION=$(maven-metadata-release https://maven.fabricmc.net/net/fabricmc/fabric-installer/maven-metadata.xml)
-  fi
-  if [[ ${FABRIC_LOADER_VERSION^^} = LATEST ]]; then
-    log "Checking Fabric Loader version information."
-    FABRIC_LOADER_VERSION=$(maven-metadata-release https://maven.fabricmc.net/net/fabricmc/fabric-loader/maven-metadata.xml)
-  fi
-  export SERVER=fabric-server-mc.${VANILLA_VERSION}-loader.${FABRIC_LOADER_VERSION}-launcher.${FABRIC_LAUNCHER_VERSION}.jar
-  export FABRIC_LAUNCHER_URL="https://meta.fabricmc.net/v2/versions/loader/${VANILLA_VERSION}/${FABRIC_LOADER_VERSION}/${FABRIC_LAUNCHER_VERSION}/server/jar"
-fi
-
-if [[ ! -e ${SERVER} && ! -z ${FABRIC_LAUNCHER_URL} ]]; then
-  log "Downloading $FABRIC_LAUNCHER_URL ..."
-  if ! get -o "$SERVER" "$FABRIC_LAUNCHER_URL"; then
-    log "Failed to download from given location $FABRIC_LAUNCHER_URL"
-    exit 2
+  if ! mc-image-helper install-fabric-loader \
+    --results-file=${resultsFile} \
+    --minecraft-version="${VANILLA_VERSION}" \
+    --installer-version="${FABRIC_LAUNCHER_VERSION}" \
+    --loader-version="${FABRIC_LOADER_VERSION}"; then
+    log "ERROR failed to install Fabric launcher from $VANILLA_VERSION, $FABRIC_LAUNCHER_VERSION, $FABRIC_LOADER_VERSION"
+    exit 1
   fi
 fi
 
-if [[ ! -e ${SERVER} ]]; then
-  log "$SERVER does not exist, cannot launch server!"
-  exit 1
-fi
+# grab SERVER and export it
+set -a
+# shellcheck disable=SC1090
+source "${resultsFile}"
+set +a
 
 export FAMILY=FABRIC
 exec "${SCRIPTS:-/}start-setupWorld" "$@"