build(deps): bump packaging in /docs in the patches group

Bumps the patches group in /docs with 1 update: [packaging](https://github.com/pypa/packaging).


Updates `packaging` from 26.0 to 26.1
- [Release notes](https://github.com/pypa/packaging/releases)
- [Changelog](https://github.com/pypa/packaging/blob/main/CHANGELOG.rst)
- [Commits](https://github.com/pypa/packaging/compare/26.0...26.1)

---
updated-dependencies:
- dependency-name: packaging
  dependency-version: '26.1'
  dependency-type: direct:production
  update-type: version-update:semver-minor
  dependency-group: patches
...

Signed-off-by: dependabot[bot] <support@github.com>

.github/dependabot.yml

@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ updates:
     schedule:
       interval: weekly
     groups:
+      docker:
+        patterns:
+          - "docker/*"
       patches:
         patterns:
           - "*"

.github/workflows/build.yml

@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ jobs:
 
       - name: Docker meta
         id: meta
-        uses: docker/metadata-action@v5.10.0
+        uses: docker/metadata-action@v6.0.0
         with:
           # NOTE for forks: if your Docker Hub organization doesn't match your Github repo's,
           # then the use of ${{ github.repository_owner }} will need to be replaced.
@@ -137,13 +137,13 @@ jobs:
             org.opencontainers.image.authors=Geoff Bourne <itzgeoff@gmail.com>
 
       - name: Setup Docker Buildx
-        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3.12.0
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v4.0.0
 
       - name: Set up QEMU
-        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v3.7.0
+        uses: docker/setup-qemu-action@v4.0.0
 
       - name: Build for test
-        uses: docker/build-push-action@v6.19.2
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@v7.1.0
         with:
           platforms: linux/amd64
           tags: ${{ env.IMAGE_TO_TEST }}
@@ -168,14 +168,14 @@ jobs:
           tests/test.sh
 
       - name: Login to DockerHub
-        uses: docker/login-action@v3.7.0
+        uses: docker/login-action@v4.1.0
         if: env.HAS_IMAGE_REPO_ACCESS
         with:
           username: ${{ secrets.DOCKER_USER }}
           password: ${{ secrets.DOCKER_PASSWORD }}
 
       - name: Login to GHCR
-        uses: docker/login-action@v3.7.0
+        uses: docker/login-action@v4.1.0
         if: env.HAS_IMAGE_REPO_ACCESS
         with:
           registry: ghcr.io
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ jobs:
           password: ${{ github.token }}
 
       - name: Build and push
-        uses: docker/build-push-action@v6.19.2
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@v7.1.0
         if: github.actor == github.repository_owner
         with:
           platforms: ${{ matrix.platforms }}

.github/workflows/discord.yml

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - name: on-publish
         if: github.event_name == 'release' && github.event.action == 'published'
-        uses: SethCohen/github-releases-to-discord@v1.19.0
+        uses: SethCohen/github-releases-to-discord@v1.20.0
         with:
           webhook_url: ${{ secrets.DISCORD_WEBHOOK }}
       - name: on-success

.github/workflows/verify-pr.yml

@@ -59,10 +59,10 @@ jobs:
           fetch-depth: 0
 
       - name: Setup Docker Buildx
-        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v3.12.0
+        uses: docker/setup-buildx-action@v4.0.0
 
       - name: Confirm multi-arch build
-        uses: docker/build-push-action@v6.19.2
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@v7.1.0
         with:
           platforms: ${{ matrix.platforms }}
           # ensure latest base image is used
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ jobs:
           cache-from: type=gha,scope=${{ matrix.variant }}
 
       - name: Build for test
-        uses: docker/build-push-action@v6.19.2
+        uses: docker/build-push-action@v7.1.0
         with:
           # Only build single platform since loading multi-arch image into daemon fails with
           # "docker exporter does not currently support exporting manifest lists"

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=1.56.2
 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 +19,26 @@ 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" />
+
+<a href="https://server.pro"><img src="https://server.pro/s/img/logo-short-192.png" alt="Server.pro logo" width="48" align="left" /></a>
+
+<a href="https://server.pro"><b>Server.pro</b></a> - A game server hosting platform offering one-click Minecraft server deployment powered by <code>itzg/minecraft-server</code>, with global locations and an easy-to-use control panel.
+
+<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
-

docs/requirements.txt

@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ mkdocs-autorefs==1.4.4
 mkdocs-get-deps==0.2.2
 mkdocstrings==1.0.3
 mkdocstrings-python==2.0.3
-packaging==26.0
+packaging==26.1
 pathspec==1.0.4
-platformdirs==4.9.4
+platformdirs==4.9.6
 Pygments==2.20.0
 pymdown-extensions==10.21.2
 python-dateutil==2.9.0.post0
@@ -22,4 +22,4 @@ PyYAML==6.0.3
 pyyaml_env_tag==1.1
 six==1.17.0
 watchdog==6.0.0
-zensical==0.0.31
+zensical==0.0.33

files/modrinth-exclude-include.json

@@ -39,8 +39,6 @@
     "distraction_free_recipes",
     "drippyloadingscreen",
     "eating-animation",
-    "emi",
-    "emi_loot",
     "emi_trade",
     "emiffect",
     "emitrades",

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