docs: simplify sponsor layout - drop table, use floated logo (#4012)

Co-authored-by: SpawnBox-dev <github@spawnbox.app>
Co-authored-by: SpawnBox-dev <developer@spawnbox.app>

Dockerfile

@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ RUN easy-add --var os=${TARGETOS} --var arch=${TARGETARCH}${TARGETVARIANT} \
   --from ${GITHUB_BASEURL}/itzg/{{.app}}/releases/download/{{.version}}/{{.app}}_{{.version}}_{{.os}}_{{.arch}}.tar.gz
 
 # renovate: datasource=github-releases packageName=itzg/mc-image-helper versioning=loose
-ARG MC_HELPER_VERSION=1.55.4
+ARG MC_HELPER_VERSION=1.56.1
 ARG MC_HELPER_BASE_URL=${GITHUB_BASEURL}/itzg/mc-image-helper/releases/download/${MC_HELPER_VERSION}
 # used for cache busting local copy of mc-image-helper
 ARG MC_HELPER_REV=1

README.md

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 [![](https://img.shields.io/badge/Donate-Buy%20me%20a%20coffee-orange.svg)](https://www.buymeacoffee.com/itzg)
 [![Documentation Status](https://readthedocs.org/projects/docker-minecraft-server/badge/?version=latest)](https://docker-minecraft-server.readthedocs.io/en/latest/?badge=latest)
 
- [![Read the docs](docs/img/docs-banner.png)](https://docker-minecraft-server.readthedocs.io/)
+ [![Read the docs](docs/img/banner-docs.png)](https://docker-minecraft-server.readthedocs.io/)
 
 There you will find things like
 - [Quick start with Docker Compose](https://docker-minecraft-server.readthedocs.io/en/latest/#using-docker-compose)
@@ -19,3 +19,20 @@ There you will find things like
 There are also many examples located in [the examples directory](examples) of this repo.
 
 This image only supports Java edition natively; however, if looking for a server that is compatible with Bedrock edition, then use [itzg/minecraft-bedrock-server](https://github.com/itzg/docker-minecraft-bedrock-server) or [refer to this section](https://docker-minecraft-server.readthedocs.io/en/latest/misc/examples/#bedrock-compatible-server) to add Bedrock compatibility to a Java edition server.
+
+[![Sponsors](docs/img/banner-sponsors.png)](#sponsors)
+
+<a name="sponsors"></a>
+
+<a href="https://spawnbox.app"><img src="https://spawnbox.app/favicon-48x48.png" alt="SpawnBox logo" width="48" align="left" /></a>
+
+<a href="https://spawnbox.app"><b>SpawnBox</b></a> - Powered by <code>itzg/minecraft-server</code>, it's a Windows desktop app for parents, teens, and friend groups who want a Minecraft server on their own PC without learning Docker, WSL2, or networking.
+
+<br clear="left" />
+
+<!-- additional sponsors repeat the pattern above: floated logo + blurb + clear-left break -->
+<!-- logo image preferrably hosted on an external, stable site at a size of 48x48px -->
+<!-- link to sponsor site -->
+<!-- one or two line summary ideally with a mention of image integration -->
+
+[and more...](https://github.com/sponsors/itzg)

docs/img/banner-docs.txt

@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ Small, none, Minecraftia
 
 Line 2:
 "Documentation"
-Large, non, Minecrafter
+Large, none, Minecrafter
 
 Overall settings:
 - drop shadow

docs/img/banner-sponsors.txt

@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+Generated at https://textcraft.net/
+
+Line 1:
+"Sponsors"
+Mid
+None
+Minecrafter
+Drop shadow
+3d-style view

docs/misc/contributing/development.md

@@ -21,6 +21,30 @@ docker compose -f compose-dev.yml run --rm -it [-e key=value]  mc-dev
 
     To speed up the development cycle, it is recommended to set `SETUP_ONLY` to `true` as part of the run command above.
 
+## Building the image with a new release of a tool
+
+In this exapmle, let's say that [mc-image-helper](https://github.com/itzg/mc-image-helper) has been [released](https://github.com/itzg/mc-image-helper/releases) at 1.56.0, but the corresponding changes in the image [scripts](https://github.com/itzg/docker-minecraft-server/tree/23205471db9814cff9c6602361dbc6cdd6c4230a/scripts) need to be tested against that version while updating [the Dockerfile](https://github.com/itzg/docker-minecraft-server/blob/23205471db9814cff9c6602361dbc6cdd6c4230a/Dockerfile#L58).
+
+```yaml title="tests/manual/optional-projects/compose.yml" hl_lines="7"
+services:
+  mc:
+    build:
+      # ...or wherever you cloned the docker-minecraft-server repo
+      context: ../../..
+      args:
+        MC_HELPER_VERSION: 1.56.0
+    environment:
+      EULA: true
+      TYPE: "FABRIC"
+      MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
+        fabric-api
+        pl3xmap?:beta
+    ports:
+      - "25565:25565/tcp"
+    volumes:
+      - ./data:/data
+```
+
 ## Using development copy of tools
 
 In the cloned repo, such as [`mc-image-helper`](https://github.com/itzg/mc-image-helper), install the distribution locally by running:

docs/mods-and-plugins/modrinth.md

@@ -86,6 +86,54 @@ Where:
 
     To temporarily disable processing of the `MODRINTH_PROJECTS` list, then comment out the `MODRINTH_PROJECTS` environment variable.
 
+## Optional projects
+
+Projects that are not critical for the server to function can be marked as **optional** by appending a `?` to the project slug or ID. When a compatible version cannot be found for an optional project, the server logs a warning and continues startup instead of failing.
+
+This is particularly useful for server-side mods that tend to lag behind on Minecraft updates, such as map renderers (Pl3xmap, BlueMap), performance mods (Lithium, C2ME), or admin tools (Spark, LuckPerms).
+
+```yaml
+      MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
+        fabric-api
+        lithium
+        pl3xmap?
+        bluemap?:beta
+```
+
+The `?` marker can be combined with all existing format options:
+
+| Format                     | Example                   |
+|----------------------------|---------------------------|
+| Slug only                  | `pl3xmap?`                |
+| With version               | `pl3xmap?:Oa9ZDzZq`      |
+| With release type          | `pl3xmap?:beta`           |
+| With loader prefix         | `fabric:pl3xmap?`         |
+| Full combination           | `fabric:pl3xmap?:beta`    |
+| In listing files           | `pl3xmap?` *(one per line)* |
+
+When combined with [`VERSION_FROM_MODRINTH_PROJECTS`](#version-from-projects), optional projects are **excluded** from the version calculation. This means an optional mod that hasn't been updated yet will never block a Minecraft version upgrade.
+
+!!! example "Automatic upgrades without optional-mod breakage"
+
+    ```yaml
+        MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
+          fabric-api
+          lithium
+          pl3xmap?
+        VERSION_FROM_MODRINTH_PROJECTS: true
+    ```
+    
+    If a new Minecraft version is released and `fabric-api` + `lithium` support it but `pl3xmap` does not:
+    
+    1. The resolved `VERSION` is set to the new version (pl3xmap is not considered)
+    2. `fabric-api` and `lithium` are installed normally
+    3. `pl3xmap` is skipped with a warning in the logs
+    4. On a future restart, once pl3xmap publishes a compatible build, it is picked up automatically
+
+!!! note
+
+    Optional projects marked with `?` in listing files (`@/path/to/file.txt`) are supported ; the `?` is parsed from each line the same way as inline entries.
+
 ## Version from Projects
 
 When the environment variable `VERSION_FROM_MODRINTH_PROJECTS` is set to "true" the Minecraft [`VERSION`](../versions/minecraft.md) will be automatically determined by looking at the most recent version of Minecraft that is supported by all the projects provided in `MODRINTH_PROJECTS`.
@@ -115,4 +163,3 @@ When the environment variable `VERSION_FROM_MODRINTH_PROJECTS` is set to "true"
 
 `MODRINTH_LOADER`
 : When using a custom server, set this to specify which loader type will be requested during lookups
-

tests/manual/optional-projects/compose.yml

@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+services:
+  mc:
+    build:
+      # ...or wherever you cloned the docker-minecraft-server repo
+      context: ../../..
+      args:
+        MC_HELPER_VERSION: 1.56.0
+    environment:
+      EULA: true
+      TYPE: "FABRIC"
+      MODRINTH_PROJECTS: |
+        fabric-api
+        pl3xmap?:beta
+    ports:
+      - "25565:25565/tcp"
+    volumes:
+      - ./data:/data