Incomplete instance based config

Update network semaphore comments
Bump protocol version because of removed InvalidSectionPosException
2024-09-20 19:49:02 +05:00 · 2024-09-17 07:40:28 -05:00 · 2024-09-17 12:41:46 +05:00 · 2024-09-17 09:42:22 +05:00 · 2024-09-16 20:35:57 -05:00 · 2024-09-15 21:15:57 -05:00
331 changed files with 16694 additions and 8098 deletions
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import com.github.jengelman.gradle.plugins.shadow.tasks.ShadowJar
 plugins {
    id "java"

-    id "com.github.johnrengelman.shadow" version '7.1.2' apply false
+    id "com.github.johnrengelman.shadow" version '8.1.1' apply false
 }


@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.events.IDhApiEventInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.factories.IDhApiWrapperFactory;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.IDhApiOverrideable;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.worldGenerator.IDhApiWorldGeneratorOverrideRegister;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.render.IDhApiCustomRenderObjectFactory;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.render.IDhApiRenderProxy;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.world.IDhApiLevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents.DhApiAfterDhInitEvent;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.override.DhApiWorldGeneratorOverrideRegister;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
@@ -123,10 +125,16 @@ public class DhApi
 		
 		/** 
 		 * Used to create wrappers for Minecraft objects needed by other Distant Horizons API methods.
-		 * @since API 1.1.0
+		 * @since API 2.0.0
 		 */
 		public static IDhApiWrapperFactory wrapperFactory = null;
 		
+		/**
+		 * Used to create custom renderable objects. <br>
+		 * These objects can be added to the renderer in {@link IDhApiLevelWrapper}
+		 * @since API 3.0.0 
+		 */
+		public static IDhApiCustomRenderObjectFactory customRenderObjectFactory = null;
 	}
 	
 	
@@ -172,7 +180,7 @@ public class DhApi
 	 * This version should be updated whenever non-breaking fixes are added to the Distant Horizons API. 
 	 * @since API 1.0.0 
 	 */
-	public static int getApiPatchVersion() { return ModInfo.API_PATH_VERSION; }
+	public static int getApiPatchVersion() { return ModInfo.API_PATCH_VERSION; }
 	
 	/**
 	 * Returns the mod's semantic version number in the format: Major.Minor.Patch
@@ -198,7 +206,7 @@ public class DhApi
 	
 	/**
 	 * Returns true if the thread this method was called from is owned by Distant Horizons.
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 */
 	public static boolean isDhThread() { return Thread.currentThread().getName().startsWith(ModInfo.THREAD_NAME_PREFIX); }
 	
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums;
 * CHUNK  - Detail Level: 4, width 16 block, <br>
 * REGION - Detail Level: 9, width 512 block <br> <br>
 *
- * Detail levels in Distant Horizons represent how large a section (of either LODs or MC chunks)
+ * Detail levels in Distant Horizons represent how large a LOD
 * is, with the smallest being 0 (1 block wide). <br>
 * The width of a detail level can be calculated by putting the detail level to the power of 2. <br>
 * Example for the chunk detail level (4): 2^4 = 16 blocks wide <Br><br>
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
 * NONE, <br>
 * NON_COLLIDING, <br>
 *
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-6
 */
 public enum EDhApiBlocksToAvoid
@@ -22,14 +22,13 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
 /**
 * UNCOMPRESSED <br>
 * LZ4 <br>
- * ZSTD <br>
 * XZ <br><br>
 * 
 * Note: speed and compression ratios are examples
 * and should only be used for estimated comparisons.
 * 
 * @version 2024-3-16
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public enum EDhApiDataCompressionMode
 {
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;

 /**
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-6
 */
 public enum EDhApiGLErrorHandlingMode
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;

 /**
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-6
 */
 public enum EDhApiGlProfileMode
@@ -23,13 +23,12 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
 * AUTO, 					<br>
 * BUFFER_STORAGE, 			<br>
 * SUB_DATA, 				<br>
- * BUFFER_MAPPING, 			<br>
 * DATA						<br>
 *
 * @author Leetom
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-4-6
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 3.0.0
 */
 public enum EDhApiGpuUploadMethod
 {
@@ -49,7 +48,10 @@ public enum EDhApiGpuUploadMethod
 	 * May end up storing buffers in System memory. <br>
 	 * Fast rending if in GPU memory, slow if in system memory, <br>
 	 * but won't stutter when uploading.
+	 * 
+	 * @deprecated not currently supported
 	 */
+	@Deprecated
 	BUFFER_MAPPING(true, false),
 	
 	/** Fast rendering but may stutter when uploading. */
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
 * FADE_TO_DIRT <br>
 * AS_DIRT <br>
 *
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-7
 */
 public enum EDhApiGrassSideRendering
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
 * HIGH <br>
 * UNLIMITED <br>
 *
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-6
 */
 public enum EDhApiHorizontalQuality
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
 * ENABLED <br>
 * DISABLED <br>
 *
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-6
 */
 public enum EDhApiLodShading
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Level;

 /**
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-6
 */
 public enum EDhApiLoggerMode
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.MathUtil;
 *
 * @author James Seibel
 * @author Leonardo Amato
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-6
 */
 public enum EDhApiMaxHorizontalResolution
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
 * Determines how the multiplayer folders should be named.
 *
 * @author James Seibel
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-6
 */
 public enum EDhApiServerFolderNameMode
@@ -1,14 +1,41 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;

+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
+
 /**
+ * AUTO, <br>
 * STABLE, <br>
 * NIGHTLY, <br><br>
 *
- * @since API 1.1.0
- * @version 2024-4-6
+ * @since API 2.1.0
+ * @version 2024-6-8
 */
 public enum EDhApiUpdateBranch
 {
+	AUTO,
 	STABLE,
-	NIGHTLY
+	NIGHTLY;
+	
+	
+	
+	/** 
+	 * If the updateBranch value is {@link EDhApiUpdateBranch#AUTO}
+	 * this method will convert it either to {@link EDhApiUpdateBranch#STABLE} or {@link EDhApiUpdateBranch#NIGHTLY}
+	 * based on this jar's state. <Br><br>
+	 * 
+	 * If updateBranch is {@link EDhApiUpdateBranch#STABLE} or {@link EDhApiUpdateBranch#NIGHTLY}
+	 * it just returns.
+	 */
+	public static EDhApiUpdateBranch convertAutoToStableOrNightly(EDhApiUpdateBranch updateBranch)
+	{
+		if (updateBranch != EDhApiUpdateBranch.AUTO)
+		{
+			return updateBranch;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			return ModInfo.IS_DEV_BUILD ? EDhApiUpdateBranch.NIGHTLY : EDhApiUpdateBranch.STABLE;
+		}
+	}
+	
 }
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
 * the vanilla Minecraft terrain.
 *
 * @author James Seibel
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-6
 */
@Deprecated // not currently in use, if the config this enum represents is re-implemented, the deprecated flag can be removed
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.MathUtil;
 *
 * @author Leonardo Amato
 * @version 2024-4-6
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public enum EDhApiVerticalQuality
 {
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
 * VISUALLY_EQUAL <br><br>
 * 
 * @version 2024-3-27
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public enum EDhApiWorldCompressionMode
 {
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config.DisallowSelectingViaConfigGui
 * HIGH, <br>
 * EXTREME, <br>
 * 
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-6
 */
 public enum EDhApiQualityPreset
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config.DisallowSelectingViaConfigGui
 * BALANCED, <br>
 * AGGRESSIVE, <br>
 * 
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-6
 */
 public enum EDhApiThreadPreset
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
+
+/**
+ * contains the indices used by shaders to determine 
+ * how different block types should be rendered. <br><br>
+ * 
+ * UNKNOWN, <br>
+ * LEAVES, <br>
+ * STONE, <br>
+ * WOOD, <br>
+ * METAL, <br>
+ * DIRT, <br>
+ * LAVA, <br>
+ * DEEPSLATE, <br>
+ * SNOW, <br>
+ * SAND, <br>
+ * TERRACOTTA, <br>
+ * NETHER_STONE, <br>
+ * WATER, <br>
+ * GRASS, <br>
+ * AIR, <br>
+ * ILLUMINATED, <br>
+ * 
+ * @author IMS
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ * @version 2024-7-11
+ */
+public enum EDhApiBlockMaterial
+{
+	UNKNOWN(0),
+	LEAVES(1),
+	STONE(2),
+	WOOD(3),
+	METAL(4),
+	DIRT(5),
+	LAVA(6),
+	DEEPSLATE(7),
+	SNOW(8),
+	SAND(9),
+	TERRACOTTA(10),
+	NETHER_STONE(11),
+	WATER(12),
+	GRASS(13),
+	/** shouldn't normally be needed, but just in case */
+	AIR(14),
+	ILLUMINATED(15); // Max value
+	
+	
+	
+	public final byte index;
+	
+	EDhApiBlockMaterial(int index) { this.index = (byte)index;}
+	
+	public static EDhApiBlockMaterial getFromIndex(int index)
+	{
+		for(EDhApiBlockMaterial material : EDhApiBlockMaterial.values())
+		{
+			if (material.index == index)
+			{
+				return material;
+			}
+		}
+		
+		return EDhApiBlockMaterial.UNKNOWN;
+	}
+	
+}
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
 * @author Leetom
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-4-6
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public enum EDhApiDebugRendering
 {
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
 *
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-4-6
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public enum EDhApiFogColorMode
 {
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
 * FOG_DISABLED <br>
 *
 * @author James Seibel
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2022-6-2
 */
 public enum EDhApiFogDrawMode
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
 *
 * @author Leetom
 * @version 2022-6-30
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public enum EDhApiFogFalloff
 {
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
 *
 * @author Leetom
 * @version 2024-4-6
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public enum EDhApiHeightFogMixMode
 {
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
 *
 * @author Leetom
 * @version 2024-4-6
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public enum EDhApiHeightFogMode
 {
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
 *
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-1-30
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public enum EDhApiRenderPass
 {
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
 * Debug <br>
 * Disabled <br>
 *
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-6
 */
 public enum EDhApiRendererMode
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
 * FAKE,						<br>
 * COMPLETE,					<br>
 * 
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * @version 2024-4-6
 */
 public enum EDhApiTransparency
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import java.util.function.Consumer;
 * 
 * @author Builderb0y, James Seibel
 * @version 2023-12-21
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public enum EDhApiWorldGeneratorReturnType
 {
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public enum EDhApiWorldGeneratorReturnType
 	 * {@link IDhApiWorldGenerator#generateChunks(int, int, byte, byte, EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode, ExecutorService, Consumer)}
 	 * will be used when generating terrain.
 	 * 
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 */
 	VANILLA_CHUNKS,
 	
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ public enum EDhApiWorldGeneratorReturnType
 	 * {@link IDhApiWorldGenerator#generateApiChunks(int, int, byte, byte, EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode, ExecutorService, Consumer)}
 	 * will be used when generating terrain.
 	 * 
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 */
 	API_CHUNKS;
 	
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@

 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.block;

+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiBlockMaterial;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.IDhApiUnsafeWrapper;

 /**
@@ -30,12 +31,25 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.IDhApiUnsafeWrapper;
 */
 public interface IDhApiBlockStateWrapper extends IDhApiUnsafeWrapper
 {
+	/** @since API 1.0.0 */
 	boolean isAir();
 	
+	/** @since API 1.0.0 */
 	boolean isSolid();
+	/** @since API 1.0.0 */
 	boolean isLiquid();
 	
-	// TODO:
-	//    boolean hasNoCollision();
-	//    boolean noFaceIsFullFace();
+	/**
+	 * Returns the full serialized form of the given block
+	 * as defined by DH's serialization methods.
+	 * @since API 3.0.0 
+	 */
+	String getSerialString();
+	/**
+	 * Returns the byte value representing the {@link EDhApiBlockMaterial} enum.
+	 * @see EDhApiBlockMaterial 
+	 * @since API 3.0.0 
+	 */
+	byte getMaterialId();
+	
 }
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ public interface IDhApiConfig
 	IDhApiWorldGenerationConfig worldGenerator();
 	IDhApiMultiplayerConfig multiplayer();
 	IDhApiMultiThreadingConfig multiThreading();
-	IDhApiGpuBuffersConfig gpuBuffers();
 	// note: DON'T add the Auto Updater to this API. We only want the user's to have the ability to control when things are downloaded to their machines.
 	//IDhApiLoggingConfig logging(); // TODO implement
 	IDhApiDebuggingConfig debugging();
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ public interface IDhApiConfigValue<T>
 	 * Returns the value of the config if it was set by the API.
 	 * Returns null if the config hasn't been set by the API.
 	 * 
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 */
 	T getApiValue();
 	
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ public interface IDhApiConfigValue<T>
 	 * use the value set in the config menu.
 	 * 
 	 * @return true if the value was set, false otherwise.
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 */
 	boolean clearValue();
 	
@@ -19,30 +19,28 @@

 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.client;

-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config.EDhApiGpuUploadMethod;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.IDhApiConfigGroup;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.IDhApiConfigValue;

 /**
- * Distant Horizons' OpenGL buffer configuration.
+ * Distant Horizons' generic rendering configuration. <br><br>
 *
 * @author James Seibel
- * @version 2023-6-14
- * @since API 1.0.0
+ * @version 2024-7-11
+ * @since API 3.0.0
 */
-public interface IDhApiGpuBuffersConfig extends IDhApiConfigGroup
+public interface IDhApiGenericRenderingConfig extends IDhApiConfigGroup
 {
-	
-	/** Defines how geometry data is uploaded to the GPU. */
-	IDhApiConfigValue<EDhApiGpuUploadMethod> gpuUploadMethod();
-	
 	/** 
-	 * Defines how long we should wait after uploading one
-	 * Megabyte of geometry data to the GPU before uploading
-	 * the next Megabyte of data. <br>
-	 * This can be set to a non-zero number to reduce stuttering caused by
-	 * uploading buffers to the GPU.
+	 * If enabled DH will render generic objects into its terrain pass. <br>
+	 * This includes: clouds, beacons, and API added objects.
 	 */
-	IDhApiConfigValue<Integer> gpuUploadPerMegabyteInMilliseconds();
+	IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> renderingEnabled();
+	
+	/** If enabled DH will render beacon beams. */
+	IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> beaconRenderingEnabled();
+	
+	/** If enabled DH will render clouds. */
+	IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> cloudRenderingEnabled();
 	
 }
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ public interface IDhApiGraphicsConfig extends IDhApiConfigGroup
 	IDhApiFogConfig fog();
 	IDhApiAmbientOcclusionConfig ambientOcclusion();
 	IDhApiNoiseTextureConfig noiseTexture();
+	IDhApiGenericRenderingConfig genericRendering();
 	
 	
 	
@@ -121,7 +122,7 @@ public interface IDhApiGraphicsConfig extends IDhApiConfigGroup
 	 * Setting this to 0 will reduce/prevent holes in the world due to clipping to close to the camera
 	 * but may cause overdraw issues with transparent or non-full blocks.
 	 * 
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 */
 	IDhApiConfigValue<Double> overdrawPreventionRadius();
 	
@@ -158,7 +159,7 @@ public interface IDhApiGraphicsConfig extends IDhApiConfigGroup
 	/**
 	 * Determines how LODs should be shaded.
 	 *
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 */
 	IDhApiConfigValue<EDhApiLodShading> lodShading();
 	
@@ -171,7 +172,7 @@ public interface IDhApiGraphicsConfig extends IDhApiConfigGroup
 	 * start/stop rendering incorrectly based on the camera direction,
 	 * but will also reduce FPS.
 	 *
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 * @see IDhApiGraphicsConfig#disableShadowFrustumCulling()
 	 */
 	IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> disableFrustumCulling();
@@ -183,7 +184,7 @@ public interface IDhApiGraphicsConfig extends IDhApiConfigGroup
 	 * 
 	 * Disable this if shadows render incorrectly.
 	 *
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 * @see IDhApiGraphicsConfig#disableFrustumCulling() 
 	 */
 	IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> disableShadowFrustumCulling();
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.data;
+
+/**
+ * Can be used to drastically speed up repeat read operations in {@link IDhApiTerrainDataRepo}.
+ *
+ * @see IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
+ * 
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-7-14
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ */
+public interface IDhApiTerrainDataCache
+{
+	/**
+	 * Removes any data that's currently stored in this cache.
+	 * This cane be done to free up memory or invalidate 
+	 * the cache so fresh data can be pulled in.
+	 */
+	void clear();
+	
+}
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.data.DhApiTerrainDataPoint;
 /**
 * Used to interface with Distant Horizons' terrain data.
 *
+ * @see IDhApiTerrainDataCache
+ * 
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2023-6-22
 * @since API 1.0.0
@@ -40,29 +42,50 @@ public interface IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 	// getters //
 	//=========//
 	
-	/** Returns the terrain datapoint at the given block position, at/or containing the given Y position. */
-	DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint> getSingleDataPointAtBlockPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int blockPosX, int blockPosY, int blockPosZ);
-	/** Returns every datapoint in the column located at the given block X and Z position top to bottom. */
-	DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> getColumnDataAtBlockPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int blockPosX, int blockPosZ);
+	/** @see IDhApiTerrainDataRepo#getSingleDataPointAtBlockPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper, int, int, int, IDhApiTerrainDataCache) */
+	default DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint> getSingleDataPointAtBlockPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int blockPosX, int blockPosY, int blockPosZ) { return this.getSingleDataPointAtBlockPos(levelWrapper, blockPosX, blockPosY, blockPosZ, null); }
+	/** 
+	 * Returns the terrain datapoint at the given block position, at/or containing the given Y position. 
+	 * @since API 3.0.0
+	 */
+	DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint> getSingleDataPointAtBlockPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int blockPosX, int blockPosY, int blockPosZ, IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache);
 	
+	/** @see IDhApiTerrainDataRepo#getColumnDataAtBlockPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper, int, int, IDhApiTerrainDataCache) */
+	default DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> getColumnDataAtBlockPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int blockPosX, int blockPosZ) { return this.getColumnDataAtBlockPos(levelWrapper, blockPosX, blockPosZ, null); }
+	/** 
+	 * Returns every datapoint in the column located at the given block X and Z position top to bottom. 
+	 * @since API 3.0.0 
+	 */
+	DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> getColumnDataAtBlockPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int blockPosX, int blockPosZ, IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache);
+	
+	/** @see IDhApiTerrainDataRepo#getAllTerrainDataAtChunkPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper, int, int, IDhApiTerrainDataCache) */
+	default DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtChunkPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int chunkPosX, int chunkPosZ) { return this.getAllTerrainDataAtChunkPos(levelWrapper, chunkPosX, chunkPosZ, null); }
 	/**
 	 * Returns every datapoint in the given chunk's X and Z position. <br><br>
 	 *
 	 * The returned array is ordered: [relativeBlockX][relativeBlockZ][columnIndex] <br>
 	 * RelativeBlockX/Z are relative to the block position closest to negative infinity in the chunk's position. <br>
 	 * The column data is ordered from top to bottom. Note: each column may have a different number of values. <br>
+	 * 
+	 * @since API 3.0.0
 	 */
-	DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtChunkPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int chunkPosX, int chunkPosZ);
+	DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtChunkPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int chunkPosX, int chunkPosZ, IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache);
 	
+	/** @see IDhApiTerrainDataRepo#getAllTerrainDataAtRegionPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper, int, int, IDhApiTerrainDataCache) */
+	default DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtRegionPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int regionPosX, int regionPosZ) { return this.getAllTerrainDataAtRegionPos(levelWrapper, regionPosX, regionPosZ, null); }
 	/**
 	 * Returns every datapoint in the given region's X and Z position. <br><br>
 	 *
 	 * The returned array is ordered: [relativeBlockX][relativeBlockZ][columnIndex] <br>
 	 * RelativeBlockX/Z are relative to the block position closest to negative infinity in the region's position. <br>
 	 * The column data is ordered from top to bottom. Note: each column may have a different number of values. <br>
+	 * 
+	 * @since API 3.0.0
 	 */
-	DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtRegionPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int regionPosX, int regionPosZ);
+	DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtRegionPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int regionPosX, int regionPosZ, IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache);
 	
+	/** @see IDhApiTerrainDataRepo#getAllTerrainDataAtDetailLevelAndPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper, byte, int, int, IDhApiTerrainDataCache) */
+	default DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtRegionPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, byte detailLevel, int posX, int posZ) { return this.getAllTerrainDataAtDetailLevelAndPos(levelWrapper, detailLevel, posX, posZ, null); }
 	/**
 	 * Returns every datapoint in the column located at the given detail level and X/Z position. <br>
 	 * This can be used to return terrain data for non-standard sizes (IE 2x2 blocks or 2x2 chunks).
@@ -71,20 +94,42 @@ public interface IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 	 * Every increase doubles the width of the returned area. <br>
 	 * Example values: 0 = block, 1 = 2x2 blocks, 2 = 4x4 blocks, ... 4 = chunk (16x16 blocks), ... 9 = region (512x512 blocks) <br>
 	 * See {@link EDhApiDetailLevel} for more information.
+	 * 
+	 * @since API 3.0.0
 	 */
-	DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtDetailLevelAndPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, byte detailLevel, int posX, int posZ);
+	DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtDetailLevelAndPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, byte detailLevel, int posX, int posZ, IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache);
+	
+	
+	
+	/** @see IDhApiTerrainDataRepo#raycast(IDhApiLevelWrapper, double, double, double, float, float, float, int, IDhApiTerrainDataCache) */
+	default DhApiResult<DhApiRaycastResult> raycast(
+			IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper,
+			double rayOriginX, double rayOriginY, double rayOriginZ,
+			float rayDirectionX, float rayDirectionY, float rayDirectionZ,
+			int maxRayBlockLength)
+	{
+		return this.raycast(
+				levelWrapper,
+				rayOriginX, rayOriginY, rayOriginZ,
+				rayDirectionX, rayDirectionY, rayDirectionZ,
+				maxRayBlockLength,
+				null);
+	}
 	
 	/**
 	 * Returns the datapoint and position of the LOD
 	 * at the end of the given ray. <br><br>
 	 *
 	 * Will return "success" with a null datapoint if the ray reaches the max length without finding any data.
+	 * 
+	 * @since API 3.0.0
 	 */
 	DhApiResult<DhApiRaycastResult> raycast(
 			IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper,
 			double rayOriginX, double rayOriginY, double rayOriginZ,
 			float rayDirectionX, float rayDirectionY, float rayDirectionZ,
-			int maxRayBlockLength);
+			int maxRayBlockLength,
+			IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache);
 	
 	
 	
@@ -98,15 +143,27 @@ public interface IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 	 * Notes: <br>
 	 * - Only works if the given {@link IDhApiLevelWrapper} points to a loaded level. <br>
 	 * - If the player travels to this chunk, or the chunk is updated in some other way; your data will be replaced
-	 * by whatever the current chunk is. <br>
-	 * - This method may not update the LOD data immediately. Any other chunks have
-	 * been queued to update, they will be handled first.
+	 *   by whatever the current chunk is. <br>
+	 * - This method may not update the LOD data immediately. Any other chunks that have
+	 *   been queued to update will be handled first.
 	 *
 	 * @param levelWrapper the level wrapper that the chunk should be saved to.
 	 * @param chunkObjectArray see {@link IDhApiWorldGenerator#generateChunks} for what objects are expected.
 	 * @throws ClassCastException if chunkObjectArray doesn't contain the right objects.
 	 * The exception will contain the expected object(s).
 	 */
-	public DhApiResult<Void> overwriteChunkDataAsync(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, Object[] chunkObjectArray) throws ClassCastException;
+	DhApiResult<Void> overwriteChunkDataAsync(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, Object[] chunkObjectArray) throws ClassCastException;
+	
+	
+	
+	//=========//
+	// helpers //
+	//=========//
+	
+	/** 
+	 * @return a {@link IDhApiTerrainDataCache} backed by {@link java.lang.ref.SoftReference}'s.
+	 * @since API 3.0.0
+	 */
+	IDhApiTerrainDataCache getSoftCache();
 	
 }
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import java.io.IOException;
 *
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2023-12-16
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public interface IDhApiWrapperFactory
 {
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ public interface IDhApiWrapperFactory
 	 * @throws ClassCastException if any of the given parameters is of the wrong type. 
 	 * If thrown the error message will contain the list of expected object types in order. 
 	 * 
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 */
 	IDhApiBiomeWrapper getBiomeWrapper(Object[] objectArray, IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper) throws ClassCastException;
 	
@@ -67,23 +67,46 @@ public interface IDhApiWrapperFactory
 	 * @throws ClassCastException if any of the given parameters is of the wrong type. 
 	 * If thrown the error message will contain the list of expected object types in order. 
 	 * 
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 */
 	IDhApiBlockStateWrapper getBlockStateWrapper(Object[] objectArray, IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper) throws ClassCastException;
 	
 	/**
 	 * Returns the {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper} representing air.
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 */
 	IDhApiBlockStateWrapper getAirBlockStateWrapper();
 	
 	
 	
-	///**
-	// * Specifically designed to be used with the API.
-	// *
-	// * @throws ClassCastException with instructions on expected objects if the object couldn't be cast
-	// */
-	//IChunkWrapper createChunkWrapper(Object[] objectArray) throws ClassCastException;
+	/**
+	 * Constructs a {@link IDhApiBiomeWrapper} for use by other DhApi methods.
+	 *
+	 * @param resourceLocationString example: "minecraft:plains"
+	 *
+	 * @param levelWrapper Expects a {@link IDhApiLevelWrapper} returned by one of DH's {@link DhApi.Delayed#worldProxy} methods. <br>
+	 *                      A custom implementation of {@link IDhApiLevelWrapper} will not be accepted.
+	 *
+	 * @throws IOException if the resourceLocationString wasn't able to be parsed or converted into a valid {@link IDhApiBiomeWrapper}
+	 * @throws ClassCastException if the wrong levelWrapper type was given
+	 *
+	 * @since API 3.0.0
+	 */
+	IDhApiBiomeWrapper getBiomeWrapper(String resourceLocationString, IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper) throws IOException, ClassCastException;
+	
+	/**
+	 * Constructs a {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper} for use by other DhApi methods.
+	 * This returns the default blockstate for the given resource location.
+	 *
+	 * @param resourceLocationString examples: "minecraft:bedrock", "minecraft:stone", "minecraft:grass_block"
+	 * @param levelWrapper Expects a {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper} returned by one of DH's {@link DhApi.Delayed#worldProxy} methods. <br>
+	 *                      A custom implementation of {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper} will not be accepted.
+	 *
+	 * @throws IOException if the resourceLocationString wasn't able to be parsed or converted into a valid {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper}
+	 * @throws ClassCastException if the wrong levelWrapper type was given
+	 *
+	 * @since API 3.0.0
+	 */
+	IDhApiBlockStateWrapper getDefaultBlockStateWrapper(String resourceLocationString, IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper) throws IOException, ClassCastException;
 	
 }
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.rendering;

 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.EDhApiDetailLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.IDhApiOverrideable;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Mat4f;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiMat4f;

 /**
 * Used to determine if a LOD should be rendered or is outside the
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Mat4f;
 * 
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-2-6
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public interface IDhApiCullingFrustum extends IDhApiOverrideable
 {
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ public interface IDhApiCullingFrustum extends IDhApiOverrideable
 	 * @param worldMaxBlockY the highest block position this level allows.
 	 * @param worldViewProjection the projection matrix used in this render pass.
 	 */
-	void update(int worldMinBlockY, int worldMaxBlockY, Mat4f worldViewProjection);
+	void update(int worldMinBlockY, int worldMaxBlockY, DhApiMat4f worldViewProjection);
 	
 	/** 
 	 * returns true if the LOD bounds intersect this frustum 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.IDhApiOverrideable;
 /**
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-1-24
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public interface IDhApiFramebuffer extends IDhApiOverrideable
 {
@@ -0,0 +1,80 @@
+/*
+ *    This file is part of the Distant Horizons mod
+ *    licensed under the GNU LGPL v3 License.
+ *
+ *    Copyright (C) 2020-2023 James Seibel
+ *
+ *    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ *    it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+ *    the Free Software Foundation, version 3.
+ *
+ *    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ *    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ *    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ *    GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ *    You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ *    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.rendering;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.IDhApiOverrideable;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.render.IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiRenderParam;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3d;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.render.DhApiRenderableBox;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.render.DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShading;
+
+/**
+ * @see IDhApiShaderProgram
+ * 
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-7-11
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ */
+public interface IDhApiGenericObjectShaderProgram extends IDhApiOverrideable
+{
+	
+	/**
+	 * If this method is called that means this program has the highest priority as defined by {@link IDhApiOverrideable#getPriority()}
+	 * and gets to decide if it wants to be used to render this frame or not. <br><br>
+	 *
+	 * If this method returns true then this program will be used for this frame. <br>
+	 * If this returns false then the default DH {@link IDhApiGenericObjectShaderProgram} will be used instead.
+	 */
+	boolean overrideThisFrame();
+	
+	/** @return the OpenGL ID for this shader program */
+	int getId();
+	
+	/** Free any OpenGL objects owned by this program. */
+	void free();
+	
+	/** Runs any necessary binding this program needs so rendering can be done. */
+	void bind(DhApiRenderParam renderEventParam);
+	/** Runs any necessary unbinding this program needs so rendering can be done by another program. */
+	void unbind();
+	
+	/** Binds the given Vertex Buffer Object to this shader program for rendering. */
+	void bindVertexBuffer(int vbo);
+	
+	
+	/** sets up the necessary uniforms for rendering */
+	void fillIndirectUniformData(
+			DhApiRenderParam renderParameters,
+			DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShading shading, IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup boxGroup, 
+			DhApiVec3d camPos);
+	
+	/** sets up the necessary uniforms for rendering */
+	void fillSharedDirectUniformData(
+			DhApiRenderParam renderParameters,
+			DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShading shading, IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup boxGroup, 
+			DhApiVec3d camPos);
+	void fillDirectUniformData(
+			DhApiRenderParam renderParameters,
+			IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup boxGroup, DhApiRenderableBox box,
+			DhApiVec3d camPos);
+	
+	
+}
@@ -21,13 +21,14 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.rendering;

 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.IDhApiOverrideable;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiRenderParam;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Mat4f;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Vec3f;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3f;

 /**
+ * @see IDhApiGenericObjectShaderProgram
+ * 
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-1-24
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public interface IDhApiShaderProgram extends IDhApiOverrideable
 {
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ public interface IDhApiShaderProgram extends IDhApiOverrideable
 	void fillUniformData(DhApiRenderParam renderParameters);
 	
 	/** sets the vec3 that all DH verticies should be offset by when rendering */
-	void setModelOffsetPos(Vec3f modelPos);
+	void setModelOffsetPos(DhApiVec3f modelPos);
 	
 	/** Binds the given Vertex Buffer Object to this shader program for rendering. */
 	void bindVertexBuffer(int vbo);
@@ -19,10 +19,6 @@

 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.rendering;

-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.EDhApiDetailLevel;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.IDhApiOverrideable;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Mat4f;
-
 /**
 * The culling frustum used during Distant Horizons' shadow pass
 * if another mod has enabled Distant Horizons' shadow
@@ -35,7 +31,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Mat4f;
 * 
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-2-10
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public interface IDhApiShadowCullingFrustum extends IDhApiCullingFrustum
 {
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.worldGenerator;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.EDhApiDetailLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.worldGeneration.EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.IDhApiOverrideable;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.data.DhApiChunk;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.data.DhApiTerrainDataPoint;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.BitShiftUtil;

 import java.io.Closeable;
@@ -77,13 +79,41 @@ public abstract class AbstractDhApiChunkWorldGenerator implements Closeable, IDh
 		}, worldGeneratorThreadPool);
 	}
 	
+	@Override
+	public final CompletableFuture<Void> generateApiChunks(
+			int chunkPosMinX,
+			int chunkPosMinZ,
+			byte granularity,
+			byte targetDataDetail,
+			EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode generatorMode,
+			ExecutorService worldGeneratorThreadPool,
+			Consumer<DhApiChunk> resultConsumer
+		)
+	{
+		return CompletableFuture.runAsync(() ->
+		{
+			// TODO what does this mean?
+			int genChunkWidth = BitShiftUtil.powerOfTwo(granularity - 4);
+			
+			for (int chunkX = chunkPosMinX; chunkX < chunkPosMinX + genChunkWidth; chunkX++)
+			{
+				for (int chunkZ = chunkPosMinZ; chunkZ < chunkPosMinZ + genChunkWidth; chunkZ++)
+				{
+					DhApiChunk apiChunk = this.generateApiChunk(chunkX, chunkZ, generatorMode);
+					resultConsumer.accept(apiChunk);
+				}
+			}
+		}, worldGeneratorThreadPool);
+	}
+	
+	
 	/**
 	 * This method is called to generate terrain over a given area
 	 * from a thread defined by Distant Horizons. <br><br>
 	 * 
 	 * @param chunkPosX the chunk X position in the level (not to be confused with the chunk's BlockPos in the level)
 	 * @param chunkPosZ the chunk Z position in the level (not to be confused with the chunk's BlockPos in the level)
-	 * @param generatorMode how far into the world gen pipeline this method run. See {@link EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode} for additional documentation.
+	 * @param generatorMode how far into the world gen pipeline this method should run. See {@link EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode} for additional documentation.
 	 * 
 	 * @return See {@link IDhApiWorldGenerator#generateChunks(int, int, byte, byte, EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode, ExecutorService, Consumer) IDhApiWorldGenerator.generateChunks}
 	 *         for the list of Object's this method should return along with additional documentation.
@@ -92,4 +122,21 @@ public abstract class AbstractDhApiChunkWorldGenerator implements Closeable, IDh
 	 */
 	public abstract Object[] generateChunk(int chunkPosX, int chunkPosZ, EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode generatorMode);
 	
+	/**
+	 * This method is called to generate terrain over a given area
+	 * from a thread defined by Distant Horizons. <br><br>
+	 * 
+	 * @param chunkPosX the chunk X position in the level (not to be confused with the chunk's BlockPos in the level)
+	 * @param chunkPosZ the chunk Z position in the level (not to be confused with the chunk's BlockPos in the level)
+	 * @param generatorMode how far into the world gen pipeline this method should run. See {@link EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode} for additional documentation.
+	 * 
+	 * @return A {@link DhApiChunk} with the generated {@link DhApiTerrainDataPoint} including air blocks.
+	 *          Note: if air blocks aren't included with the proper lighting, lower detail levels will appear as black/unlit.
+	 *         
+	 * @see IDhApiWorldGenerator#generateApiChunks(int, int, byte, byte, EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode, ExecutorService, Consumer)
+	 * 
+	 * @since API 3.0.0
+	 */
+	public abstract DhApiChunk generateApiChunk(int chunkPosX, int chunkPosZ, EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode generatorMode);
+	
 }
@@ -91,10 +91,28 @@ public interface IDhApiWorldGenerator extends Closeable, IDhApiOverrideable
 	default byte getMaxGenerationGranularity() { return (byte) (EDhApiDetailLevel.CHUNK.detailLevel + 2); }
 	
 	/**
-	 * @return true if the generator is unable to accept new generation requests.
+	 * Starting in API 3.0.0 DH now handles future queuing/management internally. <br><br>
+	 * 
+	 * Previous description: <br>
+	 * true if the generator is unable to accept new generation requests. <br>
+	 * 
 	 * @since API 1.0.0
+	 * @deprecated API 3.0.0
 	 */
-	boolean isBusy();
+	@Deprecated
+	default boolean isBusy() { return false; }
+	
+	/** 
+	 * Only used if {@link #getReturnType()} returns {@link EDhApiWorldGeneratorReturnType#API_CHUNKS}. <Br> 
+	 * If true DH will run additional validation on the {@link DhApiChunk}'s returned. <Br>
+	 * This should be disabled during release but should be enabled during development to help spot issues with your data format.
+	 * 
+	 * @see #getReturnType()
+	 * @see DhApiChunk
+	 * @see EDhApiWorldGeneratorReturnType#API_CHUNKS
+	 * @since API 3.0.0
+	 */
+	default boolean runApiChunkValidation() { return true; }
 	
 	
 	
@@ -154,6 +172,7 @@ public interface IDhApiWorldGenerator extends Closeable, IDhApiOverrideable
 	 *
 	 * After the {@link DhApiChunk} has been generated, it should be passed into the
 	 * resultConsumer's {@link Consumer#accept(Object)} method.
+	 * Note: if air blocks aren't included in the with the {@link DhApiChunk} with proper lighting, lower detail levels will appear as black/unlit.
 	 *
 	 * @implNote the default implementation of this method throws an {@link UnsupportedOperationException},
 	 * and must be overridden when {@link #getReturnType()} returns {@link EDhApiWorldGeneratorReturnType#API_CHUNKS}.
@@ -168,7 +187,7 @@ public interface IDhApiWorldGenerator extends Closeable, IDhApiOverrideable
 	 *
 	 * @return a future that should run on the worldGeneratorThreadPool and complete once the given generation task has completed.
 	 *
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 */
 	default CompletableFuture<Void> generateApiChunks(
 		int chunkPosMinX,
@@ -189,7 +208,7 @@ public interface IDhApiWorldGenerator extends Closeable, IDhApiOverrideable
 	 * which means that {@link #generateChunks(int, int, byte, byte, EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode, ExecutorService, Consumer)}
 	 * will be invoked whenever Distant Horizons wants to generate terrain with this world generator.
 	 *
-	 * @since API 1.1.0
+	 * @since API 2.0.0
 	 */
 	default EDhApiWorldGeneratorReturnType getReturnType() { return EDhApiWorldGeneratorReturnType.VANILLA_CHUNKS; }
 	
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.render;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3d;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3f;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.render.DhApiRenderableBox;
+
+import java.util.List;
+
+/**
+ * Handles creating
+ * {@link IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup} objects,
+ * which can be added via a {@link IDhApiCustomRenderRegister}.
+ *
+ * @see IDhApiCustomRenderRegister
+ * @see IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup
+ * 
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-7-3
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ */
+public interface IDhApiCustomRenderObjectFactory
+{
+	/**
+	 * Creates a {@link IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup} from for the given {@link DhApiRenderableBox}
+	 * where the box is positioned relative to the level's origin.
+	 * 
+	 * @param resourceLocation A colon separated Resource Location string, similar to vanilla Minecraft, for example: "DistantHorizons:Clouds"
+	 * 
+	 * @see DhApiRenderableBox
+	 * @see IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup#getResourceLocationNamespace() 
+	 * @see IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup#getResourceLocationPath() 
+	 * 
+	 * @throws IllegalArgumentException if <code>resourceLocation</code> is null, isn't separated by a colon, or has multiple colons.
+	 */
+	IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup createForSingleBox(String resourceLocation, DhApiRenderableBox cube) throws IllegalArgumentException;
+	
+	/**
+	 * Creates a {@link IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup} from the given list of {@link DhApiRenderableBox} where each
+	 * one is positioned relative to given <code>originBlockPos</code>, which in turn is relative to the level's origin.
+	 *
+	 * @param resourceLocation A colon separated Resource Location string, similar to vanilla Minecraft, for example: "DistantHorizons:Clouds"
+	 * @param originBlockPos The starting position for this {@link IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup}, can be changed during runtime.
+	 * 
+	 * 
+	 * @see DhApiRenderableBox
+	 * @see IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup#getResourceLocationNamespace()
+	 * @see IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup#getResourceLocationPath()
+	 * 
+	 * @throws IllegalArgumentException if <code>resourceLocation</code> is null, isn't separated by a colon, or has multiple colons.
+	 */
+	IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup createRelativePositionedGroup(String resourceLocation, DhApiVec3d originBlockPos, List<DhApiRenderableBox> cubeList);
+	
+	/**
+	 * Creates a {@link IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup} from the given list of {@link DhApiRenderableBox} where each
+	 * one is positioned relative to the level's origin.
+	 * 
+	 * @param resourceLocation A colon separated Resource Location string, similar to vanilla Minecraft, for example: "DistantHorizons:Clouds"
+	 *
+	 * @see DhApiRenderableBox
+	 * @see IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup#getResourceLocationNamespace()
+	 * @see IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup#getResourceLocationPath()
+	 * 
+	 * @throws IllegalArgumentException if <code>resourceLocation</code> is null, isn't separated by a colon, or has multiple colons.
+	 */
+	IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup createAbsolutePositionedGroup(String resourceLocation, List<DhApiRenderableBox> cubeList);
+	
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.render;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.DhApi;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.world.IDhApiLevelWrapper;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.world.IDhApiWorldProxy;
+
+/**
+ * Handles adding and removing
+ * {@link IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup} objects,
+ * from DH's renderer. <br><br>
+ * 
+ * Can be accessed in 
+ * {@link DhApi.Delayed#worldProxy} -> {@link IDhApiLevelWrapper}.
+ *
+ * @see IDhApiCustomRenderObjectFactory
+ * @see IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup
+ * @see IDhApiWorldProxy
+ * @see IDhApiLevelWrapper
+ *
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-7-3
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ */
+public interface IDhApiCustomRenderRegister
+{
+	void add(IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup cubeGroup) throws IllegalArgumentException;
+	
+	IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup remove(long id);
+	
+}
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.DhApiResult;
 * Used to interact with Distant Horizons' rendering system.
 *
 * @author James Seibel
- * @version 2023-10-13
+ * @version 2024-7-27
 * @since API 1.0.0
 */
 public interface IDhApiRenderProxy
@@ -39,10 +39,8 @@ public interface IDhApiRenderProxy
 	 * If this is called on a dedicated server it won't do anything and will return {@link DhApiResult#success} = false <Br><Br>
 	 *
 	 * Background: <Br>
-	 * Distant Horizons has two different file formats: Full data and Render data. <Br>
-	 * - Full data files store the block, biome, etc. information and is the result of loading or generating new chunks. <Br>
-	 * - Render data files store LOD colors and are created using the Full data and currently loaded resource packs. <Br>
-	 * This is the data cleared by this method.
+	 * When rendering Distant Horizons bakes each block's color into the geometry that's rendered. <Br>
+	 * This improves rendering speed and VRAM size, but prevents dynamically changing LOD colors. <Br>
 	 */
 	DhApiResult<Boolean> clearRenderDataCache();
 	
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.render;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config.EDhApiLodShading;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiRenderParam;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3d;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3f;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3i;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.render.DhApiRenderableBox;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.render.DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShading;
+
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.function.Consumer;
+
+/**
+ * A list of {@link DhApiRenderableBox}'s that
+ * can be rendered to DH's terrain pass.
+ * 
+ * @see DhApiRenderableBox
+ * 
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-6-30
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ */
+public interface IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup extends List<DhApiRenderableBox>
+{
+	/**
+	 * A unique numerical ID used by DH during rendering.
+	 * This can also be used to bind/unbind specific {@link IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup}'s from the renderer.
+	 * @return the ID for this specific group 
+	 */
+	long getId();
+	
+	/** 
+	 * Used to determine which mods have added what to the DH renderer.
+	 * This can be used both by the F3 pie chart so you as a mod developer can profile your code
+	 * or by shader developers who want to render your objects differently. <br><br>
+	 * 
+	 * Should be used the same as a vanilla Minecraft ResourceLocation.
+	 * For example if your mod named "Heavy Thunder" adds additional clouds named "Storm Front",
+	 * your Resource Location would be something like "HeavyThunder:StormFront"
+	 * and this method would return "HeavyThunder".
+	 */
+	String getResourceLocationNamespace();
+	/**
+	 * Used to determine what type of object mods have added what to the DH renderer.
+	 * This can be used both by the F3 pie chart so you as a mod developer can profile your code
+	 * or by shader developers who want to render your objects differently. <br><br>
+	 *
+	 * Should be used the same as a vanilla Minecraft ResourceLocation.
+	 * For example if your mod named "Heavy Thunder" adds additional clouds named "Storm Front",
+	 * your Resource Location would be something like "HeavyThunder:StormFront"
+	 * and this method would return "StormFront".
+	 */
+	String getResourceLocationPath();
+	
+	/** Sets whether this group should render or not. */
+	void setActive(boolean active);
+	/** @return if active this group will render. */
+	boolean isActive();
+	
+	/** Sets whether this group should render with Screen Space Ambient Occlusioning. */
+	void setSsaoEnabled(boolean ssaoEnabled);
+	/** @return if active this group will render with Screen Space Ambient Occlusioning. */
+	boolean isSsaoEnabled();
+	
+	/** Sets where this group will render in the level. */
+	void setOriginBlockPos(DhApiVec3d pos);
+	/** @return the block position in the level that all {@see DhApiRenderableBox} will render relative to. */
+	DhApiVec3d getOriginBlockPos();
+	
+	/** 
+	 * Called right before this group is rendered. <br>
+	 * This is a good place to change the origin or notify of any box changes. 
+	 */
+	void setPreRenderFunc(Consumer<DhApiRenderParam> renderEventParam);
+	void setPostRenderFunc(Consumer<DhApiRenderParam> renderEventParam); // TODO name?
+	
+	/**
+	 * If a cube's color, position, or other property is changed this method
+	 * must be called for those changes to render. <br><br>
+	 * 
+	 * Note: changing the group's position via {@link #setOriginBlockPos} doesn't
+	 * require calling this method.
+	 */
+	void triggerBoxChange();
+	
+	/** Only accepts values between 0 and 15 */
+	void setSkyLight(int skyLight);
+	int getSkyLight();
+	
+	/** Only accepts values between 0 and 15 */
+	void setBlockLight(int blockLight);
+	int getBlockLight();
+	
+	void setShading(DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShading shading);
+	DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShading getShading();
+	
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.util;
+
+/**
+ * Used for objects that need deep clones. <br>
+ * Replacement for {@link Cloneable}.
+ * 
+ * @see Cloneable
+ * 
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-7-12
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ */
+public interface IDhApiCopyable
+{
+	/** Returns a deep clone of all parameters whenever possible. */
+	IDhApiCopyable copy();
+	
+}
@@ -28,8 +28,6 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.IDhApiUnsafeWrapper;
 */
 public interface IDhApiDimensionTypeWrapper extends IDhApiUnsafeWrapper
 {
-	String getDimensionName();
-	
 	boolean hasCeiling();
 	
 	boolean hasSkyLight();
@@ -21,27 +21,42 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.world;

 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.IDhApiUnsafeWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.worldGeneration.EDhApiLevelType;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.render.IDhApiCustomRenderRegister;

 /**
 * Can be either a Server or Client level.<br>
 * A level is equivalent to a dimension in vanilla Minecraft.
 *
 * @author James Seibel
- * @version 2022-7-14
+ * @version 2024-7-28
 * @since API 1.0.0
 */
 public interface IDhApiLevelWrapper extends IDhApiUnsafeWrapper
 {
 	IDhApiDimensionTypeWrapper getDimensionType();
 	
+	/** @since API 4.0.0 */
+	String getDimensionName();
+
 	EDhApiLevelType getLevelType();
 	
 	boolean hasCeiling();
 	
 	boolean hasSkyLight();
 	
-	/** Returns the max block height of the level(?) */
-	int getHeight();
+	/** 
+	 * Deprecated, use {@link IDhApiLevelWrapper#getMaxHeight} instead. <br>
+	 * Returns the max block height of the level.
+	 * 
+	 * @see IDhApiLevelWrapper#getMaxHeight
+	 */
+	@Deprecated
+	default int getHeight() { return this.getMaxHeight(); }
+	/** 
+	 * Returns the max block height of the level 
+	 * @since API 3.0.0 
+	 */
+	int getMaxHeight();
 	
 	/**
 	 * Returns the lowest possible block position for the level. <br>
@@ -49,4 +64,12 @@ public interface IDhApiLevelWrapper extends IDhApiUnsafeWrapper
 	 */
 	default int getMinHeight() { return 0; }
 	
+	/** 
+	 * Will return null if called on the server,
+	 * or if called before the renderer has been set up.
+	 * 
+	 * @since API 3.0.0
+	 */
+	IDhApiCustomRenderRegister getRenderRegister();
+	
 }
@@ -26,17 +26,20 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhAp
 /**
 * Fired after Distant Horizons finishes rendering a frame. <br>
 * At this point DH will have also finished cleaning up any modifications it
- * did to the OpenGL state, so the state should be back to Minecraft's defaults.
+ * did to the OpenGL state, so the state should be back to Minecraft's defaults. <br><br>
+ *
+ * Note: as of API v 3.0.0 no {@link DhApiRenderParam} is included in this event 
+ * because the specific parameters may change
+ * depending on whether deferred rendering is enabled or not.
 * 
 * @author James Seibel
- * @version 2024-1-31
- * @see DhApiRenderParam
+ * @version 2024-7-14
 * @since API 1.0.0
 */
-public abstract class DhApiAfterRenderEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiRenderParam>
+public abstract class DhApiAfterRenderEvent implements IDhApiEvent<Void>
 {
 	/** Fired after Distant Horizons finishes rendering fake chunks. */
-	public abstract void afterRender(DhApiEventParam<DhApiRenderParam> event);
+	public abstract void afterRender(DhApiEventParam<Void> event);
 	
 	
 	//=========================//
@@ -44,6 +47,6 @@ public abstract class DhApiAfterRenderEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiRenderPa
 	//=========================//
 	
 	@Override
-	public final void fireEvent(DhApiEventParam<DhApiRenderParam> event) { this.afterRender(event); }
+	public final void fireEvent(DhApiEventParam<Void> event) { this.afterRender(event); }
 	
 }
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhAp
 * 
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-1-31
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public abstract class DhApiBeforeApplyShaderRenderEvent implements IDhApiCancelableEvent<DhApiRenderParam>
 {
@@ -20,9 +20,10 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents;

 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEvent;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEventParam;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiEventParam;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiRenderParam;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Vec3f;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3f;

 /**
 * Called before Distant Horizons starts rendering a buffer. <br>
@@ -30,7 +31,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Vec3f;
 * 
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2023-1-31
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * 
 * @see DhApiBeforeRenderEvent
 */
@@ -52,20 +53,29 @@ public abstract class DhApiBeforeBufferRenderEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiB
 	// parameter object //
 	//==================//
 	
-	public static class EventParam extends DhApiRenderParam
+	public static class EventParam extends DhApiRenderParam implements IDhApiEventParam
 	{
 		/** 
 		 * Measured in blocks.
 		 * Should be applied to the model view matrix to move the buffer into its proper place. 
 		 */
-		public final Vec3f modelPos;
+		public final DhApiVec3f modelPos;
 		
 		
-		public EventParam(DhApiRenderParam parent, Vec3f modelPos)
+		public EventParam(DhApiRenderParam parent, DhApiVec3f modelPos)
 		{
 			super(parent);
 			this.modelPos = modelPos;
 		}
+		
+		
+		@Override
+		public EventParam copy()
+		{
+			return new EventParam(
+					this, this.modelPos.copy()
+			);
+		}
 	}
 	
 }
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.render.IDhApiRenderProxy;
 *
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-1-22
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public abstract class DhApiBeforeDeferredRenderEvent extends DhApiBeforeRenderEvent
 {
@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+/*
+ *    This file is part of the Distant Horizons mod
+ *    licensed under the GNU LGPL v3 License.
+ *
+ *    Copyright (C) 2020-2023 James Seibel
+ *
+ *    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ *    it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+ *    the Free Software Foundation, version 3.
+ *
+ *    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ *    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ *    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ *    GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ *    You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ *    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.render.IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.world.IDhApiLevelWrapper;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiCancelableEvent;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEventParam;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiCancelableEventParam;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiRenderParam;
+
+/**
+ * Called before Distant Horizons starts rendering a generic object. <br>
+ * Canceling this event will prevent the triggering {@link IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup} from rendering this frame.
+ *
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-7-11
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ */
+public abstract class DhApiBeforeGenericObjectRenderEvent implements IDhApiCancelableEvent<DhApiBeforeGenericObjectRenderEvent.EventParam>
+{
+	/** Fired before Distant Horizons renders a generic object. */
+	public abstract void beforeRender(DhApiCancelableEventParam<EventParam> event);
+	
+	
+	//=========================//
+	// internal DH API methods //
+	//=========================//
+	
+	@Override
+	public final void fireEvent(DhApiCancelableEventParam<EventParam> input) { this.beforeRender(input); }
+	
+	
+	//==================//
+	// parameter object //
+	//==================//
+	
+	public static class EventParam extends DhApiRenderParam implements IDhApiEventParam
+	{
+		public final long boxGroupId;
+		public final String resourceLocationNamespace;
+		public final String resourceLocationPath;
+		
+		
+		public EventParam(
+				DhApiRenderParam renderParam,
+				IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup boxGroup
+			) 
+		{
+			super(renderParam); 
+			
+			this.boxGroupId = boxGroup.getId();
+			this.resourceLocationNamespace = boxGroup.getResourceLocationNamespace();
+			this.resourceLocationPath = boxGroup.getResourceLocationPath();
+		}
+		public EventParam(
+				DhApiRenderParam renderParam,
+				long boxGroupId, String resourceLocationNamespace, String resourceLocationPath
+			)
+		{
+			super(renderParam);
+			
+			this.boxGroupId = boxGroupId;
+			this.resourceLocationNamespace = resourceLocationNamespace;
+			this.resourceLocationPath = resourceLocationPath;
+		}
+		
+		
+		
+		@Override
+		public EventParam copy()
+		{
+			return new EventParam(
+				this, 
+				this.boxGroupId, this.resourceLocationNamespace, this.resourceLocationPath
+			);
+		}
+	}
+	
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+/*
+ *    This file is part of the Distant Horizons mod
+ *    licensed under the GNU LGPL v3 License.
+ *
+ *    Copyright (C) 2020-2023 James Seibel
+ *
+ *    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ *    it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+ *    the Free Software Foundation, version 3.
+ *
+ *    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ *    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ *    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ *    GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ *    You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ *    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEvent;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiEventParam;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiRenderParam;
+
+/**
+ * Called before Distant Horizons starts the cleanup process done after rendering generic objects. <br>
+ * This is called after all generic objects have finished rendering.
+ *
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-7-13
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ */
+public abstract class DhApiBeforeGenericRenderCleanupEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiRenderParam>
+{
+	/** Fired before Distant Horizons starts the cleanup process once rendering has finished. */
+	public abstract void beforeCleanup(DhApiEventParam<DhApiRenderParam> event);
+	
+	
+	//=========================//
+	// internal DH API methods //
+	//=========================//
+	
+	@Override
+	public final void fireEvent(DhApiEventParam<DhApiRenderParam> event) { this.beforeCleanup(event); }
+	
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+/*
+ *    This file is part of the Distant Horizons mod
+ *    licensed under the GNU LGPL v3 License.
+ *
+ *    Copyright (C) 2020-2023 James Seibel
+ *
+ *    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ *    it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+ *    the Free Software Foundation, version 3.
+ *
+ *    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ *    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ *    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ *    GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ *    You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ *    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEvent;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiEventParam;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiRenderParam;
+
+/**
+ * Called before Distant Horizons has started setting up OpenGL objects for rendering generic objects. <br>
+ * If you want to modify already bound DH OpenGL objects try using {@link DhApiBeforeGenericObjectRenderEvent}.
+ * 
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-7-12
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ * 
+ * @see DhApiBeforeGenericObjectRenderEvent
+ */
+public abstract class DhApiBeforeGenericRenderSetupEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiRenderParam>
+{
+	/** Fired before Distant Horizons has started setting up OpenGL objects for rendering generic objects. */
+	public abstract void beforeSetup(DhApiEventParam<DhApiRenderParam> input);
+	
+	
+	//=========================//
+	// internal DH API methods //
+	//=========================//
+	
+	@Override
+	public final void fireEvent(DhApiEventParam<DhApiRenderParam> input) { this.beforeSetup(input); }
+	
+	
+}
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhAp
 *
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-1-31
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public abstract class DhApiBeforeRenderCleanupEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiRenderParam>
 {
-	/** Fired before Distant Horizons renders LODs. */
+	/** Fired before Distant Horizons starts the cleanup process once rendering has finished. */
 	public abstract void beforeCleanup(DhApiEventParam<DhApiRenderParam> event);
 	
 	
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhAp
 * 
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2023-1-31
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * 
 * @see DhApiBeforeRenderEvent
 */
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhAp
 * 
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-1-31
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * 
 * @see DhApiBeforeRenderPassEvent
 */
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhAp
 *
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-1-31
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public abstract class DhApiBeforeTextureClearEvent implements IDhApiCancelableEvent<DhApiRenderParam>
 {
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.data.IDhApiTerrainDataRepo;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.world.IDhApiLevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEvent;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEventParam;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiEventParam;

 /**
@@ -53,7 +54,7 @@ public abstract class DhApiChunkModifiedEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiChunkM
 	// parameter object //
 	//==================//
 	
-	public static class EventParam
+	public static class EventParam implements IDhApiEventParam
 	{
 		/** The saved level. */
 		public final IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper;
@@ -71,6 +72,15 @@ public abstract class DhApiChunkModifiedEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiChunkM
 			this.chunkZ = chunkZ;
 		}
 		
+		
+		@Override
+		public EventParam copy()
+		{
+			return new EventParam(
+					this.levelWrapper,
+					this.chunkX, this.chunkZ
+			);
+		}
 	}
 	
 }
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents;

 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEvent;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEventParam;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiEventParam;

 /**
@@ -28,7 +29,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhAp
 * 
 * @author James Seibel
 * @version 2024-3-2
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 */
 public abstract class DhApiColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent.EventParam>
 {
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ public abstract class DhApiColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent implements IDhApiEvent<
 	// parameter object //
 	//==================//
 	
-	public static class EventParam
+	public static class EventParam implements IDhApiEventParam
 	{
 		/** Measured in pixels */
 		public final int previousWidth;
@@ -72,6 +73,16 @@ public abstract class DhApiColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent implements IDhApiEvent<
 			this.newHeight = newHeight;
 			
 		}
+		
+		
+		@Override
+		public EventParam copy()
+		{
+			return new EventParam(
+					this.previousWidth, this.previousHeight,
+					this.newWidth, this.newHeight
+			);
+		}
 	}
 	
 }
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents;

 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.world.IDhApiLevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEvent;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEventParam;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiEventParam;

 /**
@@ -49,13 +50,16 @@ public abstract class DhApiLevelLoadEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiLevelLoadE
 	// parameter object //
 	//==================//
 	
-	public static class EventParam
+	public static class EventParam implements IDhApiEventParam
 	{
 		/** The newly loaded level. */
 		public final IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper;
 		
 		public EventParam(IDhApiLevelWrapper newLevelWrapper) { this.levelWrapper = newLevelWrapper; }
 		
+		
+		@Override
+		public EventParam copy() { return new EventParam(this.levelWrapper); }
 	}
 	
 }
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@

 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents;

-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.DhApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEvent;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.world.IDhApiLevelWrapper;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEventParam;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiEventParam;

 /**
@@ -49,13 +49,16 @@ public abstract class DhApiLevelUnloadEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiLevelUnl
 	// parameter object //
 	//==================//
 	
-	public static class EventParam
+	public static class EventParam implements IDhApiEventParam
 	{
 		/** The recently unloaded level. */
 		public final IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper;
 		
 		public EventParam(IDhApiLevelWrapper newLevelWrapper) { this.levelWrapper = newLevelWrapper; }
 		
+		
+		@Override
+		public EventParam copy() { return new EventParam(this.levelWrapper); }
 	}
 	
 }
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.util.IDhApiCopyable;
+
+/**
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-7-12
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ */
+public interface IDhApiEventParam extends IDhApiCopyable
+{
+	
+}
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects;

 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiRenderPass;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Mat4f;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEventParam;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiMat4f;

 /**
 * Contains information relevant to Distant Horizons and Minecraft rendering.
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Mat4f;
 * @version 2024-1-31
 * @since API 1.0.0
 */
-public class DhApiRenderParam
+public class DhApiRenderParam implements IDhApiEventParam
 {
 	/** Indicates what render pass DH is currently rendering */
 	public final EDhApiRenderPass renderPass;
@@ -49,18 +50,15 @@ public class DhApiRenderParam
 	public final float farClipPlane;
 	
 	/** The projection matrix Minecraft is using to render this frame. */
-	public final Mat4f mcProjectionMatrix;
+	public final DhApiMat4f mcProjectionMatrix;
 	/** The model view matrix Minecraft is using to render this frame. */
-	public final Mat4f mcModelViewMatrix;
+	public final DhApiMat4f mcModelViewMatrix;
 	
 	/** The projection matrix Distant Horizons is using to render this frame. */
-	public final Mat4f dhProjectionMatrix;
+	public final DhApiMat4f dhProjectionMatrix;
 	/** The model view matrix Distant Horizons is using to render this frame. */
-	public final Mat4f dhModelViewMatrix;
+	public final DhApiMat4f dhModelViewMatrix;
 	
-	public final int lightmapBindingIndex = 0;
-	
-	// TODO why is this here? wouldn't it make more sense to have this built into the vertex buffer data?
 	public final int worldYOffset;
 	
 	
@@ -69,24 +67,24 @@ public class DhApiRenderParam
 	// constructors //
 	//==============//
 	
+	
 	public DhApiRenderParam(DhApiRenderParam parent)
 	{
 		this(
-			parent.renderPass,
-			parent.partialTicks,
-			parent.nearClipPlane, parent.farClipPlane,
-			parent.mcProjectionMatrix, parent.mcModelViewMatrix, 
-			parent.dhProjectionMatrix, parent.dhModelViewMatrix,
-			parent.worldYOffset	
-			);
+				parent.renderPass,
+				parent.partialTicks,
+				parent.nearClipPlane, parent.farClipPlane,
+				parent.mcProjectionMatrix.copy(), parent.mcModelViewMatrix.copy(),
+				parent.dhProjectionMatrix.copy(), parent.dhModelViewMatrix.copy(),
+				parent.worldYOffset
+		);
 	}
-	
 	public DhApiRenderParam(
 			EDhApiRenderPass renderPass,
 			float newPartialTicks,
 			float nearClipPlane, float farClipPlane,
-			Mat4f newMcProjectionMatrix, Mat4f newMcModelViewMatrix,
-			Mat4f newDhProjectionMatrix, Mat4f newDhModelViewMatrix,
+			DhApiMat4f newMcProjectionMatrix, DhApiMat4f newMcModelViewMatrix,
+			DhApiMat4f newDhProjectionMatrix, DhApiMat4f newDhModelViewMatrix,
 			int worldYOffset
 			)
 	{
@@ -107,4 +105,16 @@ public class DhApiRenderParam
 		
 	}
 	
+	
+	
+	//================//
+	// base overrides //
+	//================//
+	
+	@Override 
+	public DhApiRenderParam copy()
+	{
+		return new DhApiRenderParam(this); 
+	}
+	
 }
@@ -21,16 +21,18 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.data;

 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.factories.IDhApiWrapperFactory;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.worldGenerator.IDhApiWorldGenerator;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;

 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.List;

 /**
 * Contains a list of {@link DhApiTerrainDataPoint} representing the blocks in a Minecraft chunk.
 *
 * @author Builderb0y, James Seibel
- * @version 2023-12-21
- * @since API 1.1.0
+ * @version 2024-7-21
+ * @since API 2.0.0
 * 
 * @see IDhApiWrapperFactory
 * @see DhApiTerrainDataPoint
@@ -41,8 +43,8 @@ public class DhApiChunk
 	public final int chunkPosX;
 	public final int chunkPosZ;
 	
-	public final int topYBlockPos;
 	public final int bottomYBlockPos;
+	public final int topYBlockPos;
 	
 	private final List<List<DhApiTerrainDataPoint>> dataPoints;
 	
@@ -52,12 +54,32 @@ public class DhApiChunk
 	// constructors //
 	//==============//
 	
+	/** 
+	 * Deprecated due to the topYBlockPos and bottomYBlockPos variables being put in the wrong order. 
+	 * They should have been in bottom -> top order. 
+	 * 
+	 * @see DhApiChunk#create(int, int, int, int) 
+	 */
+	@Deprecated
 	public DhApiChunk(int chunkPosX, int chunkPosZ, int topYBlockPos, int bottomYBlockPos) 
+	{ this(chunkPosX, chunkPosZ, bottomYBlockPos, topYBlockPos, false); }
+	
+	/**
+	 * @since API 3.0.0 
+	 */
+	public static DhApiChunk create(int chunkPosX, int chunkPosZ, int bottomYBlockPos, int topYBlockPos)
+	{ return new DhApiChunk(chunkPosX, chunkPosZ, bottomYBlockPos, topYBlockPos, false); }
+	
+	/** 
+	 * Only visible to internal DH methods 
+	 * @param ignoredParameter is only present to differentiate the two constructors and isn't actually used
+	 */
+	private DhApiChunk(int chunkPosX, int chunkPosZ, int bottomYBlockPos, int topYBlockPos, boolean ignoredParameter)
 	{
 		this.chunkPosX = chunkPosX;
 		this.chunkPosZ = chunkPosZ;
-		this.topYBlockPos = topYBlockPos;
 		this.bottomYBlockPos = bottomYBlockPos;
+		this.topYBlockPos = topYBlockPos;
 		
 		// populate the array to prevent null pointers
 		this.dataPoints = new ArrayList<>(16 * 16); // 256
@@ -94,27 +116,34 @@ public class DhApiChunk
 	 */
 	public void setDataPoints(int relX, int relZ, List<DhApiTerrainDataPoint> dataPoints) throws IndexOutOfBoundsException, IllegalArgumentException
 	{
+		//==================//
+		// basic validation //
+		//==================//
+		
+		// heavier validation is done in the world generator if requested
+		
+		int internalArrayIndex = (relZ << 4) | relX;
 		throwIfRelativePosOutOfBounds(relX, relZ);
 		
-		// validate the incoming datapoints
-		if (dataPoints != null)
+		if (dataPoints == null)
 		{
-			for (int i = 0; i < dataPoints.size(); i++) // standard for-loop used instead of an enhanced for-loop to slightly reduce GC overhead due to iterator allocation
-			{
-				DhApiTerrainDataPoint dataPoint = dataPoints.get(i);
-				if (dataPoint == null)
-				{
-					throw new IllegalArgumentException("Null DhApiTerrainDataPoints are not allowed. If you want to represent empty terrain, please use AIR.");
-				}
-				
-				if (dataPoint.detailLevel != 0)
-				{
-					throw new IllegalArgumentException("DhApiTerrainDataPoints has the wrong detail level ["+dataPoint.detailLevel+"], all data points must be block sized; IE their detail level must be [0].");
-				}
-			}
+			// we don't allow null columns
+			throw new IllegalArgumentException("Null columns aren't allowed. If you want to remove all data from a column please clear the list or pass in an empty list.");
 		}
 		
-		this.dataPoints.set((relZ << 4) | relX, dataPoints); 
+		
+		
+		//================//
+		// set datapoints //
+		//================//
+		
+		List<DhApiTerrainDataPoint> column = this.dataPoints.get(internalArrayIndex);
+		if (column == null)
+		{
+			column = new ArrayList<>();
+			this.dataPoints.set(internalArrayIndex, column);
+		}
+		column.addAll(dataPoints); 
 	}
 	
 	
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.data;

 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3i;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Vec3i;

 /**
 * Holds a single datapoint of terrain data
@@ -47,7 +46,7 @@ public class DhApiRaycastResult
 	
 	
 	
-	public DhApiRaycastResult(DhApiTerrainDataPoint dataPoint, Vec3i blockPos)
+	public DhApiRaycastResult(DhApiTerrainDataPoint dataPoint, DhApiVec3i blockPos)
 	{
 		this.dataPoint = dataPoint;
 		this.pos = blockPos;
@@ -19,14 +19,17 @@

 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.data;

+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.EDhApiDetailLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.block.IDhApiBiomeWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.block.IDhApiBlockStateWrapper;

+import java.util.ArrayList;
+
 /**
 * Holds a single datapoint of terrain data.
 *
 * @author James Seibel
- * @version 2022-11-13
+ * @version 2024-7-20
 * @since API 1.0.0
 */
 public class DhApiTerrainDataPoint
@@ -37,27 +40,79 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataPoint
 	 * 2 = 4x4 blocks <br>
 	 * 4 = chunk (16x16 blocks) <br>
 	 * 9 = region (512x512 blocks) <br>
+	 * 
+	 * @see EDhApiDetailLevel
 	 */
 	public final byte detailLevel;
 	
 	public final int blockLightLevel;
 	public final int skyLightLevel;
-	public final int topYBlockPos;
 	public final int bottomYBlockPos;
+	public final int topYBlockPos;
 	
 	public final IDhApiBlockStateWrapper blockStateWrapper;
 	public final IDhApiBiomeWrapper biomeWrapper;
 	
 	
 	
-	public DhApiTerrainDataPoint(byte detailLevel, int blockLightLevel, int skyLightLevel, int topYBlockPos, int bottomYBlockPos, IDhApiBlockStateWrapper blockStateWrapper, IDhApiBiomeWrapper biomeWrapper)
+	//==============//
+	// constructors //
+	//==============//
+	
+	/**
+	 * Deprecated due to the topYBlockPos and bottomYBlockPos variables being put in the wrong order. 
+	 * They should have been in bottom -> top order. 
+	 *
+	 * @see DhApiTerrainDataPoint#create(byte, int, int, int, int, IDhApiBlockStateWrapper, IDhApiBiomeWrapper) 
+	 */
+	@Deprecated
+	public DhApiTerrainDataPoint(
+			byte detailLevel, 
+			int blockLightLevel, int skyLightLevel, 
+			int topYBlockPos, int bottomYBlockPos, 
+			IDhApiBlockStateWrapper blockStateWrapper, IDhApiBiomeWrapper biomeWrapper)
+	{
+		this(detailLevel, blockLightLevel, skyLightLevel,
+			bottomYBlockPos, topYBlockPos,
+			blockStateWrapper, biomeWrapper, 
+			false);
+	}
+	
+	/**
+	 * @since API 3.0.0 
+	 */
+	public static DhApiTerrainDataPoint create(
+			byte detailLevel,
+			int blockLightLevel, int skyLightLevel,
+			int bottomYBlockPos, int topYBlockPos,
+			IDhApiBlockStateWrapper blockStateWrapper, IDhApiBiomeWrapper biomeWrapper
+		)
+	{ 
+		return new DhApiTerrainDataPoint(
+			detailLevel, blockLightLevel, skyLightLevel,
+			bottomYBlockPos, topYBlockPos,
+			blockStateWrapper, biomeWrapper,
+			false); 
+	}
+	
+	/**
+	 * Only visible to internal DH methods 
+	 * @param ignoredParameter is only present to differentiate the two constructors and isn't actually used
+	 */
+	private DhApiTerrainDataPoint(
+			byte detailLevel,
+			int blockLightLevel, int skyLightLevel,
+			int bottomYBlockPos, int topYBlockPos,
+			IDhApiBlockStateWrapper blockStateWrapper, IDhApiBiomeWrapper biomeWrapper,
+			boolean ignoredParameter
+		)
 	{
 		this.detailLevel = detailLevel;
 		
 		this.blockLightLevel = blockLightLevel;
 		this.skyLightLevel = skyLightLevel;
-		this.topYBlockPos = topYBlockPos;
 		this.bottomYBlockPos = bottomYBlockPos;
+		this.topYBlockPos = topYBlockPos;
 		
 		this.blockStateWrapper = blockStateWrapper;
 		this.biomeWrapper = biomeWrapper;
@@ -17,46 +17,55 @@
 *    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 */

-package com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math;
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math;

-import org.joml.Matrix4f;
-import org.joml.Matrix4fc;
-
-import java.nio.FloatBuffer;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.util.IDhApiCopyable;

 /**
 * An (almost) exact copy of Minecraft's 1.16.5
- * implementation of a 4x4 float matrix.
+ * implementation of a 4x4 float matrix. <br><br>
+ *
+ * <code>
+ * m00, m10, m20, m30,  <br>
+ * m01, m11, m21, m31,  <br>
+ * m02, m12, m22, m32,  <br>
+ * m03, m13, m23, m33   <br>
+ * </code>
 * 
 * @author James Seibel
- * @version 11-11-2021
+ * @version 2024-6-30
 */
-public class Mat4f
+public class DhApiMat4f implements IDhApiCopyable
 {
-	private float m00;
-	private float m01;
-	private float m02;
-	private float m03;
-	private float m10;
-	private float m11;
-	private float m12;
-	private float m13;
-	private float m20;
-	private float m21;
-	private float m22;
-	private float m23;
-	private float m30;
-	private float m31;
-	private float m32;
-	private float m33;
+	public float m00;
+	public float m01;
+	public float m02;
+	public float m03;
+	
+	public float m10;
+	public float m11;
+	public float m12;
+	public float m13;
+	
+	public float m20;
+	public float m21;
+	public float m22;
+	public float m23;
+	
+	public float m30;
+	public float m31;
+	public float m32;
+	public float m33;
 	
 	
-	public Mat4f()
-	{
 	
-	}
+	//==============//
+	// constructors //
+	//==============//
 	
-	public Mat4f(Mat4f sourceMatrix)
+	public DhApiMat4f() { /* all values are 0 */ }
+	
+	public DhApiMat4f(DhApiMat4f sourceMatrix)
 	{
 		this.m00 = sourceMatrix.m00;
 		this.m01 = sourceMatrix.m01;
@@ -76,163 +85,36 @@ public class Mat4f
 		this.m33 = sourceMatrix.m33;
 	}
 	
-	public Mat4f(Matrix4fc sourceMatrix) { this(convertJomlMatrixToArray(sourceMatrix)); }
-	private static float[] convertJomlMatrixToArray(Matrix4fc sourceMatrix)
+	/** Expects the values of the input array to be in row major order (AKA rows then columns) */
+	public DhApiMat4f(float[] values)
 	{
-		FloatBuffer buffer = FloatBuffer.allocate(16);
+		m00 = values[0];
+		m01 = values[1];
+		m02 = values[2];
+		m03 = values[3];
 		
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(0, 0), sourceMatrix.m00());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(0, 1), sourceMatrix.m01());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(0, 2), sourceMatrix.m02());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(0, 3), sourceMatrix.m03());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(1, 0), sourceMatrix.m10());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(1, 1), sourceMatrix.m11());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(1, 2), sourceMatrix.m12());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(1, 3), sourceMatrix.m13());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(2, 0), sourceMatrix.m20());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(2, 1), sourceMatrix.m21());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(2, 2), sourceMatrix.m22());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(2, 3), sourceMatrix.m23());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(3, 0), sourceMatrix.m30());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(3, 1), sourceMatrix.m31());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(3, 2), sourceMatrix.m32());
-		buffer.put(bufferIndex(3, 3), sourceMatrix.m33());
+		m10 = values[4];
+		m11 = values[5];
+		m12 = values[6];
+		m13 = values[7];
 		
-		return buffer.array();
-	}
+		m20 = values[8];
+		m21 = values[9];
+		m22 = values[10];
+		m23 = values[11];
 		
-	/* Quaternions are not currently needed/implemented
-	public Matrix4float(Quaternion p_i48104_1_)
-	{
-		float f = p_i48104_1_.i();
-		float f1 = p_i48104_1_.j();
-		float f2 = p_i48104_1_.k();
-		float f3 = p_i48104_1_.r();
-		float f4 = 2.0F * f * f;
-		float f5 = 2.0F * f1 * f1;
-		float f6 = 2.0F * f2 * f2;
-		this.m00 = 1.0F - f5 - f6;
-		this.m11 = 1.0F - f6 - f4;
-		this.m22 = 1.0F - f4 - f5;
-		this.m33 = 1.0F;
-		float f7 = f * f1;
-		float f8 = f1 * f2;
-		float f9 = f2 * f;
-		float f10 = f * f3;
-		float f11 = f1 * f3;
-		float f12 = f2 * f3;
-		this.m10 = 2.0F * (f7 + f12);
-		this.m01 = 2.0F * (f7 - f12);
-		this.m20 = 2.0F * (f9 - f11);
-		this.m02 = 2.0F * (f9 + f11);
-		this.m21 = 2.0F * (f8 + f10);
-		this.m12 = 2.0F * (f8 - f10);
-	}
-	*/
-	
-	
-	@Override
-	public boolean equals(Object obj)
-	{
-		if (this == obj)
-		{
-			return true;
-		}
-		else if (obj != null && this.getClass() == obj.getClass())
-		{
-			Mat4f otherMatrix = (Mat4f) obj;
-			return Float.compare(otherMatrix.m00, this.m00) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m01, this.m01) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m02, this.m02) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m03, this.m03) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m10, this.m10) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m11, this.m11) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m12, this.m12) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m13, this.m13) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m20, this.m20) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m21, this.m21) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m22, this.m22) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m23, this.m23) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m30, this.m30) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m31, this.m31) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m32, this.m32) == 0
-					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m33, this.m33) == 0;
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			return false;
-		}
-	}
-	
-	@Override
-	public int hashCode()
-	{
-		int i = this.m00 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m00) : 0;
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m01 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m01) : 0);
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m02 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m02) : 0);
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m03 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m03) : 0);
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m10 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m10) : 0);
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m11 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m11) : 0);
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m12 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m12) : 0);
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m13 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m13) : 0);
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m20 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m20) : 0);
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m21 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m21) : 0);
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m22 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m22) : 0);
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m23 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m23) : 0);
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m30 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m30) : 0);
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m31 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m31) : 0);
-		i = 31 * i + (this.m32 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m32) : 0);
-		return 31 * i + (this.m33 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m33) : 0);
+		m30 = values[12];
+		m31 = values[13];
+		m32 = values[14];
+		m33 = values[15];
 	}
 	
 	
-	@Override
-	public String toString()
-	{
-		return "Matrix4f:\n" +
-				this.m00 + " " + this.m01 + " " + this.m02 + " " + this.m03 + "\n" +
-				this.m10 + " " + this.m11 + " " + this.m12 + " " + this.m13 + "\n" +
-				this.m20 + " " + this.m21 + " " + this.m22 + " " + this.m23 + "\n" +
-				this.m30 + " " + this.m31 + " " + this.m32 + " " + this.m33 + "\n";
-	}
 	
 	
-	public void store(FloatBuffer floatBuffer)
-	{
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(0, 0), this.m00);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(0, 1), this.m01);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(0, 2), this.m02);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(0, 3), this.m03);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(1, 0), this.m10);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(1, 1), this.m11);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(1, 2), this.m12);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(1, 3), this.m13);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(2, 0), this.m20);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(2, 1), this.m21);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(2, 2), this.m22);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(2, 3), this.m23);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(3, 0), this.m30);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(3, 1), this.m31);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(3, 2), this.m32);
-		floatBuffer.put(bufferIndex(3, 3), this.m33);
-	}
-	
-	public Matrix4f createJomlMatrix()
-	{
-		return new Matrix4f(
-				this.m00, this.m10, this.m20, this.m30,
-				this.m01, this.m11, this.m21, this.m31,
-				this.m02, this.m12, this.m22, this.m32,
-				this.m03, this.m13, this.m23, this.m33
-		);
-	}
-	
-	
-	private static int bufferIndex(int xIndex, int zIndex)
-	{
-		return (zIndex * 4) + xIndex;
-	}
-	
+	//=========//
+	// methods //
+	//=========//
 	
 	public void setIdentity()
 	{
@@ -341,7 +223,7 @@ public class Mat4f
 		}
 	}
 	
-	public void multiply(Mat4f multMatrix)
+	public void multiply(DhApiMat4f multMatrix)
 	{
 		float f = this.m00 * multMatrix.m00 + this.m01 * multMatrix.m10 + this.m02 * multMatrix.m20 + this.m03 * multMatrix.m30;
 		float f1 = this.m00 * multMatrix.m01 + this.m01 * multMatrix.m11 + this.m02 * multMatrix.m21 + this.m03 * multMatrix.m31;
@@ -377,13 +259,6 @@ public class Mat4f
 		this.m33 = f15;
 	}
 	
-	/* Quaternions aren't currently needed/implemented
-	public void multiply(Quaternion p_226596_1_)
-	{
-		this.multiply(new Matrix4f(p_226596_1_));
-	}
-	*/
-	
 	public void multiply(float scalar)
 	{
 		this.m00 *= scalar;
@@ -404,81 +279,6 @@ public class Mat4f
 		this.m33 *= scalar;
 	}
 	
-	public static Mat4f perspective(double fov, float widthHeightRatio, float nearClipPlane, float farClipPlane)
-	{
-		float f = (float) (1.0D / Math.tan(fov * ((float) Math.PI / 180F) / 2.0D));
-		Mat4f matrix = new Mat4f();
-		matrix.m00 = f / widthHeightRatio;
-		matrix.m11 = f;
-		matrix.m22 = (farClipPlane + nearClipPlane) / (nearClipPlane - farClipPlane);
-		matrix.m32 = -1.0F;
-		matrix.m23 = 2.0F * farClipPlane * nearClipPlane / (nearClipPlane - farClipPlane);
-		return matrix;
-	}
-	
-	
-	/* not currently needed/implemented
-	 * Also the parameter names should be double checked as they may be incorrect
-	public static Matrix4Float orthographic(float left, float right, float top, float bottom)
-	{
-		Matrix4Float matrix4f = new Matrix4Float();
-		matrix4f.m00 = 2.0F / left;
-		matrix4f.m11 = 2.0F / right;
-		float f = bottom - top;
-		matrix4f.m22 = -2.0F / f;
-		matrix4f.m33 = 1.0F;
-		matrix4f.m03 = -1.0F;
-		matrix4f.m13 = -1.0F;
-		matrix4f.m23 = -(bottom + top) / f;
-		return matrix4f;
-	}
-	*/
-	
-	/**
-	 * TODO: what kind of translation is this?
-	 * and how is this different from "multiplyTranslationMatrix"?
-	 * Answer: This is faster and direct (but only if this is pure translation matrix without rotate)
-	 */
-	public void translate(Vec3f vec)
-	{
-		this.m03 += vec.x;
-		this.m13 += vec.y;
-		this.m23 += vec.z;
-	}
-	
-	/** originally "translate" from Minecraft's MatrixStack */
-	public void multiplyTranslationMatrix(double x, double y, double z)
-	{
-		multiply(createTranslateMatrix((float) x, (float) y, (float) z));
-	}
-	
-	public Mat4f copy()
-	{
-		return new Mat4f(this);
-	}
-	
-	public static Mat4f createScaleMatrix(float x, float y, float z)
-	{
-		Mat4f matrix = new Mat4f();
-		matrix.m00 = x;
-		matrix.m11 = y;
-		matrix.m22 = z;
-		matrix.m33 = 1.0F;
-		return matrix;
-	}
-	
-	public static Mat4f createTranslateMatrix(float x, float y, float z)
-	{
-		Mat4f matrix = new Mat4f();
-		matrix.m00 = 1.0F;
-		matrix.m11 = 1.0F;
-		matrix.m22 = 1.0F;
-		matrix.m33 = 1.0F;
-		matrix.m03 = x;
-		matrix.m13 = y;
-		matrix.m23 = z;
-		return matrix;
-	}
 	
 	
 	
@@ -487,6 +287,8 @@ public class Mat4f
 	//      methods     //
 	//==================//
 	
+	private static int getArrayIndex(int xIndex, int zIndex) { return (zIndex * 4) + xIndex; }
+	
 	/** Returns the values of this matrix in row major order (AKA rows then columns) */
 	public float[] getValuesAsArray()
 	{
@@ -513,113 +315,77 @@ public class Mat4f
 		};
 	}
 	
-	public Vec3f asNonNormalizedLookForwardVector()
+	
+	
+	//================//
+	// base overrides //
+	//================//
+	
+	@Override
+	public boolean equals(Object obj)
 	{
-		return new Vec3f(this.m02, this.m12, this.m22);
+		if (this == obj)
+		{
+			return true;
+		}
+		else if (obj != null && this.getClass() == obj.getClass())
+		{
+			DhApiMat4f otherMatrix = (DhApiMat4f) obj;
+			return Float.compare(otherMatrix.m00, this.m00) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m01, this.m01) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m02, this.m02) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m03, this.m03) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m10, this.m10) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m11, this.m11) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m12, this.m12) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m13, this.m13) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m20, this.m20) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m21, this.m21) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m22, this.m22) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m23, this.m23) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m30, this.m30) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m31, this.m31) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m32, this.m32) == 0
+					&& Float.compare(otherMatrix.m33, this.m33) == 0;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			return false;
+		}
 	}
 	
-	//===============//
-	// Forge methods //
-	//===============//
-	
-	public Mat4f(float[] values)
+	@Override
+	public int hashCode()
 	{
-		m00 = values[0];
-		m01 = values[1];
-		m02 = values[2];
-		m03 = values[3];
-		m10 = values[4];
-		m11 = values[5];
-		m12 = values[6];
-		m13 = values[7];
-		m20 = values[8];
-		m21 = values[9];
-		m22 = values[10];
-		m23 = values[11];
-		m30 = values[12];
-		m31 = values[13];
-		m32 = values[14];
-		m33 = values[15];
+		int i = this.m00 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m00) : 0;
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m01 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m01) : 0);
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m02 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m02) : 0);
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m03 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m03) : 0);
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m10 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m10) : 0);
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m11 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m11) : 0);
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m12 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m12) : 0);
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m13 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m13) : 0);
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m20 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m20) : 0);
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m21 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m21) : 0);
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m22 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m22) : 0);
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m23 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m23) : 0);
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m30 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m30) : 0);
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m31 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m31) : 0);
+		i = 31 * i + (this.m32 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m32) : 0);
+		return 31 * i + (this.m33 != 0.0F ? Float.floatToIntBits(this.m33) : 0);
 	}
 	
-	public Mat4f(FloatBuffer buffer)
+	@Override
+	public String toString()
 	{
-		this(buffer.array());
+		return "Matrix4f:\n" +
+				this.m00 + " " + this.m01 + " " + this.m02 + " " + this.m03 + "\n" +
+				this.m10 + " " + this.m11 + " " + this.m12 + " " + this.m13 + "\n" +
+				this.m20 + " " + this.m21 + " " + this.m22 + " " + this.m23 + "\n" +
+				this.m30 + " " + this.m31 + " " + this.m32 + " " + this.m33 + "\n";
 	}
 	
-	public void set(Mat4f mat)
-	{
-		this.m00 = mat.m00;
-		this.m01 = mat.m01;
-		this.m02 = mat.m02;
-		this.m03 = mat.m03;
-		this.m10 = mat.m10;
-		this.m11 = mat.m11;
-		this.m12 = mat.m12;
-		this.m13 = mat.m13;
-		this.m20 = mat.m20;
-		this.m21 = mat.m21;
-		this.m22 = mat.m22;
-		this.m23 = mat.m23;
-		this.m30 = mat.m30;
-		this.m31 = mat.m31;
-		this.m32 = mat.m32;
-		this.m33 = mat.m33;
-	}
-	
-	public void add(Mat4f other)
-	{
-		m00 += other.m00;
-		m01 += other.m01;
-		m02 += other.m02;
-		m03 += other.m03;
-		m10 += other.m10;
-		m11 += other.m11;
-		m12 += other.m12;
-		m13 += other.m13;
-		m20 += other.m20;
-		m21 += other.m21;
-		m22 += other.m22;
-		m23 += other.m23;
-		m30 += other.m30;
-		m31 += other.m31;
-		m32 += other.m32;
-		m33 += other.m33;
-	}
-	
-	public void multiplyBackward(Mat4f other)
-	{
-		Mat4f copy = other.copy();
-		copy.multiply(this);
-		this.set(copy);
-	}
-	
-	public void setTranslation(float x, float y, float z)
-	{
-		this.m00 = 1.0F;
-		this.m11 = 1.0F;
-		this.m22 = 1.0F;
-		this.m33 = 1.0F;
-		this.m03 = x;
-		this.m13 = y;
-		this.m23 = z;
-	}
-	
-	/**
-	 * Changes the values that store the clipping planes.
-	 * Formula for calculating matrix values is the same that OpenGL uses when making matrices.
-	 *
-	 * @param nearClip New near clipping plane value.
-	 * @param farClip New far clipping plane value.
-	 */
-	public void setClipPlanes(float nearClip, float farClip)
-	{
-		//convert to matrix values, formula copied from a textbook / openGL specification.
-		float matNearClip = -((farClip + nearClip) / (farClip - nearClip));
-		float matFarClip = -((2 * farClip * nearClip) / (farClip - nearClip));
-		//set new values for the clip planes.
-		this.m22 = matNearClip;
-		this.m23 = matFarClip;
-	}
+	@Override
+	public DhApiMat4f copy() { return new DhApiMat4f(this); }
 	
 }
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+/*
+ *    This file is part of the Distant Horizons mod
+ *    licensed under the GNU LGPL v3 License.
+ *
+ *    Copyright (C) 2020-2023 James Seibel
+ *
+ *    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ *    it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+ *    the Free Software Foundation, version 3.
+ *
+ *    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ *    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ *    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ *    GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ *    You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ *    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math;
+
+/**
+ * Often used to store block positions or any other
+ * position in 3D space.
+ *
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-7-9
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ */
+public class DhApiVec3d
+{
+	public double x;
+	public double y;
+	public double z;
+	
+	
+	
+	/** creates a Vec3 at (0,0,0) */
+	public DhApiVec3d()
+	{
+		this.x = 0;
+		this.y = 0;
+		this.z = 0;
+	}
+	
+	public DhApiVec3d(double x, double y, double z)
+	{
+		this.x = x;
+		this.y = y;
+		this.z = z;
+	}
+	
+	@Override
+	public boolean equals(Object obj)
+	{
+		if (this == obj)
+		{
+			return true;
+		}
+		else if (obj != null && this.getClass() == obj.getClass())
+		{
+			DhApiVec3d Vec3d = (DhApiVec3d) obj;
+			if (Double.compare(Vec3d.x, this.x) != 0)
+			{
+				return false;
+			}
+			else if (Double.compare(Vec3d.y, this.y) != 0)
+			{
+				return false;
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				return Double.compare(Vec3d.z, this.z) == 0;
+			}
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			return false;
+		}
+	}
+	
+	@Override
+	public int hashCode()
+	{
+		long i = Double.doubleToLongBits(this.x);
+		i = 31 * i + Double.doubleToLongBits(this.y);
+		i = 31 * i + Double.doubleToLongBits(this.z);
+		return Long.hashCode(i);
+	}
+	
+	@Override
+	public String toString() { return "[" + this.x + ", " + this.y + ", " + this.z + "]"; }
+	
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,98 @@
+/*
+ *    This file is part of the Distant Horizons mod
+ *    licensed under the GNU LGPL v3 License.
+ *
+ *    Copyright (C) 2020-2023 James Seibel
+ *
+ *    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ *    it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
+ *    the Free Software Foundation, version 3.
+ *
+ *    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ *    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ *    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ *    GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ *    You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
+ *    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.util.IDhApiCopyable;
+
+/**
+ * Often used to store block positions or any other
+ * position in 3D space.
+ *
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-6-3
+ * @since API 2.2.0
+ */
+public class DhApiVec3f implements IDhApiCopyable
+{
+	public float x;
+	public float y;
+	public float z;
+	
+	
+	
+	/** creates a Vec3 at (0,0,0) */
+	public DhApiVec3f()
+	{
+		this.x = 0;
+		this.y = 0;
+		this.z = 0;
+	}
+	
+	public DhApiVec3f(float x, float y, float z)
+	{
+		this.x = x;
+		this.y = y;
+		this.z = z;
+	}
+	
+	@Override
+	public boolean equals(Object obj)
+	{
+		if (this == obj)
+		{
+			return true;
+		}
+		else if (obj != null && this.getClass() == obj.getClass())
+		{
+			DhApiVec3f Vec3f = (DhApiVec3f) obj;
+			if (Float.compare(Vec3f.x, this.x) != 0)
+			{
+				return false;
+			}
+			else if (Float.compare(Vec3f.y, this.y) != 0)
+			{
+				return false;
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				return Float.compare(Vec3f.z, this.z) == 0;
+			}
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			return false;
+		}
+	}
+	
+	@Override
+	public int hashCode()
+	{
+		int i = Float.floatToIntBits(this.x);
+		i = 31 * i + Float.floatToIntBits(this.y);
+		return 31 * i + Float.floatToIntBits(this.z);
+	}
+	
+	@Override
+	public String toString() { return "[" + this.x + ", " + this.y + ", " + this.z + "]"; }
+	
+	@Override 
+	public DhApiVec3f copy() { return new DhApiVec3f(this.x, this.y, this.z); }
+	
+}
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.render;
+
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiBlockMaterial;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.render.IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3d;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3f;
+
+import java.awt.*;
+
+/**
+ * @see IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup
+ * 
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-6-30
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ */
+public class DhApiRenderableBox
+{
+	/** the position closest to (-inf,-inf) */
+	public DhApiVec3d minPos;
+	/** the position closest to (+inf,+inf) */
+	public DhApiVec3d maxPos;
+	
+	public Color color;
+	public byte material;
+	
+	
+	
+	//==============//
+	// constructors //
+	//==============//
+	
+	public DhApiRenderableBox(DhApiVec3d minPos, float width, Color color, EDhApiBlockMaterial material)
+	{
+		this(minPos, new DhApiVec3d(
+				minPos.x + width,
+				minPos.y + width,
+				minPos.z + width
+		), color, material);
+	}
+	
+	public DhApiRenderableBox(DhApiVec3d minPos, DhApiVec3d maxPos, Color color, EDhApiBlockMaterial material)
+	{
+		this.minPos = minPos;
+		this.maxPos = maxPos;
+		this.color = color;
+		this.material = material.index;
+	}
+	
+}
+	
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.render;
+
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.render.IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3f;
+
+import java.awt.*;
+
+/**
+ * @see IDhApiRenderableBoxGroup
+ * 
+ * Shading values are multiplied against the color for each direction,
+ * for example: <br>
+ * A shading value of 1.0 indicates the color is unchanged. <br>
+ * A shading value of 0.0 changes the color to black. <br>
+ * 
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2024-7-7
+ * @since API 3.0.0
+ */
+public class DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShading
+{
+	/** negative X */
+	public float north = 1.0f;
+	/** positive X */
+	public float south = 1.0f;
+	
+	/** positive X */
+	public float east = 1.0f;
+	/** negative X */
+	public float west = 1.0f;
+	
+	/** positive Y */
+	public float top = 1.0f;
+	/** negative Y */
+	public float bottom = 1.0f;
+	
+	
+	
+	//==============//
+	// constructors //
+	//==============//
+	
+	public static DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShading getDefaultShaded()
+	{
+		DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShading shading = new DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShading();
+		shading.setDefaultShaded();
+		return shading;
+	}
+	
+	public static DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShading getUnshaded() 
+	{
+		DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShading shading = new DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShading();
+		shading.setUnshaded();
+		return shading;
+	}
+	
+	
+	
+	//=========//
+	// methods //
+	//=========//
+	
+	/**
+	 * Directions will have different brightness similar to Minecraft blocks. <br>
+	 * This is a good default for un-lit objects. 
+	 */
+	public void setDefaultShaded()
+	{
+		this.north = 0.8f;
+		this.south = 0.8f;
+		this.east = 0.6f;
+		this.west = 0.6f;
+		this.top = 1.0f;
+		this.bottom = 0.5f;
+	}
+	
+	/** 
+	 * All directions render with the same brightness. <br>
+	 * This is best used for glowing objects like beacons. 
+	 */
+	public void setUnshaded()
+	{
+		this.north = 1.0f;
+		this.south = 1.0f;
+		this.east = 1.0f;
+		this.west = 1.0f;
+		this.top = 1.0f;
+		this.bottom = 1.0f;
+	}
+	
+}
+	
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.DependencyInjection;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.events.IDhApiEventInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiCancelableEvent;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEvent;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEventParam;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiOneTimeEvent;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiCancelableEventParam;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiEventParam;
@@ -140,7 +141,26 @@ public class ApiEventInjector extends DependencyInjector<IDhApiEvent> implements
 					// fire each event and record if any of them
 					// request to cancel the event.
 					
-					DhApiEventParam<T> eventParam = createEventParamWrapper(event, eventInput);
+					
+					// attempt to clone the event input if possible
+					// this is done to reduce the likely hood that one event listener 
+					// will make change the event parameter for other listeners 
+					T input = eventInput;
+					if (eventInput instanceof IDhApiEventParam)
+					{
+						try
+						{
+							//noinspection unchecked
+							input = (T) ((IDhApiEventParam) eventInput).copy();
+						}
+						catch (Exception e)
+						{
+							LOGGER.error("Unable to clone event parameter ["+eventInput.getClass().getSimpleName()+"], error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
+						}
+					}
+					
+					
+					DhApiEventParam<T> eventParam = createEventParamWrapper(event, input);
 					event.fireEvent(eventParam);
 					
 					if (eventParam instanceof DhApiCancelableEventParam)
@@ -26,27 +26,28 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi;
 public final class ModInfo
 {
 	public static final String ID = "distanthorizons";
-	/** The internal protocol version used for networking */
-	public static final int PROTOCOL_VERSION = 1;
-	/** The protocol version used for multiverse networking */
-	public static final int MULTIVERSE_PLUGIN_PROTOCOL_VERSION = 1;
+	
+	public static final String RESOURCE_NAMESPACE = "distant_horizons";
+	public static final String DEDICATED_SERVER_INITIAL_PATH = "dedicated_server_initial";
+	
+	/** Incremented every time any packets are added, changed or removed, with a few exceptions. */
+	public static final int PROTOCOL_VERSION = 4;
+	public static final String WRAPPER_PACKET_PATH = "message";
+	
 	/** The internal mod name */
 	public static final String NAME = "DistantHorizons";
 	/** Human-readable version of NAME */
 	public static final String READABLE_NAME = "Distant Horizons";
-	public static final String VERSION = "2.0.4-a-dev";
+	public static final String VERSION = "2.3.0-a-dev";
 	/** Returns true if the current build is an unstable developer build, false otherwise. */
 	public static boolean IS_DEV_BUILD = VERSION.toLowerCase().contains("dev");
 	
 	/** This version should only be updated when breaking changes are introduced to the DH API */
-	public static final int API_MAJOR_VERSION = 1;
+	public static final int API_MAJOR_VERSION = 4;
 	/** This version should be updated whenever new methods are added to the DH API */
-	public static final int API_MINOR_VERSION = 1;
+	public static final int API_MINOR_VERSION = 0;
 	/** This version should be updated whenever non-breaking fixes are added to the DH API */
-	public static final int API_PATH_VERSION = 0;
-	
-	public static final String NETWORKING_RESOURCE_NAMESPACE = "distant_horizons";
-	public static final String MULTIVERSE_PLUGIN_NAMESPACE = "world_control";
+	public static final int API_PATCH_VERSION = 0;
 	
 	/** All DH owned threads should start with this string to allow for easier debugging and profiling. */
 	public static final String THREAD_NAME_PREFIX = "DH-";
@@ -67,10 +67,11 @@ public interface IConfigEntry<T>
 	 * Checks if the option is valid
 	 *
 	 * 0 == valid
+	 * 2 == invalid
 	 * 1 == number too high
 	 * -1 == number too low
 	 */
-	byte isValid();
+	byte isValid(); // TODO replace with an enum
 	/** Checks if a value is valid */
 	byte isValid(T value);
 	
@@ -24,12 +24,12 @@ import java.util.Arrays;

 /**
 * Miscellaneous string helper functions.
- *
- * @author James Seibel
- * @version 2022-7-19
 */
 public class StringUtil
 {
+	private static final char[] HEX_ARRAY = "0123456789ABCDEF".toCharArray();
+	
+	
 	/**
 	 * Returns the n-th index of the given string. <br> <br>
 	 *
@@ -67,8 +67,6 @@ public class StringUtil
 		return stringBuilder.toString();
 	}
 	
-	
-	private static final char[] HEX_ARRAY = "0123456789ABCDEF".toCharArray();
 	/**
 	 * Converts the given byte array into a hex string representation. <br>
 	 * source: https://stackoverflow.com/a/9855338
@@ -85,4 +83,20 @@ public class StringUtil
 		return new String(hexChars);
 	}
 	
+	/**
+	 * Returns a shortened version of the given string that is no longer than maxLength. <br>
+	 * If null returns the empty string.
+	 */
+	public static String shortenString(String str, int maxLength)
+	{
+		if (str == null)
+		{
+			return "";
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			return str.substring(0, Math.min(str.length(), maxLength));
+		}
+	}
+	
 }
@@ -1,263 +0,0 @@
-/*
- *    This file is part of the Distant Horizons mod
- *    licensed under the GNU LGPL v3 License.
- *
- *    Copyright (C) 2020-2023 James Seibel
- *
- *    This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
- *    it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as published by
- *    the Free Software Foundation, version 3.
- *
- *    This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
- *    but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
- *    MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
- *    GNU Lesser General Public License for more details.
- *
- *    You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
- *    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
- */
-
-package com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math;
-
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.MathUtil;
-
-/**
- * A (almost) exact copy of Minecraft's 1.16.5
- * implementation of a 3 element float vector.
- *
- * @author James Seibel
- * @version 11-11-2021
- */
-public class Vec3f
-{
-	public static Vec3f XNeg = new Vec3f(-1.0F, 0.0F, 0.0F);
-	public static Vec3f XPos = new Vec3f(1.0F, 0.0F, 0.0F);
-	public static Vec3f YNeg = new Vec3f(0.0F, -1.0F, 0.0F);
-	public static Vec3f YPos = new Vec3f(0.0F, 1.0F, 0.0F);
-	public static Vec3f ZNeg = new Vec3f(0.0F, 0.0F, -1.0F);
-	public static Vec3f ZPos = new Vec3f(0.0F, 0.0F, 1.0F);
-	
-	
-	public float x;
-	public float y;
-	public float z;
-	
-	
-	
-	public Vec3f()
-	{
-		
-	}
-	
-	public Vec3f(float x, float y, float z)
-	{
-		this.x = x;
-		this.y = y;
-		this.z = z;
-	}
-	
-	@Override
-	public boolean equals(Object obj)
-	{
-		if (this == obj)
-		{
-			return true;
-		}
-		else if (obj != null && this.getClass() == obj.getClass())
-		{
-			Vec3f Vec3f = (Vec3f) obj;
-			if (Float.compare(Vec3f.x, this.x) != 0)
-			{
-				return false;
-			}
-			else if (Float.compare(Vec3f.y, this.y) != 0)
-			{
-				return false;
-			}
-			else
-			{
-				return Float.compare(Vec3f.z, this.z) == 0;
-			}
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			return false;
-		}
-	}
-	
-	@Override
-	public int hashCode()
-	{
-		int i = Float.floatToIntBits(this.x);
-		i = 31 * i + Float.floatToIntBits(this.y);
-		return 31 * i + Float.floatToIntBits(this.z);
-	}
-	
-	public void mul(float scalar)
-	{
-		this.x *= scalar;
-		this.y *= scalar;
-		this.z *= scalar;
-	}
-	
-	public void mul(float x, float y, float z)
-	{
-		this.x *= x;
-		this.y *= y;
-		this.z *= z;
-	}
-	
-	public void clamp(float min, float max)
-	{
-		this.x = MathUtil.clamp(min, this.x, max);
-		this.y = MathUtil.clamp(min, this.y, max);
-		this.z = MathUtil.clamp(min, this.z, max);
-	}
-	
-	public void set(float x, float y, float z)
-	{
-		this.x = x;
-		this.y = y;
-		this.z = z;
-	}
-	
-	public void add(float x, float y, float z)
-	{
-		this.x += x;
-		this.y += y;
-		this.z += z;
-	}
-	
-	public void add(Vec3f vector)
-	{
-		this.x += vector.x;
-		this.y += vector.y;
-		this.z += vector.z;
-	}
-	
-	public void subtract(Vec3f vector)
-	{
-		this.x -= vector.x;
-		this.y -= vector.y;
-		this.z -= vector.z;
-	}
-	
-	public float dotProduct(Vec3f vector)
-	{
-		return this.x * vector.x + this.y * vector.y + this.z * vector.z;
-	}
-	
-	/** Returns true if normalization had to be done */
-	public boolean normalize()
-	{
-		float squaredSum = this.x * this.x + this.y * this.y + this.z * this.z;
-		if (squaredSum < 1.0E-5D)
-		{
-			return false;
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			float f1 = MathUtil.fastInvSqrt(squaredSum);
-			this.x *= f1;
-			this.y *= f1;
-			this.z *= f1;
-			return true;
-		}
-	}
-	
-	public void crossProduct(Vec3f vector)
-	{
-		float f = this.x;
-		float f1 = this.y;
-		float f2 = this.z;
-		float f3 = vector.x;
-		float f4 = vector.y;
-		float f5 = vector.z;
-		this.x = f1 * f5 - f2 * f4;
-		this.y = f2 * f3 - f * f5;
-		this.z = f * f4 - f1 * f3;
-	}
-	
-	/* Matrix3f is not currently needed/implemented
-	public void transform(Matrix3f p_229188_1_)
-	{
-		float f = this.x;
-		float f1 = this.y;
-		float f2 = this.z;
-		this.x = p_229188_1_.m00 * f + p_229188_1_.m01 * f1 + p_229188_1_.m02 * f2;
-		this.y = p_229188_1_.m10 * f + p_229188_1_.m11 * f1 + p_229188_1_.m12 * f2;
-		this.z = p_229188_1_.m20 * f + p_229188_1_.m21 * f1 + p_229188_1_.m22 * f2;
-	}
-	*/
-	
-	/* Quaternions are not currently needed/implemented
-	public void transform(Quaternion p_214905_1_)
-	{
-		Quaternion quaternion = new Quaternion(p_214905_1_);
-		quaternion.mul(new Quaternion(this.x(), this.y(), this.z(), 0.0F));
-		Quaternion quaternion1 = new Quaternion(p_214905_1_);
-		quaternion1.conj();
-		quaternion.mul(quaternion1);
-		this.set(quaternion.i(), quaternion.j(), quaternion.k());
-	}
-	*/
-	
-	/* not currently needed
-	 * percent may actually be partial ticks (which is available when rendering)
-	public void linearInterp(Vec3f resultingVector, float percent)
-	{
-		float f = 1.0F - percent;
-		this.x = this.x * f + resultingVector.x * percent;
-		this.y = this.y * f + resultingVector.y * percent;
-		this.z = this.z * f + resultingVector.z * percent;
-	}
-	*/
-	
-	/* Quaternions are not currently needed/implemented
-	public Quaternion rotation(float p_229193_1_)
-	{
-		return new Quaternion(this, p_229193_1_, false);
-	}
-	
-	
-	@OnlyIn(Dist.CLIENT)
-	public Quaternion rotationDegrees(float p_229187_1_)
-	{
-		return new Quaternion(this, p_229187_1_, true);
-	}
-	*/
-	
-	public Vec3f copy()
-	{
-		return new Vec3f(this.x, this.y, this.z);
-	}
-	
-	/* not currently needed/implemented
-	public void map(Float2FloatFunction p_229191_1_)
-	{
-		this.x = p_229191_1_.get(this.x);
-		this.y = p_229191_1_.get(this.y);
-		this.z = p_229191_1_.get(this.z);
-	}
-	*/
-	
-	@Override
-	public String toString()
-	{
-		return "[" + this.x + ", " + this.y + ", " + this.z + "]";
-	}
-	
-	// Forge start
-	public Vec3f(float[] values)
-	{
-		set(values);
-	}
-	
-	public void set(float[] values)
-	{
-		this.x = values[0];
-		this.y = values[1];
-		this.z = values[2];
-	}
-	
-}
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 plugins {
    id "java"
-    id "com.github.johnrengelman.shadow" version '7.1.2' apply false // Set this to true if you're using the standalone Core project
+    id "com.github.johnrengelman.shadow" version '8.1.1' apply false // Set this to true if you're using the standalone Core project
 }

 apply plugin: "application"
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ artifacts {
 }

 shadowJar {
-    def librariesLocation = "distanthorizons.libraries"
+    def librariesLocation = "DistantHorizons.libraries"
 //    relocate "it.unimi.dsi.fastutil", "${librariesLocation}.unimi.dsi.fastutil"
    mergeServiceFiles()
 }
@@ -20,8 +20,10 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core;

 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.generic.GenericRenderObjectFactory;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.sql.DatabaseUpdater;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.IWrapperFactory;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.DhApiWorldProxy;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.external.methods.config.DhApiConfig;
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ import java.awt.*;
 public class Initializer
 {
 	private static final Logger LOGGER = LogManager.getLogger(ModInfo.NAME + "-" + Initializer.class.getSimpleName());
+	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC_CLIENT = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
+	
 	
 	public static void init()
 	{
@@ -76,16 +80,18 @@ public class Initializer
 			throw new RuntimeException(e);
 		}
 		
-		
-		// attempt to setup Swing so we can display dialogs (popup windows)
-		System.setProperty("java.awt.headless", "false");
-		if (GraphicsEnvironment.isHeadless())
+		if (MC_CLIENT != null)
 		{
-			LOGGER.warn("Java.awt.headless is false. This means Distant Horizons can't display error and info dialog windows.");
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			LOGGER.info("Java.awt.headless set to true. Distant Horizons can correctly display error and info dialog windows.");
+			// attempt to set up Swing so we can display dialogs (popup windows)
+			System.setProperty("java.awt.headless", "false");
+			if (GraphicsEnvironment.isHeadless())
+			{
+				LOGGER.warn("Java.awt.headless is false. This means Distant Horizons can't display error and info dialog windows.");
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				LOGGER.info("Java.awt.headless set to true. Distant Horizons can correctly display error and info dialog windows.");
+			}
 		}
 		
 		// link Core's config to the API
@@ -93,6 +99,7 @@ public class Initializer
 		DhApi.Delayed.terrainRepo = DhApiTerrainDataRepo.INSTANCE;
 		DhApi.Delayed.worldProxy = DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE;
 		DhApi.Delayed.renderProxy = DhApiRenderProxy.INSTANCE;
+		DhApi.Delayed.customRenderObjectFactory = GenericRenderObjectFactory.INSTANCE;
 		DhApi.Delayed.wrapperFactory = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IWrapperFactory.class);
 		if (DhApi.Delayed.wrapperFactory == null)
 		{
@@ -42,8 +42,6 @@ public class DhApiConfig implements IDhApiConfig
 	@Override
 	public IDhApiMultiThreadingConfig multiThreading() { return DhApiMultiThreadingConfig.INSTANCE; }
 	@Override
-	public IDhApiGpuBuffersConfig gpuBuffers() { return DhApiGpuBuffersConfig.INSTANCE; }
-	@Override
 	public IDhApiDebuggingConfig debugging() { return DhApiDebuggingConfig.INSTANCE; }
 	
 }
@@ -33,19 +33,19 @@ public class DhApiDebuggingConfig implements IDhApiDebuggingConfig
 	
 	
 	
-	public IDhApiConfigValue<EDhApiDebugRendering> debugRendering()
+	@Override public IDhApiConfigValue<EDhApiDebugRendering> debugRendering()
 	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<EDhApiDebugRendering, EDhApiDebugRendering>(Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.debugRendering); }
 	
-	public IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> debugKeybindings()
+	@Override public IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> debugKeybindings()
 	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<Boolean, Boolean>(Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.enableDebugKeybindings); }
 	
-	public IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> renderWireframe()
+	@Override public IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> renderWireframe()
 	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<Boolean, Boolean>(Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.renderWireframe); }
 	
-	public IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> lodOnlyMode()
+	@Override public IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> lodOnlyMode()
 	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<Boolean, Boolean>(Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.lodOnlyMode); }
 	
-	public IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> debugWireframeRendering()
+	@Override public IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> debugWireframeRendering()
 	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<Boolean, Boolean>(Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.DebugWireframe.enableRendering); }
 	
 }
@@ -20,23 +20,27 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.external.methods.config.client;

 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.IDhApiConfigValue;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.client.IDhApiGpuBuffersConfig;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.client.IDhApiGenericRenderingConfig;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.client.IDhApiNoiseTextureConfig;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.config.DhApiConfigValue;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config.EDhApiGpuUploadMethod;

-public class DhApiGpuBuffersConfig implements IDhApiGpuBuffersConfig
+public class DhApiGenericRenderingConfig implements IDhApiGenericRenderingConfig
 {
-	public static DhApiGpuBuffersConfig INSTANCE = new DhApiGpuBuffersConfig();
+	public static DhApiGenericRenderingConfig INSTANCE = new DhApiGenericRenderingConfig();
 	
-	private DhApiGpuBuffersConfig() { }
+	private DhApiGenericRenderingConfig() { }
 	
 	
 	
-	public IDhApiConfigValue<EDhApiGpuUploadMethod> gpuUploadMethod()
-	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<>(Config.Client.Advanced.GpuBuffers.gpuUploadMethod); }
-	
-	public IDhApiConfigValue<Integer> gpuUploadPerMegabyteInMilliseconds()
-	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<>(Config.Client.Advanced.GpuBuffers.gpuUploadPerMegabyteInMilliseconds); }
+	@Override 
+	public IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> renderingEnabled()
+	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<Boolean, Boolean>(Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.GenericRendering.enableRendering); }
+	@Override
+	public IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> beaconRenderingEnabled()
+	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<Boolean, Boolean>(Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.GenericRendering.enableBeaconRendering); }
+	@Override 
+	public IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> cloudRenderingEnabled()
+	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<Boolean, Boolean>(Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.GenericRendering.enableCloudRendering); }
 	
 }
@@ -22,10 +22,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.external.methods.config.client;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config.*;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiTransparency;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.IDhApiConfigValue;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.client.IDhApiAmbientOcclusionConfig;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.client.IDhApiFogConfig;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.client.IDhApiGraphicsConfig;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.client.IDhApiNoiseTextureConfig;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.client.*;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.config.DhApiConfigValue;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiRendererMode;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
@@ -42,9 +39,14 @@ public class DhApiGraphicsConfig implements IDhApiGraphicsConfig
 	// inner layers //
 	//==============//
 	
+	@Override
 	public IDhApiFogConfig fog() { return DhApiFogConfig.INSTANCE; }
+	@Override
 	public IDhApiAmbientOcclusionConfig ambientOcclusion() { return DhApiAmbientOcclusionConfig.INSTANCE; }
+	@Override
 	public IDhApiNoiseTextureConfig noiseTexture() { return DhApiNoiseTextureConfig.INSTANCE; }
+	@Override
+	public IDhApiGenericRenderingConfig genericRendering() { return DhApiGenericRenderingConfig.INSTANCE; }
 	
 	
 	
@@ -33,10 +33,10 @@ public class DhApiMultiplayerConfig implements IDhApiMultiplayerConfig
 	
 	
 	
-	public IDhApiConfigValue<EDhApiServerFolderNameMode> folderSavingMode()
+	@Override public IDhApiConfigValue<EDhApiServerFolderNameMode> folderSavingMode()
 	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<EDhApiServerFolderNameMode, EDhApiServerFolderNameMode>(Config.Client.Advanced.Multiplayer.serverFolderNameMode); }
 	
-	public IDhApiConfigValue<Double> multiverseSimilarityRequirement()
+	@Override public IDhApiConfigValue<Double> multiverseSimilarityRequirement()
 	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<Double, Double>(Config.Client.Advanced.Multiplayer.multiverseSimilarityRequiredPercent); }
 	
 }
@@ -0,0 +1,87 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.external.methods.data;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.data.IDhApiTerrainDataCache;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.fullData.sources.FullDataSourceV2;
+import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.Long2ReferenceOpenHashMap;
+import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.LongSet;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
+
+import java.lang.ref.SoftReference;
+
+public class DhApiTerrainDataCache implements IDhApiTerrainDataCache
+{
+	private final Object modificationLock = new Object();
+	private Long2ReferenceOpenHashMap<SoftReference<FullDataSourceV2>> posToFullDataRef = new Long2ReferenceOpenHashMap<>();
+	
+	private static final Logger LOGGER = LogManager.getLogger(DhApiTerrainDataCache.class.getSimpleName());
+	
+	
+	
+	//==================//
+	// internal methods //
+	//==================//
+	
+	public void add(long pos, FullDataSourceV2 dataSource)
+	{
+		synchronized (this.modificationLock)
+		{
+			this.posToFullDataRef.put(pos, new SoftReference<>(dataSource));
+		}
+	}
+	
+	@Nullable
+	public FullDataSourceV2 get(long pos)
+	{
+		synchronized (this.modificationLock)
+		{
+			SoftReference<FullDataSourceV2> ref = this.posToFullDataRef.get(pos);
+			if (ref != null)
+			{
+				return ref.get();
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				return null;
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	
+	
+	
+	//=============//
+	// API methods //
+	//=============//
+	
+	@Override 
+	public void clear()
+	{
+		synchronized (this.modificationLock)
+		{
+			LongSet keySet = this.posToFullDataRef.keySet();
+			for (long pos : keySet)
+			{
+				SoftReference<FullDataSourceV2> dataRef = this.posToFullDataRef.remove(pos);
+				if (dataRef != null)
+				{
+					FullDataSourceV2 dataSource = dataRef.get();
+					if (dataSource != null)
+					{
+						try
+						{
+							dataSource.close();
+						}
+						catch (Exception e)
+						{
+							LOGGER.warn("Unable to close data source, error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	
+	
+	
+}
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@

 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.external.methods.data;

+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.data.IDhApiTerrainDataCache;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.world.IDhApiLevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.DhApiResult;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.data.DhApiRaycastResult;
@@ -35,6 +36,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.FullDataPointUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.RayCastUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Vec3f;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.AbstractDhWorld;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.IWrapperFactory;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.block.IBlockStateWrapper;
@@ -43,12 +45,12 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRen
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IBiomeWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.ILevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.BitShiftUtil;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Vec3d;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Vec3f;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Vec3i;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Vec3d;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Vec3i;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.LongArrayList;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;

 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException;
@@ -56,9 +58,6 @@ import java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException;

 /**
 * Allows interfacing with the terrain data Distant Horizons has stored.
- *
- * @author James Seibel
- * @version 2022-11-19
 */
 public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 {
@@ -68,12 +67,15 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 	
 	// debugging values
 	private static volatile boolean debugThreadRunning = false;
-	private static String currentDebugBiomeName = "";
-	private static int currentDebugBlockColorInt = -1;
+	private static DhApiTerrainDataCache debugDataCache = new DhApiTerrainDataCache();
 	private static DhApiVec3i currentDebugVec3i = new Vec3i();
 	
 	
 	
+	//=============//
+	// constructor //
+	//=============//
+	
 	private DhApiTerrainDataRepo()
 	{
 		
@@ -86,41 +88,32 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 	//================//
 	
 	@Override
-	public DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint> getSingleDataPointAtBlockPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int blockPosX, int blockPosY, int blockPosZ)
-	{
-		return getTerrainDataAtBlockYPos(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL, blockPosX, blockPosZ), blockPosY);
-	}
+	public DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint> getSingleDataPointAtBlockPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int blockPosX, int blockPosY, int blockPosZ, @Nullable IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache)
+	{ return getTerrainDataAtBlockYPos(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL, blockPosX, blockPosZ), blockPosY, dataCache); }
 	@Override
-	public DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> getColumnDataAtBlockPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int blockPosX, int blockPosZ)
-	{
-		return getTerrainDataColumnArray(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL, blockPosX, blockPosZ), null);
-	}
+	public DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> getColumnDataAtBlockPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int blockPosX, int blockPosZ, @Nullable IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache)
+	{ return getTerrainDataColumnArray(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL, blockPosX, blockPosZ), null, dataCache); }
 	
 	@Override
-	public DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtChunkPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int chunkPosX, int chunkPosZ)
-	{
-		return getTerrainDataOverAreaForPositionDetailLevel(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(LodUtil.CHUNK_DETAIL_LEVEL, chunkPosX, chunkPosZ));
-	}
+	public DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtChunkPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int chunkPosX, int chunkPosZ, @Nullable IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache)
+	{ return getTerrainDataOverAreaForPositionDetailLevel(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(LodUtil.CHUNK_DETAIL_LEVEL, chunkPosX, chunkPosZ), dataCache); }
 	
 	@Override
-	public DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtRegionPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int regionPosX, int regionPosZ)
-	{
-		return getTerrainDataOverAreaForPositionDetailLevel(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(LodUtil.REGION_DETAIL_LEVEL, regionPosX, regionPosZ));
-	}
+	public DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtRegionPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, int regionPosX, int regionPosZ, @Nullable IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache)
+	{ return getTerrainDataOverAreaForPositionDetailLevel(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(LodUtil.REGION_DETAIL_LEVEL, regionPosX, regionPosZ), dataCache); }
 	
 	@Override
-	public DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtDetailLevelAndPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, byte detailLevel, int posX, int posZ)
-	{
-		return getTerrainDataOverAreaForPositionDetailLevel(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(detailLevel, posX, posZ));
-	}
+	public DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getAllTerrainDataAtDetailLevelAndPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, byte detailLevel, int posX, int posZ, @Nullable IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache)
+	{ return getTerrainDataOverAreaForPositionDetailLevel(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(detailLevel, posX, posZ), dataCache); }
+	
 	
 	
 	// private getters //
 	
 	/** Returns a single API terrain datapoint that contains the given Y block position */
-	private static DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint> getTerrainDataAtBlockYPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, DhLodPos requestedColumnPos, Integer blockYPos)
+	private static DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint> getTerrainDataAtBlockYPos(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, DhLodPos requestedColumnPos, Integer blockYPos, @Nullable IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache)
 	{
-		DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> result = getTerrainDataColumnArray(levelWrapper, requestedColumnPos, blockYPos);
+		DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> result = getTerrainDataColumnArray(levelWrapper, requestedColumnPos, blockYPos, dataCache);
 		if (result.success && result.payload.length > 0)
 		{
 			return DhApiResult.createSuccess(result.message, result.payload[0]);
@@ -140,7 +133,9 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 	 *
 	 * will stop and return the in progress data if any errors are encountered.
 	 */
-	private static DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getTerrainDataOverAreaForPositionDetailLevel(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, DhLodPos requestedAreaPos)
+	private static DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> getTerrainDataOverAreaForPositionDetailLevel(
+			IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, DhLodPos requestedAreaPos, 
+			@Nullable IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache)
 	{
 		DhLodPos startingBlockPos = requestedAreaPos.getCornerLodPos(LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
 		int widthOfAreaInBlocks = BitShiftUtil.powerOfTwo(requestedAreaPos.detailLevel);
@@ -154,7 +149,7 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 			for (int z = 0; z < widthOfAreaInBlocks; z++)
 			{
 				DhLodPos blockColumnPos = new DhLodPos(LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL, startingBlockPos.x + x, startingBlockPos.z + z);
-				DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> result = getTerrainDataColumnArray(levelWrapper, blockColumnPos, null);
+				DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> result = getTerrainDataColumnArray(levelWrapper, blockColumnPos, null, dataCache);
 				if (result.success)
 				{
 					returnArray[x][z] = result.payload;
@@ -177,8 +172,15 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 	 * If the ApiResult is successful there will be an array of data. <br>
 	 * The returned array will be empty if no data could be retrieved.
 	 */
-	private static DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> getTerrainDataColumnArray(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, DhLodPos requestedColumnPos, Integer nullableBlockYPos)
+	private static DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> getTerrainDataColumnArray(
+			IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, 
+			DhLodPos requestedColumnPos, Integer nullableBlockYPos, 
+			@Nullable IDhApiTerrainDataCache apiDataCache)
 	{
+		//============//
+		// validation //
+		//============//
+		
 		AbstractDhWorld currentWorld = SharedApi.getAbstractDhWorld();
 		if (currentWorld == null)
 		{
@@ -194,6 +196,15 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 		ILevelWrapper coreLevelWrapper = (ILevelWrapper) levelWrapper;
 		
 		
+		if (!(apiDataCache instanceof DhApiTerrainDataCache))
+		{
+			// custom level wrappers aren't supported,
+			// the API user must get a level wrapper from our code somewhere
+			return DhApiResult.createFail("Unsupported [" + IDhApiTerrainDataCache.class.getSimpleName() + "] implementation, only the core class [" + DhApiTerrainDataCache.class.getSimpleName() + "] is a valid parameter.");
+		}
+		DhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache = (DhApiTerrainDataCache) apiDataCache;
+		
+		
 		IDhLevel level = currentWorld.getLevel(coreLevelWrapper);
 		if (level == null)
 		{
@@ -209,70 +220,96 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 		DhLodPos relativePos = requestedColumnPos.getDhSectionRelativePositionForDetailLevel();
 		
 		
+		
+		//=====================//
+		// get the data source //
+		//=====================//
+		
 		try
 		{
-			// attempt to get/generate the data source for this section
-			FullDataSourceV2 dataSource = level.getFullDataProvider().getAsync(sectionPos).get();
+			FullDataSourceV2 dataSource = null;
+			
+			// try using the cached data if possible
+			if (dataCache != null)
+			{
+				dataSource = dataCache.get(sectionPos);
+			}
+			
 			if (dataSource == null)
 			{
-				return DhApiResult.createFail("Unable to find/generate any data at the " + DhSectionPos.class.getSimpleName() + " [" + DhSectionPos.toString(sectionPos) + "].");
-			}
-			else
-			{
-				// attempt to get the LOD data from the data source
-				FullDataPointIdMap mapping = dataSource.mapping;
-				LongArrayList dataColumn = dataSource.get(relativePos.x, relativePos.z);
-				if (dataColumn != null)
+				// attempt to get/generate the data source for this section
+				dataSource = level.getFullDataProvider().getAsync(sectionPos).get();
+				if (dataSource == null)
 				{
-					int dataColumnIndexCount = dataColumn.size();
-					DhApiTerrainDataPoint[] returnArray = new DhApiTerrainDataPoint[dataColumnIndexCount];
-					long dataPoint;
-					
-					boolean getSpecificYCoordinate = nullableBlockYPos != null;
-					int levelMinimumHeight = levelWrapper.getMinHeight();
+					return DhApiResult.createFail("Unable to find/generate any data at the " + DhSectionPos.class.getSimpleName() + " [" + DhSectionPos.toString(sectionPos) + "].");
+				}
+				dataCache.add(sectionPos, dataSource);
+			}
 			
 			
-					// search for a datapoint that contains the block y position
-					for (int i = 0; i < dataColumnIndexCount; i++)
+			
+			//===============================//
+			// get LOD data from data source //
+			//===============================//
+			
+			FullDataPointIdMap mapping = dataSource.mapping;
+			LongArrayList dataColumn = dataSource.get(relativePos.x, relativePos.z);
+			if (dataColumn != null)
+			{
+				int dataColumnIndexCount = dataColumn.size();
+				DhApiTerrainDataPoint[] returnArray = new DhApiTerrainDataPoint[dataColumnIndexCount];
+				long dataPoint;
+				
+				boolean getSpecificYCoordinate = nullableBlockYPos != null;
+				int levelMinimumHeight = levelWrapper.getMinHeight();
+				
+				
+				// search for a datapoint that contains the block y position
+				for (int i = 0; i < dataColumnIndexCount; i++)
+				{
+					dataPoint = dataColumn.getLong(i);
+					
+					if (!getSpecificYCoordinate)
 					{
-						dataPoint = dataColumn.getLong(i);
+						// if we aren't look for a specific datapoint, add each datapoint to the return array
+						returnArray[i] = generateApiDatapoint(levelWrapper, mapping, requestedDetailLevel, dataPoint);
+					}
+					else
+					{
+						// we are looking for a specific datapoint,
+						// don't look at null ones
+						if (dataPoint != 0)
+						{
+							int requestedY = nullableBlockYPos;
+							int bottomY = FullDataPointUtil.getBottomY(dataPoint) + levelMinimumHeight;
+							int height = FullDataPointUtil.getHeight(dataPoint);
+							int topY = bottomY + height;
 							
-						if (!getSpecificYCoordinate)
-						{
-							// if we aren't look for a specific datapoint, add each datapoint to the return array
-							returnArray[i] = generateApiDatapoint(levelWrapper, mapping, requestedDetailLevel, dataPoint);
-						}
-						else
-						{
-							// we are looking for a specific datapoint,
-							// don't look at null ones
-							if (dataPoint != 0)
+							// does this datapoint contain the requested Y position? 
+							if (bottomY <= requestedY && requestedY < topY) // blockPositions start from the bottom of the block, thus "<=" for bottomY, just "<" for topY
 							{
-								int requestedY = nullableBlockYPos;
-								int bottomY = FullDataPointUtil.getBottomY(dataPoint) + levelMinimumHeight;
-								int height = FullDataPointUtil.getHeight(dataPoint);
-								int topY = bottomY + height;
-								
-								// does this datapoint contain the requested Y position? 
-								if (bottomY <= requestedY && requestedY < topY) // blockPositions start from the bottom of the block, thus "<=" for bottomY, just "<" for topY
-								{
-									// this datapoint contains the requested block position, return it
-									DhApiTerrainDataPoint apiTerrainData = generateApiDatapoint(levelWrapper, mapping, requestedDetailLevel, dataPoint);
-									return DhApiResult.createSuccess(new DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]{apiTerrainData});
-								}
+								// this datapoint contains the requested block position, return it
+								DhApiTerrainDataPoint apiTerrainData = generateApiDatapoint(levelWrapper, mapping, requestedDetailLevel, dataPoint);
+								return DhApiResult.createSuccess(new DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]{apiTerrainData});
 							}
 						}
 					}
-					
-					// return all collected data
-					return DhApiResult.createSuccess(returnArray);
 				}
 				
-				// the requested data wasn't present in this column (and/or the column wasn't able to be accessed/generated)
-				return DhApiResult.createSuccess(new DhApiTerrainDataPoint[0]);
+				// return all collected data
+				return DhApiResult.createSuccess(returnArray);
 			}
+			
+			// the requested data wasn't present in this column (and/or the column wasn't able to be accessed/generated)
+			return DhApiResult.createSuccess(new DhApiTerrainDataPoint[0]);
 		}
 		catch (InterruptedException | ExecutionException e)
+		{
+			// shouldn't normally happen, but just in case
+			LOGGER.error("getTerrainDataColumnArray operation canceled. Error: [" + e.getMessage() + "]", e);
+			return DhApiResult.createFail("Operation cancled before it could complete: [" + e.getMessage() + "].");
+		}
+		catch (Exception e)
 		{
 			// shouldn't normally happen, but just in case
 			LOGGER.error("Unexpected exception in getTerrainDataColumnArray. Error: [" + e.getMessage() + "]", e);
@@ -289,9 +326,10 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 		int height = FullDataPointUtil.getHeight(dataPoint);
 		int topY = bottomY + height;
 		
-		return new DhApiTerrainDataPoint(detailLevel,
+		return DhApiTerrainDataPoint.create(
+				detailLevel,
 				FullDataPointUtil.getBlockLight(dataPoint), FullDataPointUtil.getSkyLight(dataPoint),
-				topY, bottomY,
+				bottomY, topY,
 				blockState, biomeWrapper);
 	}
 	
@@ -306,9 +344,11 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 			IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper,
 			double rayOriginX, double rayOriginY, double rayOriginZ,
 			float rayDirectionX, float rayDirectionY, float rayDirectionZ,
-			int maxRayBlockLength)
+			int maxRayBlockLength,
+			@Nullable
+			IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache)
 	{
-		return this.raycastLodData(levelWrapper, new Vec3d(rayOriginX, rayOriginY, rayOriginZ), new Vec3f(rayDirectionX, rayDirectionY, rayDirectionZ), maxRayBlockLength);
+		return this.raycastLodData(levelWrapper, new Vec3d(rayOriginX, rayOriginY, rayOriginZ), new Vec3f(rayDirectionX, rayDirectionY, rayDirectionZ), maxRayBlockLength, dataCache);
 	}
 	
 	/**
@@ -317,12 +357,17 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 	 * Works by walking through the world and attempting to get the LOD <br>
 	 * data present at each step.
 	 */
-	private DhApiResult<DhApiRaycastResult> raycastLodData(IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, Vec3d rayOrigin, Vec3f rayDirection, int maxRayBlockLength)
+	private DhApiResult<DhApiRaycastResult> raycastLodData(
+			IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper, 
+			Vec3d rayOrigin, Vec3f rayDirection, 
+			int maxRayBlockLength,
+			@Nullable
+			IDhApiTerrainDataCache dataCache)
 	{
 		rayDirection.normalize();
 		
 		int minBlockHeight = levelWrapper.getMinHeight();
-		int maxBlockHeight = levelWrapper.getHeight();
+		int maxBlockHeight = levelWrapper.getMaxHeight();
 		
 		
 		
@@ -346,7 +391,7 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 			for (Vec3i columnPos : columnPositions)
 			{
 				// check each column
-				DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> result = this.getColumnDataAtBlockPos(levelWrapper, columnPos.x, columnPos.z);
+				DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> result = this.getColumnDataAtBlockPos(levelWrapper, columnPos.x, columnPos.z, dataCache);
 				if (!result.success)
 				{
 					// if there was an error, stop and return it
@@ -414,7 +459,7 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 	 */
 	private static ArrayList<Vec3i> getIntersectingColumnsAtPosition(Vec3i rayEndingPos, Vec3f rayDirection)
 	{
-		ArrayList<Vec3i> returnList = new ArrayList<Vec3i>(9);
+		ArrayList<Vec3i> returnList = new ArrayList<>(9);
 		
 		for (int x = -1; x <= 1; x++)
 		{
@@ -469,6 +514,15 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 	
 	
 	
+	//=============//
+	// API helpers //
+	//=============//
+	
+	@Override
+	public IDhApiTerrainDataCache getSoftCache() { return new DhApiTerrainDataCache(); }
+	
+	
+	
 	//===============//
 	// debug methods //
 	//===============//
@@ -485,15 +539,15 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 			Thread thread = new Thread(() -> {
 				try
 				{
-					DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint> single = getTerrainDataAtBlockYPos(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL, blockPosX, blockPosZ), blockPosY);
-					DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> column = getTerrainDataColumnArray(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL, blockPosX, blockPosZ), null);
+					DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint> single = getTerrainDataAtBlockYPos(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL, blockPosX, blockPosZ), blockPosY, debugDataCache);
+					DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[]> column = getTerrainDataColumnArray(levelWrapper, new DhLodPos(LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL, blockPosX, blockPosZ), null, debugDataCache);
 					
 					DhLodPos chunkPos = new DhLodPos(LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL, blockPosX, blockPosZ).convertToDetailLevel(LodUtil.CHUNK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
-					DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> area = getTerrainDataOverAreaForPositionDetailLevel(levelWrapper, chunkPos);
+					DhApiResult<DhApiTerrainDataPoint[][][]> area = getTerrainDataOverAreaForPositionDetailLevel(levelWrapper, chunkPos, debugDataCache);
 					
 					
 					IMinecraftRenderWrapper MC_RENDER = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftRenderWrapper.class);
-					DhApiResult<DhApiRaycastResult> rayCast = INSTANCE.raycastLodData(levelWrapper, MC_RENDER.getCameraExactPosition(), MC_RENDER.getLookAtVector(), 1000);
+					DhApiResult<DhApiRaycastResult> rayCast = INSTANCE.raycastLodData(levelWrapper, MC_RENDER.getCameraExactPosition(), MC_RENDER.getLookAtVector(), 1000, debugDataCache);
 					if (rayCast.payload != null && !rayCast.payload.pos.equals(currentDebugVec3i))
 					{
 						currentDebugVec3i = rayCast.payload.pos;
@@ -23,39 +23,43 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.DhApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiRenderPass;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents.*;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiRenderParam;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IKeyedClientLevelManager;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.structure.ClientOnlySaveStructure;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhChunkPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.DhApiRenderProxy;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.TimerUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.Pair;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.*;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.DependencyInjection.ApiEventInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhClientLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.messages.AbstractNetworkMessage;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.session.NetworkSession;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiDebugRendering;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiRendererMode;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IServerKeyedClientLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.ConfigBasedLogger;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.ConfigBasedSpamLogger;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.SpamReducedLogger;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.math.Mat4f;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Mat4f;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.glObject.GLProxy;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.TestRenderer;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.RenderUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.AbstractDhWorld;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.DhClientServerWorld;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.DhClientWorld;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.IDhClientWorld;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.chunk.IChunkWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IProfilerWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
-//import io.netty.buffer.ByteBuf;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger;
-import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.lwjgl.glfw.GLFW;

-import java.util.HashMap;
-import java.util.HashSet;
-import java.util.Queue;
+import java.io.File;
+import java.util.*;
 import java.util.concurrent.LinkedBlockingQueue;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;

@@ -71,15 +75,14 @@ public class ClientApi
 	public static boolean prefLoggerEnabled = false;
 	
 	public static final ClientApi INSTANCE = new ClientApi();
-	public static TestRenderer testRenderer = new TestRenderer();
+	public static final TestRenderer TEST_RENDERER = new TestRenderer();
 	
-	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
-	private static final IMinecraftRenderWrapper MC_RENDER = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftRenderWrapper.class);
-	private static final IKeyedClientLevelManager KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IKeyedClientLevelManager.class);
+	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC_CLIENT = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
 	
 	public static final long SPAM_LOGGER_FLUSH_NS = TimeUnit.NANOSECONDS.convert(1, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
 	
 	private boolean configOverrideReminderPrinted = false;
+	private boolean lowMemoryWarningPrinted = false;
 	
 	private final Queue<String> chatMessageQueueForNextFrame = new LinkedBlockingQueue<>();
 	
@@ -87,10 +90,11 @@ public class ClientApi
 	
 	private long lastFlushNanoTime = 0;
 	
-	private boolean isServerCommunicationEnabled = false;
+	private final ClientPluginChannelApi pluginChannelApi = new ClientPluginChannelApi(this::clientLevelLoadEvent, this::clientLevelUnloadEvent);
 	
-	/** set to true if any unexpected responses are received from the server */
-	private boolean serverNetworkingIsMalformed = false;
+	/** Delay loading the first level to give the server some time to respond with level to actually load */
+	private Timer firstLevelLoadTimer;
+	private static final long FIRST_LEVEL_LOAD_DELAY_IN_MS = 1_000;
 	
 	/** Holds any levels that were loaded before the {@link ClientApi#onClientOnlyConnected} was fired. */
 	public final HashSet<IClientLevelWrapper> waitingClientLevels = new HashSet<>();
@@ -124,14 +128,36 @@ public class ClientApi
 	public synchronized void onClientOnlyConnected()
 	{
 		// only continue if the client is connected to a different server
-		if (MC.clientConnectedToDedicatedServer())
+		boolean connectedToServer = MC_CLIENT.clientConnectedToDedicatedServer();
+		boolean connectedToReplay = MC_CLIENT.connectedToReplay();
+		if (connectedToServer || connectedToReplay)
 		{
-			LOGGER.info("Client on ClientOnly mode connecting.");
+			if (connectedToServer)
+			{
+				LOGGER.info("Client on ClientOnly mode connecting.");
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				LOGGER.info("Replay on ClientServer mode connecting.");
+				
+				if (Config.Client.Advanced.Logging.showReplayWarningOnStartup.get())
+				{
+					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("\u00A76" + "Distant Horizons: Replay detected." + "\u00A7r"); // gold color
+					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("DH may behave strangely or have missing functionality.");
+					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("In order to use pre-generated LODs, put your DH database(s) in:");
+					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("\u00A77"+".Minecraft" + File.separator + ClientOnlySaveStructure.SERVER_DATA_FOLDER_NAME + File.separator + ClientOnlySaveStructure.REPLAY_SERVER_FOLDER_NAME + File.separator + "DIMENSION_NAME"+"\u00A7r"); // light gray color
+					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("This can be disabled in DH's config under Advanced -> Logging.");
+					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("");
+				}
+			}
 			
 			// firing after clientLevelLoadEvent
 			// TODO if level has prepped to load it should fire level load event
-			SharedApi.setDhWorld(new DhClientWorld());
+			DhClientWorld world = new DhClientWorld();
+			SharedApi.setDhWorld(world);
 			
+			this.pluginChannelApi.onJoinServer(world.networkState.getSession());
+			world.networkState.sendConfigMessage();
 			
 			LOGGER.info("Loading [" + this.waitingClientLevels.size() + "] waiting client level wrappers.");
 			for (IClientLevelWrapper level : this.waitingClientLevels)
@@ -146,6 +172,13 @@ public class ClientApi
 	/** Synchronized to prevent a rare issue where multiple disconnect events are triggered on top of each other. */
 	public synchronized void onClientOnlyDisconnected()
 	{
+		// clear the first time timer
+		if (this.firstLevelLoadTimer != null)
+		{
+			this.firstLevelLoadTimer.cancel();
+			this.firstLevelLoadTimer = null;
+		}
+		
 		AbstractDhWorld world = SharedApi.getAbstractDhWorld();
 		if (world != null)
 		{
@@ -155,11 +188,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 			SharedApi.setDhWorld(null);
 		}
 		
-		// clear the previous server's information
-		this.isServerCommunicationEnabled = false;
-		this.serverNetworkingIsMalformed = false;
-		KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER.setUseOverrideWrapper(false);
-		KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER.setServerKeyedLevel(null);
+		this.pluginChannelApi.reset();
 		
 		// remove any waiting items
 		this.waitingChunkByClientLevelAndPos.clear();
@@ -172,16 +201,16 @@ public class ClientApi
 	// level events //
 	//==============//
 	
-	public void clientLevelUnloadEvent(@Nullable IClientLevelWrapper level)
+	public void clientLevelUnloadEvent(IClientLevelWrapper level)
 	{
 		try
 		{
-			if (level == null)
+			LOGGER.info("Unloading client level [" + level + "]-["+level.getDimensionName()+"].");
+			
+			if (level instanceof IServerKeyedClientLevel)
 			{
-				// can happen on certain multiverse servers
-				return;
+				this.pluginChannelApi.onClientLevelUnload();
 			}
-			LOGGER.info("Unloading client level [" + level + "]-["+level.getDimensionType().getDimensionName()+"].");
 			
 			AbstractDhWorld world = SharedApi.getAbstractDhWorld();
 			if (world != null)
@@ -201,30 +230,42 @@ public class ClientApi
 		}
 	}
 	
-	public void clientLevelLoadEvent(@Nullable IClientLevelWrapper level) { this.clientLevelLoadEvent(level, false); }
-	public void multiverseClientLevelLoadEvent(@Nullable IClientLevelWrapper level) { this.clientLevelLoadEvent(level, true); }
-	private void clientLevelLoadEvent(@Nullable IClientLevelWrapper level, boolean isServerCommunication)
+	public void clientLevelLoadEvent(IClientLevelWrapper level)
 	{
+		// wait a moment before loading the level to give the server a chance to handle the client's login request
+		if (MC_CLIENT.clientConnectedToDedicatedServer())
+		{
+			if (this.firstLevelLoadTimer == null)
+			{
+				this.firstLevelLoadTimer = TimerUtil.CreateTimer("FirstLevelLoadTimer");
+				this.firstLevelLoadTimer.schedule(new TimerTask()
+				{
+					@Override
+					public void run() { ClientApi.this.clientLevelLoadEvent(level); }
+				}, FIRST_LEVEL_LOAD_DELAY_IN_MS);
+				return;
+			}
+			this.firstLevelLoadTimer.cancel();
+		}
+		
+		
 		try
 		{
-			if (this.isServerCommunicationEnabled && !isServerCommunication)
-			{
-				LOGGER.info("Server supports communication, deferring loading.");
-				return;
-			}
-			if (level == null)
-			{
-				// can happen on certain multiverse servers
-				return;
-			}
-			
-			
-			
-			LOGGER.info("Loading " + (isServerCommunication ? "Multiverse" : "") + " client level [" + level + "]-["+level.getDimensionType().getDimensionName()+"].");
+			LOGGER.info("Loading client level [" + level + "]-["+level.getDimensionName()+"].");
 			
 			AbstractDhWorld world = SharedApi.getAbstractDhWorld();
 			if (world != null)
 			{
+				if (!this.pluginChannelApi.allowLevelLoading(level))
+				{
+					LOGGER.info("Levels in this connection are managed by the server, skipping auto-load.");
+					
+					// Instead of attempting to load themselves, send the config and wait for a server provided level key.
+					((DhClientWorld) world).networkState.sendConfigMessage();
+					return;
+				}
+				
+				
 				world.getOrLoadLevel(level);
 				ApiEventInjector.INSTANCE.fireAllEvents(DhApiLevelLoadEvent.class, new DhApiLevelLoadEvent.EventParam(level));
 				
@@ -273,7 +314,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 	{
 		LOGGER.info("Renderer shutting down.");
 		
-		IProfilerWrapper profiler = MC.getProfiler();
+		IProfilerWrapper profiler = MC_CLIENT.getProfiler();
 		profiler.push("DH-RendererShutdown");
 		
 		profiler.pop();
@@ -283,7 +324,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 	{
 		LOGGER.info("Renderer starting up.");
 		
-		IProfilerWrapper profiler = MC.getProfiler();
+		IProfilerWrapper profiler = MC_CLIENT.getProfiler();
 		profiler.push("DH-RendererStartup");
 		
 		// make sure the GLProxy is created before the LodBufferBuilder needs it
@@ -293,7 +334,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 	
 	public void clientTickEvent()
 	{
-		IProfilerWrapper profiler = MC.getProfiler();
+		IProfilerWrapper profiler = MC_CLIENT.getProfiler();
 		profiler.push("DH-ClientTick");
 		
 		try
@@ -315,7 +356,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 				// Ignore local world gen, as it's managed by server ticking
 				if (!(clientWorld instanceof DhClientServerWorld))
 				{
-					SharedApi.worldGenTick(clientWorld::doWorldGen);
+					SharedApi.worldGenTick(clientWorld::worldGenTick);
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -334,123 +375,14 @@ public class ClientApi
 	// networking //
 	//============//
 	
-//	/** @param byteBuf is Netty's {@link ByteBuffer} wrapper. */
-//	public void serverMessageReceived(ByteBuf byteBuf)
-//	{
-//		if (!Config.Client.Advanced.Multiplayer.enableMultiverseNetworking.get())
-//		{
-//			// multiverse networking disabled, ignore anything sent from the server
-//			return;
-//		}
-//		
-//		
-//		
-//		// either value can be set to true to debug the received byte stream
-//		boolean stopAndDisplayInputAsByteArray = false;
-//		boolean stopAndDisplayInputAsString = false;
-//		if (stopAndDisplayInputAsByteArray || stopAndDisplayInputAsString)
-//		{
-//			String messageString = "";
-//			if (stopAndDisplayInputAsByteArray)
-//			{
-//				int byteCount = byteBuf.readableBytes();
-//				byte[] arr = new byte[byteCount];
-//				StringBuilder stringBuilder = new StringBuilder("Server message received: [");
-//				for (int i = 0; i < byteCount; i++)
-//				{
-//					arr[i] = byteBuf.readByte();
-//					stringBuilder.append(arr[i]);
-//				}
-//				stringBuilder.append("]");
-//				
-//				messageString = stringBuilder.toString();
-//			}
-//			else if (stopAndDisplayInputAsString)
-//			{
-//				messageString = byteBuf.toString(StandardCharsets.UTF_8);
-//			}
-//			
-//			// this is logged as an error so it is easier to see in an Intellij log
-//			LOGGER.error(messageString);
-//			return;
-//		}
-//		
-//		
-//		
-//		
-//		// It is important to ensure malicious server input is ignored.
-//		if (this.serverNetworkingIsMalformed)
-//		{
-//			return;
-//		}
-//		
-//		// check that the incoming message is within the expected size
-//		short commandLength = byteBuf.readShort();
-//		if (commandLength < 1 || commandLength > 32)
-//		{
-//			LOGGER.error("Server command length ["+commandLength+"] outside the expected range of 1 to 32 (inclusive).");
-//			ClientApi.INSTANCE.serverNetworkingIsMalformed = true;
-//			return;
-//		}
-//		
-//		// parse the command
-//		String eventType;
-//		try
-//		{
-//			eventType = byteBuf.readCharSequence(commandLength, StandardCharsets.UTF_8).toString();
-//		}
-//		catch (Exception e)
-//		{
-//			LOGGER.error("Server sent un-parsable command. Error: "+e.getMessage());
-//			return;
-//		}
-//		
-//		switch (eventType)
-//		{
-//			case "ServerCommsEnabled":
-//				LOGGER.info("Server supports DH multiverse protocol.");
-//				ClientApi.INSTANCE.isServerCommunicationEnabled = true;
-//				KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER.setUseOverrideWrapper(true);
-//				MC.executeOnRenderThread(() -> 
-//				{
-//					// Unload the current world, since it may be wrong.
-//					// A followup WorldChanged event should be received from the server soon after this.
-//					LOGGER.info("Unloading current client level so the server can define the correct multiverse level.");
-//					this.clientLevelUnloadEvent((IClientLevelWrapper) MC.getWrappedClientWorld());
-//				});
-//				break;
-//			
-//			case "LevelChanged":
-//				short levelKeyLength = byteBuf.readShort();
-//				if (levelKeyLength < 1 || levelKeyLength > 128) // TODO 128 should be put into a constant somewhere
-//				{
-//					LOGGER.error("Server [LevelChanged] command length ["+commandLength+"] outside the expected range of 1 to 128 (inclusive).");
-//					this.serverNetworkingIsMalformed = true;
-//					return;
-//				}
-//				
-//				String levelKey = byteBuf.readCharSequence(levelKeyLength, StandardCharsets.UTF_8).toString();
-//				if (!levelKey.matches("[a-zA-Z0-9_]+"))
-//				{
-//					LOGGER.error("Server sent invalid world key name, and is being ignored.");
-//					this.isServerCommunicationEnabled = false;
-//					this.serverNetworkingIsMalformed = true;
-//					return;
-//				}
-//				
-//				LOGGER.info("Server level change event received, changing the level to ["+levelKey+"].");
-//				MC.executeOnRenderThread(() -> {
-//					if (MC.getWrappedClientWorld() != null)
-//					{
-//						this.clientLevelUnloadEvent((IClientLevelWrapper) MC.getWrappedClientWorld());
-//					}
-//					IServerKeyedClientLevel clientLevel = KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER.getServerKeyedLevel(MC.getWrappedClientWorld(), levelKey);
-//					KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER.setServerKeyedLevel(clientLevel);
-//					this.multiverseClientLevelLoadEvent(clientLevel);
-//				});
-//				break;
-//		}
-//	}
+	public void pluginMessageReceived(@NotNull AbstractNetworkMessage message)
+	{
+		NetworkSession networkSession = this.pluginChannelApi.networkSession;
+		if (networkSession != null)
+		{
+			networkSession.tryHandleMessage(message);
+		}
+	}
 	
 	
 	
@@ -475,31 +407,9 @@ public class ClientApi
 	{
 		// logging //
 		
-		// dev build
-		if (ModInfo.IS_DEV_BUILD && !this.configOverrideReminderPrinted && MC.playerExists())
-		{
-			this.configOverrideReminderPrinted = true;
+		this.sendQueuedChatMessages();
 		
-			// remind the user that this is a development build
-			MC.sendChatMessage("Distant Horizons nightly/unstable build, version: [" + ModInfo.VERSION+"].");
-			MC.sendChatMessage("Issues may occur with this version.");
-			MC.sendChatMessage("Here be dragons!");
-			MC.sendChatMessage("");
-		}
-		
-		// generic messages
-		while (!this.chatMessageQueueForNextFrame.isEmpty())
-		{
-			String message = this.chatMessageQueueForNextFrame.poll();
-			if (message == null)
-			{
-				// done to prevent potential null pointers
-				message = "";
-			}
-			MC.sendChatMessage(message);
-		}
-		
-		IProfilerWrapper profiler = MC.getProfiler();
+		IProfilerWrapper profiler = MC_CLIENT.getProfiler();
 		profiler.pop(); // get out of "terrain"
 		profiler.push("DH-RenderLevel");
 		
@@ -550,10 +460,24 @@ public class ClientApi
 			{
 				return;
 			}
-			IDhClientLevel level = dhClientWorld.getOrLoadClientLevel(levelWrapper);
+			
+			IDhClientLevel level = (IDhClientLevel) dhClientWorld.getLevel(levelWrapper);
+			if (level == null)
+			{
+				return;
+			}
+			
 			
 			if (this.rendererDisabledBecauseOfExceptions)
 			{
+				// re-enable rendering if the user toggles DH rendering
+				if (!Config.Client.quickEnableRendering.get())
+				{
+					LOGGER.info("DH Renderer re-enabled after exception. Some rendering issues may occur. Please reboot Minecraft if you see any rendering issues.");
+					this.rendererDisabledBecauseOfExceptions = false;
+					Config.Client.quickEnableRendering.set(true);
+				}
+				
 				return;
 			}
 			
@@ -573,13 +497,13 @@ public class ClientApi
 					
 					if (!DhApi.Delayed.renderProxy.getDeferTransparentRendering())
 					{
-						ApiEventInjector.INSTANCE.fireAllEvents(DhApiAfterRenderEvent.class, renderEventParam);
+						ApiEventInjector.INSTANCE.fireAllEvents(DhApiAfterRenderEvent.class, null);
 					}
 				}
 				else if (Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.rendererMode.get() == EDhApiRendererMode.DEBUG)
 				{
 					profiler.push("Render Debug");
-					ClientApi.testRenderer.render();
+					ClientApi.TEST_RENDERER.render();
 					profiler.pop();
 				}
 			}
@@ -594,7 +518,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 				
 				if (DhApi.Delayed.renderProxy.getDeferTransparentRendering())
 				{
-					ApiEventInjector.INSTANCE.fireAllEvents(DhApiAfterRenderEvent.class, renderEventParam);
+					ApiEventInjector.INSTANCE.fireAllEvents(DhApiAfterRenderEvent.class, null);
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -603,12 +527,24 @@ public class ClientApi
 			this.rendererDisabledBecauseOfExceptions = true;
 			LOGGER.error("Unexpected Renderer error in render pass [" + renderPass + "]. Error: " + e.getMessage(), e);
 			
-			MC.sendChatMessage("\u00A74\u00A7l\u00A7uERROR: Distant Horizons renderer has encountered an exception!");
-			MC.sendChatMessage("\u00A74Renderer is now disabled to prevent further issues.");
-			MC.sendChatMessage("\u00A74Exception detail: " + e);
+			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("\u00A74\u00A7l\u00A7uERROR: Distant Horizons renderer has encountered an exception!");
+			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("\u00A74Renderer disabled to try preventing GL state corruption.");
+			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("\u00A74Toggle DH rendering via the config UI to re-activate DH rendering.");
+			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("\u00A74Error: " + e);
 		}
 		finally
 		{
+			try
+			{
+				// these tasks always need to be called, regardless of whether the renderer is enabled or not to prevent memory leaks
+				GLProxy.getInstance().runRenderThreadTasks();
+			}
+			catch (Exception e)
+			{
+				LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue running render thread tasks.", e);
+			}
+			
+			
 			profiler.pop(); // end LOD
 			profiler.push("terrain"); // go back into "terrain"
 		}
@@ -634,17 +570,68 @@ public class ClientApi
 		if (glfwKey == GLFW.GLFW_KEY_F8)
 		{
 			Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.debugRendering.set(EDhApiDebugRendering.next(Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.debugRendering.get()));
-			MC.sendChatMessage("F8: Set debug mode to " + Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.debugRendering.get());
+			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("F8: Set debug mode to " + Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.debugRendering.get());
 		}
 		else if (glfwKey == GLFW.GLFW_KEY_F6)
 		{
 			Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.rendererMode.set(EDhApiRendererMode.next(Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.rendererMode.get()));
-			MC.sendChatMessage("F6: Set rendering to " + Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.rendererMode.get());
+			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("F6: Set rendering to " + Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.rendererMode.get());
 		}
 		else if (glfwKey == GLFW.GLFW_KEY_P)
 		{
 			prefLoggerEnabled = !prefLoggerEnabled;
-			MC.sendChatMessage("P: Debug Pref Logger is " + (prefLoggerEnabled ? "enabled" : "disabled"));
+			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("P: Debug Pref Logger is " + (prefLoggerEnabled ? "enabled" : "disabled"));
+		}
+	}
+	
+	private void sendQueuedChatMessages()
+	{
+		// dev build
+		if (ModInfo.IS_DEV_BUILD && !this.configOverrideReminderPrinted && MC_CLIENT.playerExists())
+		{
+			this.configOverrideReminderPrinted = true;
+			
+			// remind the user that this is a development build
+			String message = 
+					// green text
+					"\u00A72" + "Distant Horizons: nightly/unstable build, version: [" + ModInfo.VERSION+"]." + "\u00A7r\n" +
+					"Issues may occur with this version.\n" +
+					"Here be dragons!\n";
+			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage(message);
+		}
+		
+		// memory
+		if (!this.lowMemoryWarningPrinted && Config.Client.Advanced.Logging.showLowMemoryWarningOnStartup.get())
+		{
+			this.lowMemoryWarningPrinted = true;
+			
+			// 4 GB
+			long minimumRecommendedMemoryInBytes = 4L * 1_000_000_000L;
+			
+			// Java returned 17,171,480,576 for 16 GB so it might be slightly off what you'd expect
+			long maxMemoryInBytes = Runtime.getRuntime().maxMemory();
+			if (maxMemoryInBytes < minimumRecommendedMemoryInBytes)
+			{
+				String message =
+						// orange text		
+						"\u00A76" + "Distant Horizons: Low memory detected." + "\u00A7r \n" +
+						"Stuttering or low FPS may occur. \n" +
+						"Please increase Minecraft's available memory to 4 gigabytes. \n" +
+						"This warning can be disabled in DH's config under Advanced -> Logging. \n";
+				MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage(message);
+			}
+		}
+		
+		// generic messages
+		while (!this.chatMessageQueueForNextFrame.isEmpty())
+		{
+			String message = this.chatMessageQueueForNextFrame.poll();
+			if (message == null)
+			{
+				// done to prevent potential null pointers
+				message = "";
+			}
+			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage(message);
 		}
 	}
 	
@@ -0,0 +1,134 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IKeyedClientLevelManager;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IServerKeyedClientLevel;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.ConfigBasedLogger;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.event.internal.CloseInternalEvent;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.messages.base.CurrentLevelKeyMessage;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.session.NetworkSession;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
+import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
+import org.checkerframework.checker.nullness.qual.NonNull;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
+
+import java.util.Objects;
+import java.util.function.Consumer;
+
+/**
+ * This class is used to manage the level keys.
+ */
+public class ClientPluginChannelApi
+{
+	private static final ConfigBasedLogger LOGGER = new ConfigBasedLogger(LogManager.getLogger(),
+			() -> Config.Client.Advanced.Logging.logNetworkEvent.get());
+	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
+	private static final IKeyedClientLevelManager KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IKeyedClientLevelManager.class);
+	
+	private final Consumer<IServerKeyedClientLevel> levelLoadHandler;
+	private final Consumer<IClientLevelWrapper> levelUnloadHandler;
+	
+	@Nullable
+	public NetworkSession networkSession;
+	
+	
+	
+	//=============//
+	// constructor //
+	//=============//
+	
+	public ClientPluginChannelApi(Consumer<IServerKeyedClientLevel> levelLoadHandler, Consumer<IClientLevelWrapper> levelUnloadHandler)
+	{
+		this.levelLoadHandler = levelLoadHandler;
+		this.levelUnloadHandler = levelUnloadHandler;
+	}
+	
+	
+	
+	//============//
+	// properties //
+	//============//
+	
+	/** @return true if the level loading is handled by the server */
+	public boolean allowLevelLoading(IClientLevelWrapper level)
+	{
+		return (KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER.hasLevelSet() && level instanceof IServerKeyedClientLevel)
+				|| !KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER.hasLevelSet();
+	}
+	
+	
+	
+	//================//
+	// network events //
+	//================//
+	
+	/** fired when this client connects to a server with DH support */
+	public void onJoinServer(@NonNull NetworkSession networkSession)
+	{
+		Objects.requireNonNull(networkSession);
+		this.networkSession = networkSession;
+		this.networkSession.registerHandler(CurrentLevelKeyMessage.class, this::onCurrentLevelKeyMessage);
+		this.networkSession.registerHandler(CloseInternalEvent.class, this::onClose);
+	}
+	
+	private void onCurrentLevelKeyMessage(CurrentLevelKeyMessage msg)
+	{
+		// prefix@namespace:path
+		// 1-50 characters in total, all parts except namespace can be omitted
+		if (!msg.levelKey.matches("^(?=.{1,50}$)([a-zA-Z0-9-_]+@)?[a-zA-Z0-9-_]+(:[a-zA-Z0-9-_]+)?$"))
+		{
+			throw new IllegalArgumentException("Server sent invalid level key.");
+		}
+		
+		LOGGER.info("Server level key received: [" + msg.levelKey + "].");
+		
+		MC.executeOnRenderThread(() -> 
+		{
+			IClientLevelWrapper clientLevel = MC.getWrappedClientLevel(true);
+			IServerKeyedClientLevel existingKeyedClientLevel = KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER.getServerKeyedLevel();
+
+			if (existingKeyedClientLevel != null)
+			{
+				if (!existingKeyedClientLevel.getServerLevelKey().equals(msg.levelKey))
+				{
+					LOGGER.info("Unloading previous level with key: [" + existingKeyedClientLevel.getServerLevelKey() + "].");
+					this.levelUnloadHandler.accept(existingKeyedClientLevel);
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					LOGGER.info("Level key matches the previous level key, ignoring the message.");
+				}
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				LOGGER.info("Unloading non-keyed level: [" + clientLevel.getDimensionName() + "].");
+				this.levelUnloadHandler.accept(clientLevel);
+			}
+			
+			if (existingKeyedClientLevel == null || !existingKeyedClientLevel.getServerLevelKey().equals(msg.levelKey))
+			{
+				LOGGER.info("Loading level with key: [" + msg.levelKey + "].");
+				IServerKeyedClientLevel keyedLevel = KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER.setServerKeyedLevel(clientLevel, msg.levelKey);
+				this.levelLoadHandler.accept(keyedLevel);
+			}
+		});
+	}
+	
+	public void onClientLevelUnload() { KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER.clearKeyedLevel(); }
+	
+	
+	
+	//==========//
+	// shutdown //
+	//==========//
+	
+	private void onClose(CloseInternalEvent event) { this.reset(); }
+	public void reset()
+	{
+		this.networkSession = null;
+		KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER.clearKeyedLevel();
+	}
+	
+}
@@ -21,13 +21,9 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal;

 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents.DhApiLevelLoadEvent;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents.DhApiLevelUnloadEvent;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.DhLightingEngine;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.ThreadUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.messages.AbstractNetworkMessage;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.misc.IServerPlayerWrapper;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.DependencyInjection.ApiEventInjector;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.AbstractDhWorld;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.DhClientServerWorld;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.DhServerWorld;
@@ -37,6 +33,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.chunk.IChunkWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.ILevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IServerLevelWrapper;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;

 /**
 * This holds the methods that should be called by the host mod loader (Fabric,
@@ -70,7 +67,7 @@ public class ServerApi
 			if (serverWorld != null)
 			{
 				serverWorld.serverTick();
-				SharedApi.worldGenTick(serverWorld::doWorldGen);
+				SharedApi.worldGenTick(serverWorld::worldGenTick);
 			}
 		}
 		catch (Exception e)
@@ -141,7 +138,7 @@ public class ServerApi
 	//=======================//
 	
 	public void serverChunkLoadEvent(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, ILevelWrapper level) { SharedApi.INSTANCE.applyChunkUpdate(chunkWrapper, level, false); }
-	public void serverChunkSaveEvent(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, ILevelWrapper level) { SharedApi.INSTANCE.applyChunkUpdate(chunkWrapper, level, false); }
+	public void serverChunkSaveEvent(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, ILevelWrapper level) { SharedApi.INSTANCE.applyChunkUpdate(chunkWrapper, level, true); }
 	
 	
 	
@@ -154,7 +151,7 @@ public class ServerApi
 		IDhServerWorld serverWorld = SharedApi.getIDhServerWorld();
 		if (serverWorld instanceof DhServerWorld) // TODO add support for DhClientServerWorld's (lan worlds) as well
 		{
-			LOGGER.debug("Waiting for player to connect: " + player.getUUID());
+			LOGGER.info("Player [" + player.getName()+ "] joined.");
 			((DhServerWorld) serverWorld).addPlayer(player);
 		}
 	}
@@ -163,9 +160,27 @@ public class ServerApi
 		IDhServerWorld serverWorld = SharedApi.getIDhServerWorld();
 		if (serverWorld instanceof DhServerWorld) // TODO add support for DhClientServerWorld's (lan worlds) as well
 		{
-			LOGGER.debug("Removing player from connect wait list: " + player.getUUID());
+			LOGGER.info("Player [" + player.getName() + "] disconnected.");
 			((DhServerWorld) serverWorld).removePlayer(player);
 		}
 	}
+	public void serverPlayerLevelChangeEvent(IServerPlayerWrapper player, IServerLevelWrapper originLevel, IServerLevelWrapper destinationLevel)
+	{
+		IDhServerWorld serverWorld = SharedApi.getIDhServerWorld();
+		if (serverWorld instanceof DhServerWorld) // TODO add support for DhClientServerWorld's (lan worlds) as well
+		{
+			LOGGER.info("Player [" + player.getName() + "] changed level: ["+originLevel.getKeyedLevelDimensionName()+"] -> ["+destinationLevel.getKeyedLevelDimensionName()+"].");
+			((DhServerWorld) serverWorld).changePlayerLevel(player, originLevel, destinationLevel);
+		}
+	}
+	
+	public void pluginMessageReceived(IServerPlayerWrapper player, @NotNull AbstractNetworkMessage message)
+	{
+		IDhServerWorld serverWorld = SharedApi.getIDhServerWorld();
+		if (serverWorld instanceof DhServerWorld) // TODO add support for DhClientServerWorld's (lan worlds) as well
+		{
+			((DhServerWorld) serverWorld).remotePlayerConnectionHandler.handlePluginMessage(player, message);
+		}
+	}
 	
 }
@@ -26,28 +26,25 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.DhLightingEngine;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.f3.F3Screen;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhBlockPos2D;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos2D;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhChunkPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.DebugRenderer;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.sql.repo.AbstractDhRepo;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.TimerUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.Pair;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.ThreadPoolUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.*;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.chunk.IChunkWrapper;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.ILevelWrapper;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Logger;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;

-import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.Set;
-import java.util.Timer;
-import java.util.TimerTask;
-import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
-import java.util.concurrent.RejectedExecutionException;
-import java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor;
+import java.util.*;
+import java.util.concurrent.*;
+import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock;

 /** Contains code and variables used by both {@link ClientApi} and {@link ServerApi} */
 public class SharedApi
@@ -56,19 +53,15 @@ public class SharedApi
 	
 	private static final Logger LOGGER = DhLoggerBuilder.getLogger();
 	private static final IMinecraftRenderWrapper MC_RENDER = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftRenderWrapper.class);
-	private static final Set<DhChunkPos> UPDATING_CHUNK_POS_SET = ConcurrentHashMap.newKeySet();
-	/** how many chunks can be queued for updating per thread, used to prevent updates from infinitely pilling up if the user flys around extremely fast */
-	private static final int MAX_UPDATING_CHUNK_COUNT_PER_THREAD = 500;
-	private static final int MIN_MS_BETWEEN_OVERLOADED_LOG_MESSAGE = 5_000;
+	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC_CLIENT = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
 	
-	private static final Timer CHUNK_UPDATE_TIMER = TimerUtil.CreateTimer("ChunkUpdateTimer");
+	private static final UpdateChunkPosManager UPDATE_POS_MANAGER = new UpdateChunkPosManager();
+	/** how many chunks can be queued for updating per thread, used to prevent updates from infinitely pilling up if the user flies around extremely fast */
+	private static final int MAX_UPDATING_CHUNK_COUNT_PER_THREAD = 500;
 	
 	
 	private static AbstractDhWorld currentWorld;
 	private static int lastWorldGenTickDelta = 0;
-	private static long lastOverloadedLogMessageMsTime = 0;
-	
-	public F3Screen.DynamicMessage f3Message;
 	
 	
 	
@@ -76,15 +69,7 @@ public class SharedApi
 	// constructor //
 	//=============//
 	
-	private SharedApi() 
-	{
-		this.f3Message = new F3Screen.DynamicMessage(() ->
-		{
-			int maxUpdateCount = MAX_UPDATING_CHUNK_COUNT_PER_THREAD * Config.Client.Advanced.MultiThreading.numberOfLodBuilderThreads.get();
-			return LodUtil.formatLog("Queued chunk updates: " + UPDATING_CHUNK_POS_SET.size() + " / " + maxUpdateCount);
-		});
-	}
-	
+	private SharedApi() { }
 	public static void init() { Initializer.init(); }
 	
 	
@@ -110,8 +95,10 @@ public class SharedApi
 			ThreadPoolUtil.shutdownThreadPools();
 			DebugRenderer.clearRenderables();
 			MC_RENDER.clearTargetFrameBuffer();
+			// shouldn't be necessary, but if we missed closing one of the connections this should make sure they're all closed
+			AbstractDhRepo.closeAllConnections();
 			// needs to be closed on world shutdown to clear out un-processed chunks
-			UPDATING_CHUNK_POS_SET.clear();
+			UPDATE_POS_MANAGER.clear();
 			
 			// recommend that the garbage collector cleans up any objects from the old world and thread pools
 			System.gc();
@@ -146,25 +133,16 @@ public class SharedApi
 	 * Used to prevent getting a full chunk from MC if it isn't necessary. <br>
 	 * This is important since asking MC for a chunk is slow and may block the render thread.
 	 */
-	public static boolean isChunkAtBlockPosAlreadyUpdating(int blockPosX, int blockPosZ) { return UPDATING_CHUNK_POS_SET.contains(new DhChunkPos(new DhBlockPos2D(blockPosX, blockPosZ))); }
+	public static boolean isChunkAtBlockPosAlreadyUpdating(int blockPosX, int blockPosZ)
+	{ return UPDATE_POS_MANAGER.contains(new DhChunkPos(new DhBlockPos2D(blockPosX, blockPosZ))); }
+	
+	public static boolean isChunkAtChunkPosAlreadyUpdating(int chunkPosX, int chunkPosZ)
+	{ return UPDATE_POS_MANAGER.contains(new DhChunkPos(chunkPosX, chunkPosZ)); }
 	
 	
 	/** handles both block place and break events */
 	public void chunkBlockChangedEvent(IChunkWrapper chunk, ILevelWrapper level) { this.applyChunkUpdate(chunk, level, true); }
-	
 	public void chunkLoadEvent(IChunkWrapper chunk, ILevelWrapper level) { this.applyChunkUpdate(chunk, level, false); }
-	public void chunkUnloadEvent(IChunkWrapper chunk, ILevelWrapper level) 
-	{
-		// temporarily disabled since this was originally incorrectly designated as "chunkSaveEvent"
-		// but didn't actually fire on chunk save
-		// and generally this is unnecessary and drastically reduces LOD building performance
-		// when traveling around the world
-		if (false)
-		{
-			this.applyChunkUpdate(chunk, level, false);
-		}
-	}
-	
 	
 	public void applyChunkUpdate(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, ILevelWrapper level, boolean updateNeighborChunks)
 	{
@@ -208,37 +186,6 @@ public class SharedApi
 		
 		
 		
-		//=====================//
-		// task limiting check //
-		//=====================//
-		
-		int currentQueueCount = UPDATING_CHUNK_POS_SET.size();
-		int maxQueueCount = MAX_UPDATING_CHUNK_COUNT_PER_THREAD * Config.Client.Advanced.MultiThreading.numberOfLodBuilderThreads.get();
-		if (currentQueueCount >= maxQueueCount)
-		{
-			// The maximum number of chunks are already queued, don't add more.
-			// This is done to prevent overloading the system if the user fly's extremely fast and queues too many chunks
-			
-			long msBetweenLastLog = System.currentTimeMillis() - lastOverloadedLogMessageMsTime;
-			if (msBetweenLastLog >= MIN_MS_BETWEEN_OVERLOADED_LOG_MESSAGE)
-			{
-				lastOverloadedLogMessageMsTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
-				LOGGER.warn("Too many chunks queued for updating, max queue count ["+maxQueueCount+"] (["+MAX_UPDATING_CHUNK_COUNT_PER_THREAD+"] per thread). Some LODs may not be updated or may be missing. Please move through the world slower, decrease your vanilla render distance, or increase the CPU load config.");
-			}
-			
-			return;
-		}
-		
-		// prevent duplicate update requests
-		if (UPDATING_CHUNK_POS_SET.contains(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos()))
-		{
-			// this chunk is already being updated
-			return;
-		}
-		UPDATING_CHUNK_POS_SET.add(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos());
-		
-		
-		
 		//===============================//
 		// update the necessary chunk(s) //
 		//===============================//
@@ -247,7 +194,7 @@ public class SharedApi
 		{
 			// only update the center chunk
 			
-			bakeChunkLightingAndSendToLevelAsync(chunkWrapper, null, dhLevel);
+			queueChunkUpdate(chunkWrapper, null, dhLevel);
 		}
 		else
 		{
@@ -268,7 +215,7 @@ public class SharedApi
 					else
 					{
 						// neighboring chunk
-						DhChunkPos neighbourPos = new DhChunkPos(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos().x + xOffset, chunkWrapper.getChunkPos().z + zOffset);
+						DhChunkPos neighbourPos = new DhChunkPos(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos().getX() + xOffset, chunkWrapper.getChunkPos().getZ() + zOffset);
 						IChunkWrapper neighbourChunk = dhLevel.getLevelWrapper().tryGetChunk(neighbourPos);
 						if (neighbourChunk != null)
 						{
@@ -281,89 +228,309 @@ public class SharedApi
 			// light and send the chunks
 			for (IChunkWrapper litChunk : neighbourChunkList)
 			{
-				bakeChunkLightingAndSendToLevelAsync(litChunk, neighbourChunkList, dhLevel);
+				queueChunkUpdate(litChunk, neighbourChunkList, dhLevel);
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	private static void bakeChunkLightingAndSendToLevelAsync(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, @Nullable ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> neighbourChunkList, IDhLevel dhLevel)
+	private static void queueChunkUpdate(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, @Nullable ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> neighbourChunkList, IDhLevel dhLevel)
 	{
-		// lighting the chunk needs to be done on a separate thread to prevent lagging any of the event threads
-		ThreadPoolExecutor executor = ThreadPoolUtil.getLightPopulatorExecutor();
-		if (executor == null)
+		if (MC_CLIENT != null && MC_CLIENT.playerExists())
+		{
+			UPDATE_POS_MANAGER.setCenter(MC_CLIENT.getPlayerChunkPos());
+			UPDATE_POS_MANAGER.maxSize = MAX_UPDATING_CHUNK_COUNT_PER_THREAD * Config.Client.Advanced.MultiThreading.numberOfLodBuilderThreads.get();
+		}
+		
+		UpdateChunkData updateData = new UpdateChunkData(chunkWrapper, neighbourChunkList, dhLevel);
+		UPDATE_POS_MANAGER.addItem(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos(), updateData);
+		
+		
+		
+		// queue updates up to the number of CPU cores allocated for the job
+		// (this prevents doing extra work queuing tasks that may not be necessary)
+		// and makes sure the chunks closest to the player are updated first
+		ThreadPoolExecutor executor = ThreadPoolUtil.getChunkToLodBuilderExecutor();
+		if (executor != null && executor.getQueue().size() < executor.getCorePoolSize())
+		{
+			try
+			{
+				executor.execute(SharedApi::processQueuedChunkUpdate);
+			}
+			catch (RejectedExecutionException ignore)
+			{
+				// the executor was shut down, it should be back up shortly and able to accept new jobs
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	
+	
+	/** returning a {@link CompletableFuture} isn't necessary, but allows Intellij to properly show the full stack trace when debugging. */
+	@SuppressWarnings("UnusedReturnValue")
+	private static void processQueuedChunkUpdate()
+	{
+		//LOGGER.trace(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos() + " " + executor.getActiveCount() + " / " + executor.getQueue().size() + " - " + executor.getCompletedTaskCount());
+		
+		UpdateChunkData updateData = UPDATE_POS_MANAGER.popClosest();
+		if (updateData == null)
 		{
 			return;
 		}
 		
+		IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper = updateData.chunkWrapper;
+		@Nullable ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> neighbourChunkList = updateData.neighbourChunkList;
+		IDhLevel dhLevel = updateData.dhLevel;
+		
+		
 		try
 		{
-			executor.execute(() ->
-			{
-				//LOGGER.trace(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos() + " " + executor.getActiveCount() + " / " + executor.getQueue().size() + " - " + executor.getCompletedTaskCount());
+			boolean checkChunkHash = !Config.Client.Advanced.LodBuilding.disableUnchangedChunkCheck.get();
 			
+			// check if this chunk has been converted into an LOD already
+			int oldChunkHash = dhLevel.getChunkHash(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos()); // shouldn't happen on the render thread since it may take a few moments to run
+			int newChunkHash = chunkWrapper.getBlockBiomeHashCode();
+			if (checkChunkHash)
+			{
+				if (oldChunkHash == newChunkHash)
+				{
+					// if the chunk hashes are the same then we don't need to bother with lighting the chunk
+					// or creating/updating the LODs
+					//LOGGER.info("skipping: "+chunkWrapper.getChunkPos()+" "+newChunkHash);
+					return;
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					//LOGGER.info("g: "+chunkWrapper.getChunkPos()+" "+newChunkHash);
+				}
+			}
+			
+			
+			// having a list of the nearby chunks is needed for lighting and beacon generation
+			ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> nearbyChunkList;
+			if (neighbourChunkList != null)
+			{
+				nearbyChunkList = neighbourChunkList;
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				nearbyChunkList = new ArrayList<>(1);
+				nearbyChunkList.add(chunkWrapper);
+			}
+			
+			
+			// sky lighting is populated later at the data source level
+			DhLightingEngine.INSTANCE.bakeChunkBlockLighting(chunkWrapper, nearbyChunkList, dhLevel.hasSkyLight() ? LodUtil.MAX_MC_LIGHT : LodUtil.MIN_MC_LIGHT);
+			
+			dhLevel.updateBeaconBeamsForChunk(chunkWrapper, nearbyChunkList);
+			dhLevel.updateChunkAsync(chunkWrapper, newChunkHash);
+		}
+		catch (Exception e)
+		{
+			LOGGER.error("Unexpected error when updating chunk at pos: [" + chunkWrapper.getChunkPos() + "]", e);
+		}
+		finally
+		{
+			// queue the next position if there are still positions to process
+			ThreadPoolExecutor executor = ThreadPoolUtil.getChunkToLodBuilderExecutor();
+			if (executor != null && !UPDATE_POS_MANAGER.positionMap.isEmpty())
+			{
 				try
 				{
-					// Save or populate the chunk wrapper's lighting
-					// this is done so we don't have to worry about MC unloading the lighting data for this chunk
-					boolean onlyUseDhLighting = Config.Client.Advanced.LodBuilding.onlyUseDhLightingEngine.get();
-					if (!onlyUseDhLighting && chunkWrapper.isLightCorrect())
-					{
-						try
-						{
-							// If MC's lighting engine isn't thread safe this may cause the server thread to lag
-							chunkWrapper.bakeDhLightingUsingMcLightingEngine();
-						}
-						catch (IllegalStateException e)
-						{
-							LOGGER.warn("Chunk light baking error: " + e.getMessage(), e);
-						}
-					}
-					else
-					{
-						// generate the chunk's lighting, using neighboring chunks if present
-						
-						ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> nearbyChunkList;
-						if (neighbourChunkList != null)
-						{
-							nearbyChunkList = neighbourChunkList;
-						}
-						else
-						{
-							nearbyChunkList = new ArrayList<>(1);
-							nearbyChunkList.add(chunkWrapper);
-						}
-						
-						DhLightingEngine.INSTANCE.lightChunk(chunkWrapper, nearbyChunkList, dhLevel.hasSkyLight() ? 15 : 0);
-					}
-					
-					dhLevel.updateChunkAsync(chunkWrapper);
+					executor.execute(SharedApi::processQueuedChunkUpdate);
 				}
-				catch (Exception e)
+				catch (RejectedExecutionException ignore)
 				{
-					LOGGER.error("Unexpected error when updating chunk at pos: [" + chunkWrapper.getChunkPos() + "]", e);
+					// the executor was shut down, it should be back up shortly and able to accept new jobs
 				}
-				finally
-				{
-					// the LOD chunk has finished being updated
-					int updateTimeoutInSec = Config.Client.Advanced.LodBuilding.minTimeBetweenChunkUpdatesInSeconds.get();
-					if (updateTimeoutInSec != 0)
-					{
-						// prevent updating this chunk again until the timeout finishes
-						CHUNK_UPDATE_TIMER.schedule(new TimerTask()
-						{
-							@Override
-							public void run() { UPDATING_CHUNK_POS_SET.remove(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos()); }
-						}, updateTimeoutInSec * 1000L);
-					}
-					else
-					{
-						// instantly allow this chunk to be updated again
-						UPDATING_CHUNK_POS_SET.remove(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos());
-					}
-				}
-			});
+			}
 		}
-		catch (RejectedExecutionException ignore) { /* the executor was shut down, it should be back up shortly and able to accept new jobs */ }
 	}
 	
 	
+	
+	//=========//
+	// F3 Menu //
+	//=========//
+	
+	public String getDebugMenuString()
+	{
+		String updatingCountStr = F3Screen.NUMBER_FORMAT.format(UPDATE_POS_MANAGER.closestQueue.size());
+		String maxUpdateCountStr = F3Screen.NUMBER_FORMAT.format(UPDATE_POS_MANAGER.maxSize);
+		return "Queued chunk updates: "+updatingCountStr+" / "+maxUpdateCountStr;
+	}
+	
+	
+	
+	//================//
+	// helper classes //
+	//================//
+	
+	/** contains the objects needed to update a chunk */
+	private static class UpdateChunkData
+	{
+		public IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper;
+		@Nullable
+		public ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> neighbourChunkList;
+		public IDhLevel dhLevel;
+		
+		public UpdateChunkData(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, @Nullable ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> neighbourChunkList, IDhLevel dhLevel)
+		{
+			this.chunkWrapper = chunkWrapper;
+			this.neighbourChunkList = neighbourChunkList;
+			this.dhLevel = dhLevel;
+		}
+	}
+	
+	/** keeps track of which chunks need to be updated */
+	private static class UpdateChunkPosManager
+	{
+		private final PriorityQueue<DhChunkPos> closestQueue;
+		private final PriorityQueue<DhChunkPos> furthestQueue;
+		private final HashMap<DhChunkPos, UpdateChunkData> positionMap;
+		
+		private final ReentrantLock lock = new ReentrantLock();
+		
+		private DhChunkPos center;
+		private int maxSize = 500;
+		
+		
+		
+		//=============//
+		// constructor //
+		//=============//
+		
+		public UpdateChunkPosManager()
+		{
+			this.closestQueue = new PriorityQueue<>(Comparator.comparingDouble(pos -> pos.squaredDistance(this.center)));
+			this.furthestQueue = new PriorityQueue<>(Comparator.comparingDouble(pos -> ((DhChunkPos)pos).squaredDistance(this.center)).reversed());
+			this.positionMap = new HashMap<>();
+			// defaulting to 0,0 is fine since it'll be updated once we start adding items 
+			this.center = new DhChunkPos(0, 0);
+		}
+		
+		
+		
+		//==================//
+		// list/set methods //
+		//==================//
+		
+		public boolean contains(DhChunkPos pos)
+		{
+			try
+			{
+				this.lock.lock();
+				
+				return this.positionMap.containsKey(pos);
+			}
+			finally
+			{
+				this.lock.unlock();
+			}
+		}
+		
+		public void clear()
+		{
+			try
+			{
+				this.lock.lock();
+				
+				this.positionMap.clear();
+				this.closestQueue.clear();
+				this.furthestQueue.clear();
+			}
+			finally
+			{
+				this.lock.unlock();
+			}
+		}
+		
+		public void addItem(DhChunkPos pos, UpdateChunkData updateData)
+		{
+			try
+			{
+				this.lock.lock();
+				
+				if (this.positionMap.containsKey(pos))
+				{
+					return;
+				}
+				
+				if (this.positionMap.size() >= this.maxSize)
+				{
+					// Remove item furthest from the center
+					DhChunkPos furthest = this.furthestQueue.poll();
+					this.closestQueue.remove(furthest);
+					this.positionMap.remove(furthest);
+				}
+				
+				this.positionMap.put(pos, updateData);
+				this.closestQueue.add(pos);
+				this.furthestQueue.add(pos);
+			}
+			finally
+			{
+				this.lock.unlock();
+			}
+		}
+		
+		
+		
+		//==================//
+		// position methods //
+		//==================//
+		
+		public void setCenter(DhChunkPos newCenter)
+		{
+			// if the rebuild time takes too long 
+			// (in James' testing a queue of 500 items only took around 0.1 milliseconds)
+			// this equation could be changed to only update after moving 2 or 4 chunks from the center
+			if (newCenter.equals(this.center))
+			{
+				return;
+			}
+			
+			try
+			{
+				this.lock.lock();
+				
+				this.center = newCenter;
+				
+				// rebuild the priority queues to match the new center
+				this.closestQueue.clear();
+				this.furthestQueue.clear();
+				for (DhChunkPos pos : this.positionMap.keySet())
+				{
+					this.closestQueue.add(pos);
+					this.furthestQueue.add(pos);
+				}
+			}
+			finally
+			{
+				this.lock.unlock();
+			}
+		}
+		
+		public UpdateChunkData popClosest()
+		{
+			if (this.closestQueue.isEmpty())
+			{
+				return null;
+			}
+			
+			try
+			{
+				this.lock.lock();
+				
+				DhChunkPos closest = this.closestQueue.poll();
+				this.furthestQueue.remove(closest);
+				return this.positionMap.remove(closest);
+			}
+			finally
+			{
+				this.lock.unlock();
+			}
+		}
+		
+	}
+	
+	
+	
 }
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config;
+
+public interface IConfigProvider
+{
+	
+}
@@ -23,9 +23,9 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.DhApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.render.IDhApiRenderProxy;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.listeners.IConfigListener;

-public class DebugColumnConfigEventHandler implements IConfigListener
+public class ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler implements IConfigListener
 {
-	public static DebugColumnConfigEventHandler INSTANCE = new DebugColumnConfigEventHandler();
+	public static ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler INSTANCE = new ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler();
 	
 	@Override
 	public void onConfigValueSet()
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ public class RenderCacheConfigEventHandler
 		// create a new timer task
 		TimerTask timerTask = new TimerTask()
 		{
-			public void run()
+			@Override public void run()
 			{
 				DhApi.Delayed.renderProxy.clearRenderDataCache();
 			}
--- a/Show More
+++ b/Show More