Initial changes for Vulkan

This fixes some overlapping rendering issues, fixes LOD generating outside of render distance, and fixes low-detail LODs flashing when moving into previously-explored LODs

api/build.gradle

@@ -23,43 +23,42 @@ dependencies {
     testImplementation "junit:junit:4.13"
 }
 
-shadowJar {
-    // required for basic shadowJar setup
-    configurations = [project.configurations.shadow]
+java {
+    withSourcesJar()
 }
 
-task addSourcesToCompiledJar(type: ShadowJar) {
+task createReleaseApiJar(type: ShadowJar) {
 
-    def sourceJarPath = "build/libs/DistantHorizons-api-${rootProject.versionStr}-sources.jar"
-    def secondJarFile = file(sourceJarPath)
+    mustRunAfter sourcesJar
+    dependsOn shadowJar
+    
+    // the compiled "-all" jar is used since it's available at the time this task is run 
+    def compiledJarPath = "build/libs/DistantHorizonsApi-${rootProject.api_version}-all.jar"
+    def compiledJarFile = file(compiledJarPath)
     
     // doFirst is so these only run when the task is actually executed
     doFirst {
-        System.out.println("Adding source files from: \n" +
-                "[" + sourceJarPath + "] to compiled API jar: \n" +
+        System.out.println("Adding class files from: \n" +
+                "[" + compiledJarPath + "] to source API jar: \n" +
                 "[" + shadowJar.archiveFile.get().asFile + "]")
         
         // Validate the input JAR file
-        if (!secondJarFile.exists()) {
-            throw new GradleException("Second JAR file not found: [${secondJarFile}]")
+        if (!compiledJarFile.exists()) {
+            throw new GradleException("Compiled JAR file not found: [${compiledJarFile}]")
         }
     }
     
-    // Set the name of the combined JAR file
-    archiveFileName.set("DistantHorizonsApi-${rootProject.api_version}.jar")
-    
-    // Set the destination directory for the combined JAR file
-    destinationDirectory = file('build/libs/merged/')
+    archiveFileName.set("DistantHorizonsApi-${rootProject.api_version}-combined.jar") // jar name
+    destinationDirectory = file('build/libs/') // jar location
     
     // Set the input JAR files to be combined
     from sourceSets.main.allJava
     from {
-        configurations.shadow.collect { it.isDirectory() ? it : zipTree(it) }
+        project.configurations.shadow.collect { it.isDirectory() ? it : zipTree(it) }
     }
     
-    // set the jars to merge
-    from shadowJar.archiveFile.get().asFile
-    from secondJarFile
+    // add the class files
+    from zipTree(compiledJarFile)
     
     // alternative method to Include the source files in the combined JAR
     // and/or see which files are being included
@@ -93,6 +92,13 @@ task addSourcesToCompiledJar(type: ShadowJar) {
     }
     
 }
+// always create a combined jar for easy deployment
+assemble.dependsOn(createReleaseApiJar)
+
+shadowJar {
+    // required for basic shadowJar setup
+    configurations = [project.configurations.shadow]
+}
 
 javadoc {
     options {
@@ -103,3 +109,17 @@ javadoc {
         addStringOption('Xdoclint:all,-missing', '-quiet')
     }
 }
+
+// set the jar name
+def configureJar = { task ->
+    // outputs in the format:
+    // "DistantHorizonsApi-6.0.0.jar"
+    // "DistantHorizonsApi-6.0.0-sources.jar"
+    task.archiveBaseName = rootProject.api_name
+    task.archiveVersion = rootProject.api_version
+}
+configureJar(tasks.named("jar").get())
+configureJar(tasks.named("sourcesJar").get())
+configureJar(tasks.named("shadowJar").get())
+
+

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/interfaces/IDhApiUnsafeWrapper.java

@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces;
 
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.block.IDhApiBlockStateWrapper;
+
 /**
  * Implemented by wrappers so developers can
  * access the underlying Minecraft object(s).
@@ -38,7 +40,11 @@ public interface IDhApiUnsafeWrapper
 	 * In order to cast this object to something usable, you may want
 	 * to use <code>obj.getClass()</code> when in your IDE
 	 * in order to determine what object this method returns for
-	 * the specific version of Minecraft you are developing for.
+	 * the specific version of Minecraft you are developing for. <br><br>
+	 * 
+	 * Note:<br>
+	 * This method may return null in some cases, IE {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper}
+	 * when it is wrapping air.
 	 */
 	Object getWrappedMcObject();
 	

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/interfaces/block/IDhApiBlockStateWrapper.java

@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiBlockMaterial;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.IDhApiUnsafeWrapper;
 
 /**
- * A Minecraft version independent way of handling Blocks.
+ * A Minecraft version independent way of handling Blocks. <br><br>
+ * 
+ * Note: the wrapped object (IE the object returned by {@link IDhApiUnsafeWrapper#getWrappedMcObject}) 
+ * will be null if this object is wrapping air.
  *
  * @author James Seibel
  * @version 2023-6-11
@@ -39,6 +42,12 @@ public interface IDhApiBlockStateWrapper extends IDhApiUnsafeWrapper
 	/** @since API 1.0.0 */
 	boolean isLiquid();
 	
+	/**
+	 * Returns a value between 0 (fully transparent) and 16 (fully opaque).
+	 * @since 6.1.0 
+	 */
+	int getOpacity();
+	
 	/**
 	 * Returns the full serialized form of the given block
 	 * as defined by DH's serialization methods.

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/interfaces/data/IDhApiTerrainDataCache.java

@@ -24,4 +24,10 @@ public interface IDhApiTerrainDataCache extends AutoCloseable
 	 */
 	void clear();
 	
+	// override without an exception
+	@Override
+	void close();
+	
+	
+	
 }

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/interfaces/render/IDhApiRenderProxy.java

@@ -51,14 +51,16 @@ public interface IDhApiRenderProxy
 	//=======================//
 	
 	/**
-	 * Returns the name of Distant Horizons' depth texture. <br>
-	 * Will return {@link DhApiResult#success} = false and {@link DhApiResult#payload} = -1 if the texture hasn't been created yet.
+	 * Returns the OpenGL name of Distant Horizons' depth texture. <br>
+	 * Will return {@link DhApiResult#success} = false and {@link DhApiResult#payload} = -1 if the texture hasn't been created yet
+	 * or a rendering API other than OpenGL is in use.
 	 */
 	DhApiResult<Integer> getDhDepthTextureId();
 	
 	/**
-	 * Returns the name of Distant Horizons' color texture. <br>
-	 * Will return {@link DhApiResult#success} = false and {@link DhApiResult#payload} = -1 if the texture hasn't been created yet.
+	 * Returns the OpenGL name of Distant Horizons' color texture. <br>
+	 * Will return {@link DhApiResult#success} = false and {@link DhApiResult#payload} = -1 if the texture hasn't been created yet
+	 * or a rendering API other than OpenGL is in use
 	 */
 	DhApiResult<Integer> getDhColorTextureId();
 	

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/methods/events/abstractEvents/DhApiBeforeBufferRenderEvent.java

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3f;
 
 /**
  * Called before Distant Horizons starts rendering a buffer. <br>
- * This event cannot be cancelled, use {@link DhApiBeforeRenderEvent} if you want to cancel rendering.
+ * This event cannot be canceled, use {@link DhApiBeforeRenderEvent} if you want to cancel rendering.
  * 
  * @author James Seibel
  * @version 2023-1-31

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/methods/events/abstractEvents/DhApiBeforeColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent.java

@@ -31,7 +31,10 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhAp
  * @author James Seibel
  * @version 2025-6-9
  * @since API 4.1.0
+ * @deprecated Only used for the legacy OpenGL renderer <Br>
+ *             Using {@link DhApiAfterColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent} instead is recommended.
  */
+@Deprecated
 public abstract class DhApiBeforeColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiTextureCreatedParam>
 {
 	/** Fired before Distant Horizons creates. */

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/methods/events/abstractEvents/DhApiBlockColorOverrideEvent.java

@@ -0,0 +1,156 @@
+/*
+ *    This file is part of the Distant Horizons mod
+ *    licensed under the GNU LGPL v3 License.
+ *
+ *    Copyright (C) 2020 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.enums.rendering.EDhApiBlockMaterial;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.block.IDhApiBlockStateWrapper;
+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;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.ColorUtil;
+
+import java.awt.*;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
+
+/**
+ * Performance note: this event will be fired thousands of times on concurrent threads, 
+ * make it thread safe and as fast as possible. <Br><Br>
+ * 
+ * This event is fired when DH needs to convert a {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper}
+ * into a color for rendering. This event is fired after DH attempts to determine
+ * the color itself (using the base color, tinting, etc.). <Br>
+ * Using this event will override the tinting config for this block
+ * unless you re-implement that logic yourself.
+ * <Br><Br>
+ * 
+ * This event will only trigger for {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper}s that have been registered
+ * via {@link DhApiBlockStateWrapperCreatedEvent.EventParam#setAllowApiColorOverride(boolean)}.
+ * 
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2026-04-14
+ * @since API 6.0.0
+ * @see IDhApiBlockStateWrapper
+ */
+public abstract class DhApiBlockColorOverrideEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiBlockColorOverrideEvent.EventParam>
+{
+	public abstract void blockStateWrapperCreated(DhApiEventParam<EventParam> event);
+	
+	
+	//=========================//
+	// internal DH API methods //
+	//=========================//
+	
+	@Override
+	public final void fireEvent(DhApiEventParam<EventParam> event) { this.blockStateWrapperCreated(event); }
+	
+	
+	//==================//
+	// parameter object //
+	//==================//
+	
+	public static class EventParam implements IDhApiEventParam
+	{
+		private IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper;
+		private IDhApiBlockStateWrapper blockStateWrapper = null;
+		private int colorAsInt = -1;
+		private int blockPosX = 0, blockPosY = 0, blockPosZ = 0;
+		
+		
+		
+		//=============//
+		// constructor //
+		//=============//
+		
+		public EventParam() {}
+		
+		public void update(
+			IDhApiLevelWrapper levelWrapper,
+			IDhApiBlockStateWrapper blockStateWrapper, 
+			int colorAsInt,
+			int blockPosX, int blockPosY, int blockPosZ)
+		{
+			this.levelWrapper = levelWrapper;
+			this.blockStateWrapper = blockStateWrapper;
+			this.colorAsInt = colorAsInt;
+			
+			this.blockPosX = blockPosX;
+			this.blockPosY = blockPosY;
+			this.blockPosZ = blockPosZ;
+		}
+		
+		
+		
+		//=================//
+		// getters/setters //
+		//=================//
+		
+		public IDhApiBlockStateWrapper getBlockStateWrapper() { return this.blockStateWrapper; }
+		
+		public IDhApiLevelWrapper getLevelWrapper() { return levelWrapper; }
+		
+		public int getColorAsInt() { return this.colorAsInt; }
+		public int getAlpha() { return ColorUtil.getAlpha(this.colorAsInt); }
+		public int getRed() { return ColorUtil.getRed(this.colorAsInt); }
+		public int getGreen() { return ColorUtil.getGreen(this.colorAsInt); }
+		public int getBlue() { return ColorUtil.getBlue(this.colorAsInt); }
+		public void setColor(int red, int green, int blue) throws IllegalArgumentException { this.setColor(this.getAlpha(), red, green, blue); }
+		/** 
+		 * Note: when if you set a partially transparent alpha channel the underlying {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper#getOpacity()}
+		 * method should also return a non-opaque value.
+		 * Otherwise LODs may behave incorrectly.
+		 */
+		public void setColor(int alpha, int red, int green, int blue) throws IllegalArgumentException
+		{
+			ColorUtil.throwIfColorValueOutOfIntRange("alpha", alpha);
+			ColorUtil.throwIfColorValueOutOfIntRange("red", red);
+			ColorUtil.throwIfColorValueOutOfIntRange("green", green);
+			ColorUtil.throwIfColorValueOutOfIntRange("blue", blue);
+			
+			this.colorAsInt = ColorUtil.argbToInt(alpha, red, green, blue);
+		}
+		
+		/** @return the block's X value in the world */
+		public int getBlockPosX() { return blockPosX; }
+		/** @return the block's Y value in the world */
+		public int getBlockPosY() { return blockPosY; }
+		/** @return the block's Z value in the world */
+		public int getBlockPosZ() { return blockPosZ; }
+		
+		
+		
+		/** 
+		 * Returns the same instance of this event.
+		 * Copying this event isn't supported
+		 * since the internal parameters must be mutated
+		 * by API users in order to be tracked by DH's internal
+		 * logic.
+		 */
+		@Override
+		public EventParam copy() { return this; }
+		
+		@Override 
+		public boolean getCopyBeforeFire() { return false; }
+		
+		
+		
+	}
+	
+}

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/methods/events/abstractEvents/DhApiBlockStateWrapperCreatedEvent.java

@@ -0,0 +1,131 @@
+/*
+ *    This file is part of the Distant Horizons mod
+ *    licensed under the GNU LGPL v3 License.
+ *
+ *    Copyright (C) 2020 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.enums.rendering.EDhApiBlockMaterial;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.block.IDhApiBlockStateWrapper;
+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;
+
+/**
+ * Can be used to modify {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper}'s as they're created.
+ * This can be helpful for modded blocks that are mis-categorized by DH's base logic. <br><br>
+ *
+ * Note: this is only fired once per {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper} that is created
+ * and those {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper} will only be created once per JVM session.
+ * 
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2026-04-14
+ * @since API 6.0.0
+ * @see IDhApiBlockStateWrapper
+ */
+public abstract class DhApiBlockStateWrapperCreatedEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiBlockStateWrapperCreatedEvent.EventParam>
+{
+	public abstract void blockStateWrapperCreated(DhApiEventParam<EventParam> event);
+	
+	
+	//=========================//
+	// internal DH API methods //
+	//=========================//
+	
+	@Override
+	public final void fireEvent(DhApiEventParam<EventParam> event) { this.blockStateWrapperCreated(event); }
+	
+	
+	//==================//
+	// parameter object //
+	//==================//
+	
+	public static class EventParam implements IDhApiEventParam
+	{
+		/** 
+		 * A copy of the wrapper that will be created. <Br>
+		 * Note: modifying this object won't change anything
+		 * a new wrapper will be created after this event finishes.
+		 */
+		private final IDhApiBlockStateWrapper blockStateWrapper;
+		
+		private boolean overridesSet = false;
+		private EDhApiBlockMaterial blockMaterial = null;
+		private Integer opacity = null;
+		private Boolean allowApiColorOverride = null;
+		
+		
+		
+		//=============//
+		// constructor //
+		//=============//
+		
+		public EventParam(IDhApiBlockStateWrapper blockStateWrapper) { this.blockStateWrapper = blockStateWrapper; }
+		
+		
+		
+		//=================//
+		// getters/setters //
+		//=================//
+		
+		public IDhApiBlockStateWrapper getBlockStateWrapper() { return this.blockStateWrapper; }
+		
+		/** if set this will override the value currently set in the given {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper} */
+		public void setBlockMaterial(EDhApiBlockMaterial blockMaterial) 
+		{
+			this.blockMaterial = blockMaterial; 
+			this.overridesSet = true;
+		}
+		public EDhApiBlockMaterial getBlockMaterial() { return this.blockMaterial; }
+		
+		/** if set this will override the value currently set in the given {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper} */
+		public void setOpacity(int opacity) 
+		{
+			this.opacity = opacity;
+			this.overridesSet = true;
+		}
+		public Integer getOpacity() { return this.opacity; }
+		
+		/** if set to true this {@link IDhApiBlockStateWrapper} will trigger {@link DhApiBlockColorOverrideEvent} */
+		public void setAllowApiColorOverride(boolean allowApiColorOverride) 
+		{
+			this.allowApiColorOverride = allowApiColorOverride;
+			this.overridesSet = true;
+		}
+		public Boolean getAllowApiColorOverride() { return this.allowApiColorOverride; }
+		
+		/** If true then one or more options for this block were set to be changed */
+		public boolean getOverridesSet() { return this.overridesSet; }
+		
+		
+		
+		/** 
+		 * Returns the same instance of this event.
+		 * Copying this event isn't supported
+		 * since the internal parameters must be mutated
+		 * by API users in order to be tracked by DH's internal
+		 * logic.
+		 */
+		@Override
+		public EventParam copy() { return this; }
+		
+		@Override 
+		public boolean getCopyBeforeFire() { return false; }
+		
+	}
+	
+}

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/methods/events/abstractEvents/DhApiColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent.java

@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhAp
  * @author James Seibel
  * @version 2024-3-2
  * @since API 2.0.0
- * @deprecated Replaced by {@link DhApiBeforeColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent} since this event's name isn't obvious when it fires.
+ * @deprecated Only used for the legacy OpenGL renderer <Br>
+ *              Replaced by {@link DhApiBeforeColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent} since this event's name isn't obvious when it fires.
+ *              Using {@link DhApiAfterColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent} instead is recommended
  */
 @Deprecated // internal notes: this method must be kept around due to Iris using it and we don't want to break old Iris support
 public abstract class DhApiColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent implements IDhApiEvent<DhApiColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent.EventParam>

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/coreapi/DependencyInjection/DependencyInjector.java

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ import java.util.Map;
  */
 public class DependencyInjector<BindableType extends IBindable> implements IDependencyInjector<BindableType> // Note to self: Don't try adding a generic type to IDhApiEvent, the constructor won't accept it
 {
-	protected final Map<Class<? extends BindableType>, ArrayList<BindableType>> dependencies = new HashMap<>();
+	protected final HashMap<Class<? extends BindableType>, ArrayList<BindableType>> dependencies = new HashMap<>();
 	
 	/** Internal class reference to BindableType since we can't get it any other way. */
 	protected final Class<? extends BindableType> bindableInterface;

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/coreapi/ModInfo.java

@@ -32,22 +32,27 @@ public final class ModInfo
 	
 	/** Incremented every time any packets are added, changed or removed, with a few exceptions. */
 	public static final int PROTOCOL_VERSION = 13;
-	public static final String WRAPPER_PACKET_PATH = "message";
+
+	/** 
+	 * The full plugin channel name (RESOURCE_NAMESPACE:WRAPPER_PACKET_PATH) 
+	 * must be 20 characters or fewer for compatibility with MC 1.13 and older. 
+	 */
+	public static final String WRAPPER_PACKET_PATH = "msg";
 	
 	/** 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 = "3.0.0-b-dev";
+	public static final String VERSION = "3.0.4-b-dev";
 	/** Returns true if the current build is an unstable developer build, false otherwise. */
 	public static final 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 = 6;
 	/** This version should be updated whenever new methods are added to the DH API */
-	public static final int API_MINOR_VERSION = 0;
+	public static final int API_MINOR_VERSION = 1;
 	/** This version should be updated whenever non-breaking fixes are added to the DH API */
-	public static final int API_PATCH_VERSION = 0;
+	public static final int API_PATCH_VERSION = 1;
 	
 	/** If the config file has an older version it'll be re-created from scratch. */
 	public static final int CONFIG_FILE_VERSION = 4;

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/coreapi/util/ColorUtil.java

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
  *    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
-package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util;
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util;
 
 import java.awt.*;
 
@@ -89,6 +89,16 @@ public class ColorUtil
 	/** @param newBlue should be a value between 0 and 255 */
 	public static int setBlue(int color, int newBlue) { return (getAlpha(color) << 24) | (getRed(color) << 16) | (getGreen(color) << 8) | newBlue; }
 	
+	/** @throws IllegalArgumentException if the given int value is out of the range 0 - 255 (exclusive) */
+	public static void throwIfColorValueOutOfIntRange(String colorName, int value) throws IllegalArgumentException
+	{
+		if (value < 0
+			|| value > 255)
+		{
+			throw new IllegalArgumentException("["+colorName+"] with the value ["+value+"] is out of the expected range 0 - 255 (exclusive).");
+		}
+	}
+	
 	
 	
 	public static int applyShade(int color, int shade)

core/build.gradle

@@ -50,7 +50,6 @@ dependencies {
     compileOnly("io.netty:netty-buffer:${rootProject.netty_version}")
     compileOnly("org.jetbrains:annotations:16.0.2")
     compileOnly("com.google.code.findbugs:jsr305:3.0.2")
-    compileOnly("com.google.common:google-collect:0.5")
     compileOnly("com.google.guava:guava:31.1-jre")
 
     // DH's bundled libraries (shadowed + relocated in loader jars)

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/Initializer.java

@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public class Initializer
 	
 	
 	
-	public static void init()
+	public static void preConfigInit()
 	{
 		//============================//
 		// check referenced libraries //
@@ -177,6 +177,11 @@ public class Initializer
 		
 		//endregion
 		
+	}
+	
+	/** fired after DH's config has been set up */
+	public static void postConfigInit()
+	{
 		
 		
 		//==============================//
@@ -238,8 +243,7 @@ public class Initializer
 		
 		//endregion
 		
-		
-		
 	}
 	
+	
 }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/api/internal/ClientApi.java

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config.EDhApiMcRenderingFadeMode;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiRenderPass;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents.*;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.rendering.DhRenderState;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.ModAccessorInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.MinecraftTextFormat;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.structure.ClientOnlySaveStructure;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.Pair;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.RollingAverage;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.ThreadPoolUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.modAccessor.IIrisAccessor;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.render.renderPass.IDhMetaRenderer;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.render.renderPass.IDhVanillaFadeRenderer;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.render.renderPass.IDhTestTriangleRenderer;
@@ -63,6 +65,7 @@ import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 import org.lwjgl.glfw.GLFW;
 
+import java.awt.*;
 import java.io.File;
 import java.util.*;
 import java.util.concurrent.LinkedBlockingQueue;
@@ -145,6 +148,16 @@ public class ClientApi
 	private Vec3d lastCameraPosForSpeedCheck = new Vec3d();
 	private long msSinceLastSpeedCheck = 0L;
 	
+	public static long firstRenderTimeMs = 0;
+	
+	/** 
+	 * keeping track of this is necessary to fix
+	 * out-of-date LODs from rendering when the shading
+	 * is changed by Iris, causing LODs to often
+	 * lack the side shading, which looks pretty bad
+	 * when shaders are disabled.
+	 */
+	private boolean irisShadersEnabledLastFrame = false;
 	
 	
 	
@@ -159,7 +172,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 	//==============//
 	// world events //
 	//==============//
-	///region
+	//region world events
 	
 	/**
 	 * May be fired slightly before or after the associated
@@ -237,14 +250,14 @@ public class ClientApi
 		this.waitingClientLevels.clear();
 	}
 	
-	///endregion
+	//endregion
 	
 	
 	
 	//==============//
 	// level events //
 	//==============//
-	///region
+	//region level events
 	
 	public void clientLevelUnloadEvent(IClientLevelWrapper level)
 	{
@@ -356,14 +369,14 @@ public class ClientApi
 		}
 	}
 	
-	///endregion
+	//endregion
 	
 	
 	
 	//============//
 	// networking //
 	//============//
-	///region
+	//region networking
 	
 	/**
 	 * Forwards a decoded message into the registered handlers.
@@ -396,14 +409,14 @@ public class ClientApi
 		}
 	}
 	
-	///endregion
+	//endregion
 	
 	
 	
 	//===============//
 	// LOD rendering //
 	//===============//
-	///region
+	//region lod rendering
 	
 	/** Should be called before {@link ClientApi#renderDeferredLodsForShaders} */
 	public void renderLods() { this.renderLodLayer(false); }
@@ -414,12 +427,11 @@ public class ClientApi
 	 */
 	public void renderDeferredLodsForShaders() { this.renderLodLayer(true); }
 	
-	public static long firstRenderTimeMs = 0;
-	
 	private void renderLodLayer(boolean renderingDeferredLayer)
 	{
 		IProfilerWrapper profiler = MC_CLIENT.getProfiler();
-		profiler.push("DH-RenderLevel");
+		try (IProfilerWrapper.IProfileBlock dhRender_profile = profiler.push("DH-RenderLevel"))
+		{
 			
 			
 			
@@ -428,12 +440,16 @@ public class ClientApi
 			//===========//
 			//region
 			
+			// only run these tasks once per frame
+			if (!renderingDeferredLayer)
+			{
 				//DhApiTerrainDataRepo.asyncDebugMethod(
 				//	RENDER_STATE.clientLevelWrapper,
 				//	MC_CLIENT.getPlayerBlockPos().getX(),
 				//	MC_CLIENT.getPlayerBlockPos().getY(),
 				//	MC_CLIENT.getPlayerBlockPos().getZ()
 				//);
+			}
 			
 			//endregion
 			
@@ -442,15 +458,13 @@ public class ClientApi
 			//=====================//
 			// render thread tasks //
 			//=====================//
-		///region
+			//region
 			
 			// only run these tasks once per frame
 			if (!renderingDeferredLayer)
 			{
-			profiler.push("DH render thread tasks");
-			
-			
-			
+				try (IProfilerWrapper.IProfileBlock renderTask_profile = profiler.push("DH render thread tasks"))
+				{
 					//===============//
 					// chat messages //
 					//===============//
@@ -462,6 +476,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 					//======================//
 					// GL Proxy queued jobs //
 					//======================//
+					//region
 					
 					try
 					{
@@ -473,11 +488,14 @@ public class ClientApi
 						LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue running render thread tasks, error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
 					}
 					
+					//endregion
+					
 					
 					
 					//==============//
 					// camera speed //
 					//==============//
+					//region
 					
 					long nowMs = System.currentTimeMillis();
 					if (this.msSinceLastSpeedCheck + MIN_MS_BETWEEN_SPEED_CHECKS < nowMs)
@@ -496,11 +514,32 @@ public class ClientApi
 						this.lastCameraPosForSpeedCheck = camPos;
 					}
 					
+					//endregion
 					
-			profiler.pop();
+					
+					
+					//====================//
+					// Iris data re-build //
+					//====================//
+					//region
+					
+					// delayed getter since ClientApi is created before this accessor is bound
+					IIrisAccessor irisAccessor = ModAccessorInjector.INSTANCE.get(IIrisAccessor.class);
+					if (irisAccessor != null)
+					{
+						boolean shadersActive = irisAccessor.isShaderPackInUse();
+						if (this.irisShadersEnabledLastFrame != shadersActive)
+						{
+							this.irisShadersEnabledLastFrame = shadersActive;
+							DhApi.Delayed.renderProxy.clearRenderDataCache();
+						}
 					}
 					
-		///endregion
+					//endregion
+				}
+			}
+			
+			//endregion
 			
 			
 			
@@ -508,7 +547,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 			//=================//
 			// parameter setup //
 			//=================//
-		///region
+			//region
 			
 			EDhApiRenderPass renderPass;
 			if (DhApiRenderProxy.INSTANCE.getDeferTransparentRendering())
@@ -533,14 +572,14 @@ public class ClientApi
 			// partially complete info, but there isn't a better option at the moment
 			RenderParams renderParams = new RenderParams(renderPass, RENDER_STATE);
 			
-		///endregion
+			//endregion
 			
 			
 			
 			//============//
 			// validation //
 			//============//
-		///region
+			//region
 			
 			if (firstRenderTimeMs == 0)
 			{
@@ -577,14 +616,14 @@ public class ClientApi
 				return;
 			}
 			
-		///endregion
+			//endregion
 			
 			
 			
 			//===========//
 			// rendering //
 			//===========//
-		///region
+			//region
 			
 			try
 			{
@@ -654,21 +693,18 @@ public class ClientApi
 				MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage(MinecraftTextFormat.DARK_RED + "Error: " + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING + e);
 			}
 			
-		///endregion
-		
-		
-		
-		profiler.pop(); // end LOD
+			//endregion
+		}
 	}
 	
-	///endregion
+	//endregion
 	
 	
 	
 	//================//
 	// fade rendering //
 	//================//
-	///region
+	//region fade rendering
 	
 	/** 
 	 * The first fade pass.
@@ -731,14 +767,14 @@ public class ClientApi
 		}
 	}
 	
-	///endregion
+	//endregion
 	
 	
 	
 	//==========//
 	// keyboard //
 	//==========//
-	///region
+	//region keyboard
 	
 	/** Trigger once on key press, with CLIENT PLAYER. */
 	public void keyPressedEvent(int glfwKey)
@@ -767,14 +803,14 @@ public class ClientApi
 		}
 	}
 	
-	///endregion
+	//endregion
 	
 	
 	
 	//======//
 	// chat //
 	//======//
-	///region
+	//region chat
 	
 	private void sendQueuedChatMessages()
 	{
@@ -908,7 +944,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 	 */
 	public void showOverlayMessageNextFrame(String message) { this.overlayMessageQueueForNextFrame.add(message); }
 	
-	///endregion
+	//endregion
 	
 	
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/api/internal/ServerApi.java

@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ public class ServerApi
 	
 	public void serverPlayerJoinEvent(IServerPlayerWrapper player)
 	{
-		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.worldLoaded() && DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.getReadOnly())
+		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.tryGetReadOnly())
 		{
 			return;
 		}
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ public class ServerApi
 	}
 	public void serverPlayerDisconnectEvent(IServerPlayerWrapper player)
 	{
-		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.worldLoaded() && DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.getReadOnly())
+		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.tryGetReadOnly())
 		{
 			return;
 		}
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ public class ServerApi
 	}
 	public void serverPlayerLevelChangeEvent(IServerPlayerWrapper player, IServerLevelWrapper originLevel, IServerLevelWrapper destinationLevel)
 	{
-		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.worldLoaded() && DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.getReadOnly())
+		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.tryGetReadOnly())
 		{
 			return;
 		}
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ public class ServerApi
 	 */
 	public void pluginMessageReceived(IServerPlayerWrapper player, @NotNull AbstractNetworkMessage message)
 	{
-		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.worldLoaded() && DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.getReadOnly())
+		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.tryGetReadOnly())
 		{
 			return;
 		}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/api/internal/SharedApi.java

@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ public class SharedApi
 	//region
 	
 	private SharedApi() { }
-	public static void init() { Initializer.init(); }
 	
 	//endregion
 	
@@ -205,14 +204,14 @@ public class SharedApi
 				// If the client world isn't loaded yet, keep track of which chunks were loaded so we can use them later.
 				// This may happen if the client world and client level load events happen out of order
 				IClientLevelWrapper clientLevel = (IClientLevelWrapper) levelWrapper;
-				ClientApi.INSTANCE.waitingChunkByClientLevelAndPos.replace(new Pair<>(clientLevel, chunkWrapper.getChunkPos()), chunkWrapper);
+				ClientApi.INSTANCE.waitingChunkByClientLevelAndPos.put(new Pair<>(clientLevel, chunkWrapper.getChunkPos()), chunkWrapper);
 			}
 			
 			return;
 		}
 		
 		// ignore updates if the world is read-only
-		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.getReadOnly())
+		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.tryGetReadOnly())
 		{
 			return;
 		}
@@ -225,7 +224,7 @@ public class SharedApi
 			{
 				// the client level isn't loaded yet
 				IClientLevelWrapper clientLevel = (IClientLevelWrapper) levelWrapper;
-				ClientApi.INSTANCE.waitingChunkByClientLevelAndPos.replace(new Pair<>(clientLevel, chunkWrapper.getChunkPos()), chunkWrapper);
+				ClientApi.INSTANCE.waitingChunkByClientLevelAndPos.put(new Pair<>(clientLevel, chunkWrapper.getChunkPos()), chunkWrapper);
 			}
 			
 			return;

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/config/Config.java

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.types.enums.*;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.NativeDialogUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftSharedWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
@@ -964,6 +964,7 @@ public class Config
 				public static ConfigCategory debugWireframe = new ConfigCategory.Builder().set(DebugWireframe.class).build();
 				public static ConfigCategory openGl = new ConfigCategory.Builder().set(OpenGl.class).build();
 				public static ConfigCategory columnBuilderDebugging = new ConfigCategory.Builder().set(ColumnBuilderDebugging.class).build();
+				public static ConfigCategory positionFinderDebugging = new ConfigCategory.Builder().set(PositionFinder.class).build();
 				public static ConfigCategory f3Screen = new ConfigCategory.Builder().set(F3Screen.class).build();
 				public static ConfigCategory exampleConfigScreen = new ConfigCategory.Builder().set(ExampleConfigScreen.class).build();
 				
@@ -1095,6 +1096,36 @@ public class Config
 					
 				}
 				
+				public static class PositionFinder
+				{
+					//public static ConfigUIComment positionFinderHeader = new ConfigUIComment.Builder().setParentConfigClass(ColumnBuilderDebugging.class).build();
+
+					public static ConfigEntry<Boolean> positionFinderEnable = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Boolean>()
+						.set(false)
+						.build();
+					
+					public static ConfigEntry<Integer> positionFinderDetailLevel = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Integer>()
+						.set((int) DhSectionPos.SECTION_MINIMUM_DETAIL_LEVEL)
+						.build();
+					public static ConfigEntry<Integer> positionFinderXPos = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Integer>()
+						.set(0)
+						.build();
+					public static ConfigEntry<Integer> positionFinderZPos = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Integer>()
+						.set(0)
+						.build();
+					
+					public static ConfigEntry<Integer> positionFinderMinBlockY = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Integer>()
+						.set(-64)
+						.build();
+					public static ConfigEntry<Integer> positionFinderMaxBlockY = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Integer>()
+						.set(125)
+						.build();
+					public static ConfigEntry<Float> positionFinderMarginPercent = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Float>()
+						.set(0.0f)
+						.build();
+					
+				}
+				
 				public static class F3Screen
 				{
 					public static ConfigUIComment f3ScreenHeader = new ConfigUIComment.Builder().setParentConfigClass(F3Screen.class).build();
@@ -1210,9 +1241,11 @@ public class Config
 					});
 					public static void onButtonPressed()
 					{
+						IMinecraftClientWrapper mcClient = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
+						
 						LOGGER.info("Attempting to show tinyfd message box...");
-						boolean buttonPress = NativeDialogUtil.showDialog("Button pressed!", "UITester dialog", "ok", "info");
-						LOGGER.info("dialog returned with ["+(buttonPress ? "TRUE" : "FALSE")+"]");
+						mcClient.showDialog("Button pressed!", "UITester dialog", "ok", "info");
+						LOGGER.info("dialog closed");
 					}
 					
 					public static ConfigCategory categoryTest = new ConfigCategory.Builder().set(CategoryTest.class).build();

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/config/eventHandlers/AbstractDelayedConfigEventHandler.java

@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.eventHandlers;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.listeners.IConfigListener;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.TimerUtil;
+
+import java.util.Timer;
+import java.util.TimerTask;
+
+public abstract class AbstractDelayedConfigEventHandler implements IConfigListener
+{
+	public static final long DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_IN_MS = 2_000L;
+	
+	/** how long to wait in milliseconds before applying the config changes */
+	private final long timeoutInMs;
+	private Timer timer;
+	
+	
+	
+	//=============//
+	// constructor //
+	//=============//
+	//region
+	
+	public AbstractDelayedConfigEventHandler(long timeoutInMs) { this.timeoutInMs = timeoutInMs; }
+	
+	//endregion
+	
+	
+	
+	//==================//
+	// abstract methods //
+	//==================//
+	//region
+	
+	public abstract void onConfigTimeout();
+	
+	//endregion
+	
+	
+	
+	//========//
+	// events //
+	//========//
+	//region
+	
+	@Override
+	public void onConfigValueSet()
+	{
+		if (this.timeoutInMs > 0)
+		{
+			this.refreshRenderDataAfterTimeout();
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			this.onConfigTimeout();
+		}
+	}
+	
+	/** Calling this method multiple times will reset the timer */
+	private synchronized void refreshRenderDataAfterTimeout() // synchronized to prevent potential threading issues when adding/removing the timer
+	{
+		// stop the previous timer if one exists
+		if (this.timer != null)
+		{
+			this.timer.cancel();
+		}
+		
+		// create a new timer task
+		TimerTask timerTask = new TimerTask()
+		{
+			public void run()
+			{
+				AbstractDelayedConfigEventHandler.this.onConfigTimeout();
+			}
+		};
+		this.timer = TimerUtil.CreateTimer("AbstractDelayedConfigTimer");
+		this.timer.schedule(timerTask, this.timeoutInMs);
+	}
+	
+	//endregion
+	
+	
+	
+}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/config/eventHandlers/ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler.java

@@ -27,72 +27,36 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.TimerUtil;
 import java.util.Timer;
 import java.util.TimerTask;
 
-public class ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler implements IConfigListener
+public class ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler extends AbstractDelayedConfigEventHandler
 {
 	/** 
 	 * should be used for user facing UI options
 	 * this allows the user a second to click through options before they're applied
 	 */
-	public static ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler DELAYED_INSTANCE = new ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler(2_000L);
+	public static ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler DELAYED_INSTANCE = new ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler(AbstractDelayedConfigEventHandler.DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_IN_MS);
 	/** should be used for debug options so their change can be seen instantly */
 	public static ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler INSTANT_INSTANCE = new ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler(0);
 	
-	/** how long to wait in milliseconds before applying the config changes */
-	private final long timeoutInMs;
-	private Timer cacheClearingTimer;
-	
 	
 	
 	//=============//
 	// constructor //
 	//=============//
+	//region
 	
-	public ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler(long timeoutInMs)
-	{
-		this.timeoutInMs = timeoutInMs;
-	}
+	public ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler(long timeoutInMs) { super(timeoutInMs); }
+	
+	//endregion
 	
 	
 	
 	//========//
 	// events //
 	//========//
+	//region
 	
 	@Override
-	public void onConfigValueSet()
-	{ 
-		if (this.timeoutInMs > 0)
-		{
-			this.refreshRenderDataAfterTimeout();
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			clearRenderDataCache();
-		}
-	}
-	
-	/** Calling this method multiple times will reset the timer */
-	private synchronized void refreshRenderDataAfterTimeout() // synchronized to prevent potential threading issues when adding/removing the timer
-	{
-		// stop the previous timer if one exists
-		if (this.cacheClearingTimer != null)
-		{
-			this.cacheClearingTimer.cancel();
-		}
-		
-		// create a new timer task
-		TimerTask timerTask = new TimerTask()
-		{
-			public void run()
-			{
-				clearRenderDataCache();
-			}
-		};
-		this.cacheClearingTimer = TimerUtil.CreateTimer("RenderCacheClearConfigTimer");
-		this.cacheClearingTimer.schedule(timerTask, this.timeoutInMs);
-	}
-	
-	private static void clearRenderDataCache()
+	public void onConfigTimeout()
 	{
 		IDhApiRenderProxy renderProxy = DhApi.Delayed.renderProxy;
 		if (renderProxy != null)
@@ -101,5 +65,8 @@ public class ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler implements IConfigListener
 		}
 	}
 	
+	//endregion
+	
+	
 	
 }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/config/eventHandlers/RenderBlockCacheCsvHandler.java

@@ -32,7 +32,9 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.IWrapperFactory;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.StringUtil;
 
-public class RenderBlockCacheCsvHandler implements IConfigListener
+import java.util.Timer;
+
+public class RenderBlockCacheCsvHandler extends AbstractDelayedConfigEventHandler
 {
 	private static final DhLogger LOGGER = new DhLoggerBuilder().build();
 	
@@ -43,18 +45,22 @@ public class RenderBlockCacheCsvHandler implements IConfigListener
 	//=============//
  	// constructor //
 	//=============//
+	//region
 	
 	/** private since we only ever need one handler at a time */
-	private RenderBlockCacheCsvHandler() { }
+	private RenderBlockCacheCsvHandler() { super(AbstractDelayedConfigEventHandler.DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_IN_MS); }
+	
+	//endregion
 	
 	
 	
 	//=================//
 	// config handling //
 	//=================//
+	//region
 	
 	@Override
-	public void onConfigValueSet()
+	public void onConfigTimeout()
 	{
 		IWrapperFactory wrapperFactory = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IWrapperFactory.class);
 		if (wrapperFactory != null)
@@ -64,6 +70,8 @@ public class RenderBlockCacheCsvHandler implements IConfigListener
 		}
 	}
 	
+	//endregion
+	
 	
 	
 }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/dataObjects/render/bufferBuilding/BufferQuad.java

@@ -59,9 +59,19 @@ public final class BufferQuad
 	
 	public boolean hasError = false;
 	
+	// Pre-computed sort keys to avoid recomputing on every comparison
+	// Slight increase in memory for reduction in cpu usage
+	public final long sortKeyEastWest;
+	public final long sortKeyNorthSouth;
 	
 	
-	BufferQuad(
+	
+	//=============//
+	// constructor //
+	//=============//
+	//region
+	
+	public BufferQuad(
 			short x, short y, short z, short widthEastWest, short widthNorthSouthOrHeight,
 			int color, byte irisBlockMaterialId, byte skylight, byte blockLight,
 			EDhDirection direction)
@@ -85,64 +95,46 @@ public final class BufferQuad
 		this.skyLight = skylight;
 		this.blockLight = blockLight;
 		this.direction = direction;
+		this.sortKeyEastWest = computeSortKey(direction, true);
+		this.sortKeyNorthSouth = computeSortKey(direction, false);
 	}
-	
-	
-	
-	/** a rough but fast calculation */
-	double calculateDistance(double relativeX, double relativeY, double relativeZ)
+	private long computeSortKey(EDhDirection dir, boolean eastWest)
 	{
-		return Math.pow(relativeX - this.x, 2) + Math.pow(relativeY - this.y, 2) + Math.pow(relativeZ - this.z, 2);
+		if (eastWest)
+		{
+			switch (dir.axis)
+			{
+				case X: return (long) x << 48 | (long) y << 32 | (long) z << 16;
+				case Y: return (long) y << 48 | (long) z << 32 | (long) x << 16;
+				case Z: return (long) z << 48 | (long) y << 32 | (long) x << 16;
+				default: throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid Axis enum: [" + dir.axis + "].");
+			}
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			switch (dir.axis)
+			{
+				case X: return (long) x << 48 | (long) z << 32 | (long) y << 16;
+				case Y: return (long) y << 48 | (long) x << 32 | (long) z << 16;
+				case Z: return (long) z << 48 | (long) x << 32 | (long) y << 16;
+				default: throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid Axis enum: [" + dir.axis + "].");
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	
-	/** compares this quad's position to the given quad */
+	//endregion
+	
+	
+	
+	/** compares this quad's position to the given quad using pre-computed sort keys */
 	public int compare(BufferQuad quad, BufferMergeDirectionEnum compareDirection)
 	{
 		if (this.direction != quad.direction)
 			throw new IllegalArgumentException("The other quad is not in the same direction: " + quad.direction + " vs " + this.direction);
 		
-		if (compareDirection == BufferMergeDirectionEnum.EastWest)
-		{
-			switch (this.direction.axis)
-			{
-				case X:
-					return threeDimensionalCompare(this.x, this.y, this.z, quad.x, quad.y, quad.z);
-				case Y:
-					return threeDimensionalCompare(this.y, this.z, this.x, quad.y, quad.z, quad.x);
-				case Z:
-					return threeDimensionalCompare(this.z, this.y, this.x, quad.z, quad.y, quad.x);
-				
-				default:
-					throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid Axis enum: [" + this.direction.axis + "].");
-			}
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			switch (this.direction.axis)
-			{
-				case X:
-					return threeDimensionalCompare(this.x, this.z, this.y, quad.x, quad.z, quad.y);
-				case Y:
-					return threeDimensionalCompare(this.y, this.x, this.z, quad.y, quad.x, quad.z);
-				case Z:
-					return threeDimensionalCompare(this.z, this.x, this.y, quad.z, quad.x, quad.y);
-				
-				default:
-					throw new IllegalArgumentException("Invalid Axis enum: [" + this.direction.axis + "].");
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	/**
-	 * Compares two 3D points A and B. <br>
-	 * The X, Y, and Z coordinates can be passed into parameters 0, 1, and 2 in any order
-	 * provided they are in the same order for both A and B. <br>
-	 * With the 0th parameter being the most significant when comparing.
-	 */
-	private static int threeDimensionalCompare(short a0, short a1, short a2, short b0, short b1, short b2)
-	{
-		long a = (long) a0 << 48 | (long) a1 << 32 | (long) a2 << 16;
-		long b = (long) b0 << 48 | (long) b1 << 32 | (long) b2 << 16;
-		return Long.compare(a, b);
+		return compareDirection == BufferMergeDirectionEnum.EastWest
+			? Long.compare(this.sortKeyEastWest, quad.sortKeyEastWest)
+			: Long.compare(this.sortKeyNorthSouth, quad.sortKeyNorthSouth);
 	}
 	
 	
@@ -154,11 +146,15 @@ public final class BufferQuad
 	public boolean tryMerge(BufferQuad quad, BufferMergeDirectionEnum mergeDirection)
 	{
 		if (quad.hasError || this.hasError)
+		{
 			return false;
+		}
 		
 		// only merge quads that are in the same direction
 		if (this.direction != quad.direction)
+		{
 			return false;
+		}
 		
 		// make sure these quads share the same perpendicular axis
 		if ((mergeDirection == BufferMergeDirectionEnum.EastWest && this.y != quad.y)
@@ -175,7 +171,6 @@ public final class BufferQuad
 		short otherParallelCompareStartPos;
 		switch (this.direction.axis)
 		{
-			default: // shouldn't normally happen, just here to make the compiler happy
 			case X:
 				if (mergeDirection == BufferMergeDirectionEnum.EastWest)
 				{
@@ -232,6 +227,9 @@ public final class BufferQuad
 					otherParallelCompareStartPos = quad.z;
 				}
 				break;
+			
+			default: // shouldn't normally happen, just here to make the compiler happy
+				throw new IllegalArgumentException("Unsupported axis: ["+this.direction.axis+"]");
 		}
 		
 		// get the width of this quad in the relevant axis
@@ -333,4 +331,6 @@ public final class BufferQuad
 		return true;
 	}
 	
+	
+	
 }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/dataObjects/render/bufferBuilding/ColumnBox.java

@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.EDhDirection;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhClientLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.pooling.PhantomArrayListCheckout;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.ColorUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.ColorUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.RenderDataPointUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.render.columnViews.ColumnRenderView;
@@ -341,13 +341,24 @@ public class ColumnBox
 			
 			
 			// Apply light to the range [adjMinY, adjMaxY)
-			applyLightToRange(segments, newSegments, adjMinY, adjMaxY, lightToApply);
+			applyLightToRangeAndPopulateNewSgements(segments, newSegments, adjMinY, adjMaxY, lightToApply);
+			{
+				// swap references so we can use the newly populated segments
+				LongArrayList temp = segments;
+				segments = newSegments;
+				newSegments = temp;
+			}
 			
 			// Fill overhang area [adjMaxY, adjAboveMinY) with adjSkyLight
 			short adjAboveMinY = RenderDataPointUtil.getYMin(adjAbovePoint);
 			if (adjMaxY < adjAboveMinY)
 			{
-				applyLightToRange(segments, newSegments, adjMaxY, adjAboveMinY, adjSkyLight);
+				applyLightToRangeAndPopulateNewSgements(segments, newSegments, adjMaxY, adjAboveMinY, adjSkyLight);
+				{
+					LongArrayList temp = segments;
+					segments = newSegments;
+					newSegments = temp;
+				}
 			}
 		}
 		
@@ -373,10 +384,11 @@ public class ColumnBox
 	/**
 	 * Apply the new light value over the given y range,
 	 * splitting segments as needed
+	 * and putting the new segments into "newSegments"
 	 * <p>
 	 * source: claude.ai
 	 */
-	private static void applyLightToRange(
+	private static void applyLightToRangeAndPopulateNewSgements(
 			LongArrayList segments, LongArrayList newSegments, 
 			short rangeStart, short rangeEnd, 
 			byte newLight)
@@ -419,9 +431,6 @@ public class ColumnBox
 				newSegments.add(YSegmentUtil.encode(rangeEnd, endY, skyLight));
 			}
 		}
-		
-		segments.clear();
-		segments.addAll(newSegments);
 	}
 	
 	private static void tryAddVerticalFaceWithSkyLightToBuilder(

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/dataObjects/render/bufferBuilding/ColumnRenderBufferBuilder.java

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.pooling.PhantomArrayListChec
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.pooling.PhantomArrayListPool;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.ColorUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.ColorUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.RenderDataPointUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.render.columnViews.ColumnRenderView;
@@ -55,26 +55,6 @@ public class ColumnRenderBufferBuilder
 	// vbo building //
 	//==============//
 	
-	/** @link adjData should be null for adjacent sections that cross detail level boundaries */
-	public static CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer> uploadBuffersAsync(
-			IDhClientLevel clientLevel,
-			long pos,
-			LodQuadBuilder quadBuilder
-		)
-	{
-		DhBlockPos minBlockPos = new DhBlockPos(DhSectionPos.getMinCornerBlockX(pos), clientLevel.getLevelWrapper().getMinHeight(), DhSectionPos.getMinCornerBlockZ(pos));
-		LodBufferContainer bufferContainer = new LodBufferContainer(pos, minBlockPos);
-		CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer> uploadFuture = bufferContainer.tryMakeAndUploadBuffersAsync(quadBuilder);
-		uploadFuture.whenComplete((uploadedBuffer, exception) -> 
-		{
-			// clean up if not uploaded
-			if (uploadedBuffer != null && !uploadedBuffer.buffersUploaded)
-			{
-				uploadedBuffer.close();
-			}
-		});
-		return uploadFuture;
-	}
 	public static void makeLodRenderData(
 			LodQuadBuilder quadBuilder, ColumnRenderSource renderSource, IDhClientLevel clientLevel,
 			ColumnRenderSource[] adjRegions, boolean[] isSameDetailLevel)

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/dataObjects/render/bufferBuilding/LodBufferContainer.java

@@ -20,13 +20,13 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.render.bufferBuilding;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhClientLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.RenderThreadTaskHandler;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.ExceptionUtil;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.IWrapperFactory;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.render.AbstractDhRenderApiDefinition;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.render.objects.ILodContainerUniformBufferWrapper;
@@ -37,7 +37,6 @@ import org.lwjgl.system.MemoryUtil;
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.concurrent.*;
-import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicReference;
 
 /**
  * Java representation of one or more OpenGL buffers for rendering.
@@ -63,8 +62,6 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 	
 	public ILodContainerUniformBufferWrapper uniformContainer = WRAPPER_FACTORY.createLodContainerUniformWrapper();
 	
-	private final AtomicReference<CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer>> uploadFutureRef = new AtomicReference<>(null);
-	
 	
 	
 	//==============//
@@ -72,7 +69,7 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 	//==============//
 	//region
 	
-	public LodBufferContainer(long pos, DhBlockPos minCornerBlockPos)
+	private LodBufferContainer(long pos, DhBlockPos minCornerBlockPos)
 	{
 		this.pos = pos;
 		this.minCornerBlockPos = minCornerBlockPos;
@@ -92,41 +89,12 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 	//region
 	
 	/** Should be run on a DH thread. */
-	public synchronized CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer> tryMakeAndUploadBuffersAsync(LodQuadBuilder builder)
+	public static CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer> tryMakeAndUploadBuffersAsync(
+		long pos, IDhClientLevel clientLevel,
+		LodQuadBuilder builder)
 	{
-		//================//
-		// handle futures //
-		//================//
-		//region
-		
-		// separate variable to prevent race condition when checking null
-		CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer> oldFuture = this.uploadFutureRef.get();
-		if (oldFuture != null)
-		{
-			// upload already in process
-			return oldFuture;
-		}
-		
 		// new upload needed
 		CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer> future = new CompletableFuture<>();
-		future.handle((lodBufferContainer, throwable) -> 
-		{
-			if (!this.uploadFutureRef.compareAndSet(future, null))
-			{
-				LOGGER.warn("upload future ref changed for pos ["+DhSectionPos.toString(this.pos)+"].");
-			}
-			
-			return null;
-		});
-		
-		if (!this.uploadFutureRef.compareAndSet(null, future))
-		{
-			oldFuture = this.uploadFutureRef.get();
-			LodUtil.assertTrue(oldFuture != null, "Concurrency error");
-			return oldFuture;
-		}
-		
-		//endregion
 		
 		
 		
@@ -135,91 +103,119 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 		//================//
 		//region
 		
+		DhBlockPos minCornerBlockPos = new DhBlockPos(
+			DhSectionPos.getMinCornerBlockX(pos),
+			clientLevel.getLevelWrapper().getMinHeight(),
+			DhSectionPos.getMinCornerBlockZ(pos));
+		LodBufferContainer bufferContainer = new LodBufferContainer(pos, minCornerBlockPos);
+		
+		// create CPU vertex buffers
 		ArrayList<ByteBuffer> opaqueBuffers = builder.makeOpaqueVertexBuffers();
 		ArrayList<ByteBuffer> transparentBuffers = builder.makeTransparentVertexBuffers();
 		
-		this.vboOpaqueWrappers = resizeWrapperArray(this.vboOpaqueWrappers, opaqueBuffers.size());
-		this.vboTransparentWrappers = resizeWrapperArray(this.vboTransparentWrappers, transparentBuffers.size());
+		// update arrays to contain buffers
+		bufferContainer.vboOpaqueWrappers = resizeWrapperArray(bufferContainer.vboOpaqueWrappers, opaqueBuffers.size());
+		bufferContainer.vboTransparentWrappers = resizeWrapperArray(bufferContainer.vboTransparentWrappers, transparentBuffers.size());
 		
-		// mac requires separate IBO objects for each VBO when using OpenGL,
+		// create CPU index buffers if needed.
+		// Mac requires separate IBO objects for each VBO when using OpenGL,
 		// all other OS's can share a single IBO for quicker loading times
 		boolean useSingleIbo = RENDER_DEF.useSingleIbo();
-		@Nullable ArrayList<ByteBuffer> opaqueIndexBuffers = useSingleIbo ? null : this.createIndexBuffers(opaqueBuffers);
-		@Nullable ArrayList<ByteBuffer> transparentIndexBuffers = useSingleIbo ? null : this.createIndexBuffers(transparentBuffers);
+		@Nullable ArrayList<ByteBuffer> opaqueIndexBuffers = useSingleIbo ? null : bufferContainer.createIndexBuffers(opaqueBuffers);
+		@Nullable ArrayList<ByteBuffer> transparentIndexBuffers = useSingleIbo ? null : bufferContainer.createIndexBuffers(transparentBuffers);
 		
 		//endregion
 		
 		
 		
-		//================//
-		// upload buffers //
-		//================//
-		//region
-		
-		try
-		{
 		//=============//
 		// create VBOs //
 		//=============//
+		//region	
 		
-			CompletableFuture<Void> createOpaqueFuture = createBufferWrappersAsync(future, this.vboOpaqueWrappers, opaqueBuffers);
-			CompletableFuture<Void> createTransparentFuture = createBufferWrappersAsync(future, this.vboTransparentWrappers, transparentBuffers);
-			
-			CompletableFuture<Void> createFuture = CompletableFuture.allOf(createOpaqueFuture, createTransparentFuture);
-			createFuture.exceptionally((Throwable e) ->
+		CompletableFuture<Void> createFuture = new CompletableFuture<Void>();
+		RenderThreadTaskHandler.INSTANCE.queueRunningOnRenderThread("LodBufferContainer Setup", () ->
 		{
-				// create VBOs failed //
-				
-				if (!ExceptionUtil.isShutdownException(e))
+			try
 			{
-					LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue creating buffer [" + this.minCornerBlockPos + "], error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
+				// skip this event if requested
+				if (Thread.interrupted()
+					|| future.isCancelled())
+				{
+					throw new InterruptedException();
 				}
-				future.completeExceptionally(e);
-				return null;
-			});
-			createFuture.thenRun(() ->
-			{
-				//=============//
-				// upload VBOs //
-				//=============//
 				
-				CompletableFuture<Void> opaqueFuture = uploadBuffersAsync(future, this.vboOpaqueWrappers, opaqueBuffers, opaqueIndexBuffers);
-				CompletableFuture<Void> transparentFuture = uploadBuffersAsync(future, this.vboTransparentWrappers, transparentBuffers, transparentIndexBuffers);
+				createBufferWrappers(bufferContainer.vboOpaqueWrappers, opaqueBuffers);
+				createBufferWrappers(bufferContainer.vboTransparentWrappers, transparentBuffers);
 				
-				CompletableFuture<Void> uploadFuture = CompletableFuture.allOf(opaqueFuture, transparentFuture);
-				uploadFuture.exceptionally((Throwable e) ->
-				{
-					// upload failed //
-					
-					if (!ExceptionUtil.isShutdownException(e))
-					{
-						LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue uploading buffer [" + this.minCornerBlockPos + "], error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
-					}
-					future.completeExceptionally(e);
-					return null;
-				});
-				uploadFuture.thenRun(() ->
-				{
-					// upload success /
-					
-					this.buffersUploaded = true;
-					future.complete(this);
-				});
-			});
+				createFuture.complete(null);
 			}
 			catch (Exception e)
 			{
 				if (!ExceptionUtil.isShutdownException(e))
 				{
-				LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue prepping buffer uploading [" + this.minCornerBlockPos + "], error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
+					LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue creating buffers for pos: ["+DhSectionPos.toString(bufferContainer.pos)+"], error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
 				}
+
+				bufferContainer.close();
+				createFuture.completeExceptionally(e);
+			}
+		});
+		
+		//endregion
+		
+		
+		
+		//====================//
+		// upload VBOs to GPU //
+		//====================//
+		//region
+		
+		createFuture.exceptionally((Throwable e) ->
+		{
+			// create VBOs failed //
+			if (!ExceptionUtil.isShutdownException(e))
+			{
+				LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue creating buffer [" + bufferContainer.minCornerBlockPos + "], error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
+			}
+			
+			bufferContainer.close();
 			future.completeExceptionally(e);
+			return null;
+		});
+		createFuture.thenRun(() ->
+		{
+			CompletableFuture<Void> opaqueFuture = uploadBuffersAsync(future, bufferContainer.vboOpaqueWrappers, opaqueBuffers, opaqueIndexBuffers);
+			CompletableFuture<Void> transparentFuture = uploadBuffersAsync(future, bufferContainer.vboTransparentWrappers, transparentBuffers, transparentIndexBuffers);
+			CompletableFuture<Void> uploadFuture = CompletableFuture.allOf(opaqueFuture, transparentFuture);
+			uploadFuture.exceptionally((Throwable e) ->
+			{
+				// upload failed //
+				if (!ExceptionUtil.isShutdownException(e))
+				{
+					LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue uploading buffer [" + bufferContainer.minCornerBlockPos + "], error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
 				}
 				
+				bufferContainer.close();
+				future.completeExceptionally(e);
+				return null;
+			});
+			uploadFuture.thenRun(() ->
+			{
+				// upload success //
+				bufferContainer.buffersUploaded = true;
+				future.complete(bufferContainer);
+			});
+		});
 		
-		//================//
-		// buffer cleanup //
-		//================//
+		//endregion
+		
+		
+		
+		//====================//
+		// CPU Buffer cleanup //
+		//====================//
+		//region
 		
 		future.whenComplete((LodBufferContainer lodBufferContainer, Throwable throwable) -> 
 		{
@@ -259,9 +255,9 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 		{
 			ByteBuffer buffer = vertexBuffers.get(i);
 			int size = buffer.limit() - buffer.position();
-			int vertexCount = size / LodQuadBuilder.BYTES_PER_VERTEX;
-			
-			ByteBuffer indexBuffer = IndexBufferBuilder.createBuffer(vertexCount);
+			int maxVertexCount = size / LodQuadBuilder.BYTES_PER_VERTEX;
+			int quadCount = (maxVertexCount / 4);
+			ByteBuffer indexBuffer = IndexBufferBuilder.createBuffer(quadCount);
 			indexBuffers.add(indexBuffer);
 		}
 		
@@ -290,11 +286,8 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 		return newVbos;
 	}
 	
-	private static CompletableFuture<Void> createBufferWrappersAsync(
-		CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer> parentFuture, 
-		IVertexBufferWrapper[] vboWrappers, ArrayList<ByteBuffer> vertexBuffers)
+	private static void createBufferWrappers(IVertexBufferWrapper[] vboWrappers, ArrayList<ByteBuffer> vertexBuffers)
 	{
-		ArrayList<CompletableFuture<Void>> createVboFutureList = new ArrayList<>();
 		for (int i = 0; i < vertexBuffers.size(); i++)
 		{
 			if (i >= vboWrappers.length)
@@ -304,45 +297,9 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 			
 			if (vboWrappers[i] == null)
 			{
-				final int finalVboIndex = i;
-				
-				CompletableFuture<Void> future = new CompletableFuture<>();
-				createVboFutureList.add(future);
-				
-				RenderThreadTaskHandler.INSTANCE.queueRunningOnRenderThread("LodBufferContainer Setup", () ->
-				{
-					try
-					{
-						// skip this event if requested
-						if (Thread.interrupted()
-							|| parentFuture.isCancelled())
-						{
-							throw new InterruptedException();
-						}
-						
-						
-						vboWrappers[finalVboIndex] = WRAPPER_FACTORY.createVboWrapper("distantHorizons:McLodRenderer");
-						future.complete(null);
-					}
-					catch (Exception e)
-					{
-						future.completeExceptionally(e);
-					}
-				});
+				vboWrappers[i] = WRAPPER_FACTORY.createVboWrapper("distantHorizons:McLodRenderer");
 			}
 		}
-		
-		if (createVboFutureList.size() == 0)
-		{
-			return CompletableFuture.completedFuture(null);
-		}
-		
-		CompletableFuture<?>[] futureArray = new CompletableFuture[createVboFutureList.size()];
-		for (int i = 0; i < createVboFutureList.size(); i++)
-		{
-			futureArray[i] = createVboFutureList.get(i);
-		}
-		return CompletableFuture.allOf(futureArray);
 	}
 	
 	/** Index buffers should be null if {@link AbstractDhRenderApiDefinition#useSingleIbo()} returns true. */
@@ -365,8 +322,6 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 			
 			// final variables for use in lambdas //
 			
-			final int finalVboIndex = vboIndex;
-			
 			final IVertexBufferWrapper finalVboWrapper = vboWrappers[vboIndex];
 			
 			final ByteBuffer finalVertexBuffer = vertexBuffers.get(vboIndex);
@@ -385,6 +340,8 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 			CompletableFuture<Void> vertexUploadFuture = new CompletableFuture<>();
 			uploadFutureList.add(vertexUploadFuture);
 			
+			
+			final StackTraceElement[] stackTraceElements = Thread.currentThread().getStackTrace();
 			RenderThreadTaskHandler.INSTANCE.queueRunningOnRenderThread("LodBufferContainer VBO Upload", () ->
 			{
 				try
@@ -396,21 +353,12 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 						throw new InterruptedException();
 					}
 					
-					
-					try
-					{
 					finalVboWrapper.uploadVertexBuffer(finalVertexBuffer, finalVertexCount);
 					vertexUploadFuture.complete(null);
 				}
 				catch (Exception e)
 				{
-						vboWrappers[finalVboIndex] = null;
-						finalVboWrapper.close();
 					LOGGER.error("Failed to upload buffer. Error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
-					}
-				}
-				catch (Exception e)
-				{
 					vertexUploadFuture.completeExceptionally(e);
 				}
 			});
@@ -445,6 +393,7 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 					}
 					catch (Exception e)
 					{
+						finalVboWrapper.close();
 						indexUploadFuture.completeExceptionally(e);
 					}
 				});
@@ -532,26 +481,29 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 		
 		RenderThreadTaskHandler.INSTANCE.queueRunningOnRenderThread("LodBufferContainer Close", () -> 
 		{
-			for (IVertexBufferWrapper buffer : this.vboOpaqueWrappers)
-			{
-				if (buffer != null)
-				{
-					buffer.close();
-				}
-			}
-			
-			for (IVertexBufferWrapper buffer : this.vboTransparentWrappers)
-			{
-				if (buffer != null)
-				{
-					buffer.close();
-				}
-			}
+			tryCloseBufferWrapperArray(this.vboOpaqueWrappers);
+			tryCloseBufferWrapperArray(this.vboTransparentWrappers);
 			
 			this.uniformContainer.close();
 		});
 	}
 	
+	private static void tryCloseBufferWrapperArray(@Nullable IVertexBufferWrapper[] bufferWrappers)
+	{
+		if (bufferWrappers != null)
+		{
+			for (int i = 0; i < bufferWrappers.length; i++)
+			{
+				IVertexBufferWrapper buffer = bufferWrappers[i];
+				bufferWrappers[i] = null;
+				if (buffer != null)
+				{
+					buffer.close();
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	
 	//endregion
 	
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/dataObjects/render/bufferBuilding/LodQuadBuilder.java

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.EDhDirection;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.ColorUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.ColorUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
 import org.lwjgl.system.MemoryUtil;
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public class LodQuadBuilder
 	public static final int BYTES_PER_QUAD = BYTES_PER_VERTEX * 4;
 	
 	public static final int[][][] DIRECTION_VERTEX_IBO_QUAD = new int[][][]
-	///region
+	//region
 		{
 			// X,Z //
 			{ // UP
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ public class LodQuadBuilder
 				{0, 0}, // 3
 			},
 		};
-	///endregion
+	//endregion
 	
 	private int premergeCount = 0;
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/dataObjects/transformers/FullDataToRenderDataTransformer.java

@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.block.IBlockStateWrappe
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IBiomeWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.BitShiftUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.ColorUtil;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.LongArrayList;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.LongOpenHashSet;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
@@ -128,6 +129,7 @@ public class FullDataToRenderDataTransformer
 			ColumnRenderView tempExpandingColumnView = ColumnRenderView.getPooled();
 			RenderDataPointReducingList reducingList = new RenderDataPointReducingList())
 		{
+			DhBlockPosMutable mutableBlockPos = new DhBlockPosMutable();
 			for (int x = 0; x < FullDataSourceV2.WIDTH; x++)
 			{
 				for (int z = 0; z < FullDataSourceV2.WIDTH; z++)
@@ -141,7 +143,7 @@ public class FullDataToRenderDataTransformer
 						baseX + BitShiftUtil.pow(x, dataDetail), baseZ + BitShiftUtil.pow(z, dataDetail),
 						columnArrayView, dataColumn,
 						// pooled references so we don't need to re-allocate/get them 4000 times per render source
-						phantomCheckout, tempExpandingColumnView, reducingList);
+						phantomCheckout, tempExpandingColumnView, reducingList, mutableBlockPos);
 				}
 			}
 		}
@@ -156,7 +158,7 @@ public class FullDataToRenderDataTransformer
 			ColumnRenderView columnArrayView, 
 			LongArrayList fullDataColumn,
 			// pooled references
-			PhantomArrayListCheckout phantomCheckout, ColumnRenderView tempExpandingColumnView, RenderDataPointReducingList reducingList)
+			PhantomArrayListCheckout phantomCheckout, ColumnRenderView tempExpandingColumnView, RenderDataPointReducingList reducingList, DhBlockPosMutable mutableBlockPos)
 	{
 		// we can't do anything if the full data is missing or empty
 		if (fullDataColumn == null 
@@ -169,7 +171,7 @@ public class FullDataToRenderDataTransformer
 		if (fullDataLength <= columnArrayView.maxVerticalSliceCount)
 		{
 			// Directly use the arrayView since it fits.
-			setRenderColumnView(levelWrapper, fullDataSource, blockX, blockZ, columnArrayView, fullDataColumn);
+			setRenderColumnView(levelWrapper, fullDataSource, blockX, blockZ, columnArrayView, fullDataColumn, mutableBlockPos);
 		}
 		else
 		{
@@ -177,7 +179,7 @@ public class FullDataToRenderDataTransformer
 			
 			// expand the ColumnArrayView to fit the new larger max vertical size
 			tempExpandingColumnView.populate(dataArrayList, fullDataLength, 0, fullDataLength);
-			setRenderColumnView(levelWrapper, fullDataSource, blockX, blockZ, tempExpandingColumnView, fullDataColumn);
+			setRenderColumnView(levelWrapper, fullDataSource, blockX, blockZ, tempExpandingColumnView, fullDataColumn, mutableBlockPos);
 			
 			columnArrayView.changeVerticalSizeFrom(tempExpandingColumnView, reducingList);
 		}
@@ -185,7 +187,7 @@ public class FullDataToRenderDataTransformer
 	private static void setRenderColumnView(
 			IClientLevelWrapper levelWrapper, FullDataSourceV2 fullDataSource,
 			int blockX, int blockZ,
-			ColumnRenderView renderColumnData, LongArrayList fullColumnData)
+			ColumnRenderView renderColumnData, LongArrayList fullColumnData, DhBlockPosMutable mutableBlockPos)
 	{
 		//===============//
 		// config values //
@@ -241,7 +243,8 @@ public class FullDataToRenderDataTransformer
 		
 		FullDataPointIdMap fullDataMapping = fullDataSource.mapping;
 		
-		DhBlockPosMutable mutableBlockPos = new DhBlockPosMutable(blockX, 0, blockZ);
+		mutableBlockPos.setX(blockX);
+		mutableBlockPos.setZ(blockZ);
 		
 		// goes from the top down
 		for (int fullDataIndex = 0; fullDataIndex < fullColumnData.size(); fullDataIndex++)
@@ -449,9 +452,18 @@ public class FullDataToRenderDataTransformer
 				// use the previous block's color
 				color = colorToApplyToNextBlock;
 				colorToApplyToNextBlock = -1;
+				
+				// use the skylight override if present
+				if (skylightToApplyToNextBlock != -1)
+				{
 					skyLight = skylightToApplyToNextBlock;
+				}
+				
+				if (blocklightToApplyToNextBlock != -1)
+				{
 					blockLight = blocklightToApplyToNextBlock;
 				}
+			}
 			
 			
 			

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/file/fullDatafile/GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider.java

@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.fullDatafile.V2.FullDataSourceProvid
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.delayedSaveCache.DelayedDataSourceSaveCache;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.structure.ISaveStructure;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.DhLightingEngine;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues.IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.DataSourceRetrievalResult;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.ERetrievalResultState;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhLevel;

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/file/fullDatafile/RemoteFullDataSourceProvider.java

@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.fullDatafile;
 import com.google.common.cache.CacheBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.fullData.sources.FullDataSourceV2;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.structure.ISaveStructure;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues.RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.DataSourceRetrievalResult;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhLevel;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.LodRequestModule;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues.LodRequestModule;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.ERetrievalResultState;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.client.SyncOnLoadRequestQueue;

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/generation/queues/AbstractLodRequestState.java

@@ -0,0 +1,227 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.worldGeneration.EDhApiDistantGeneratorProgressDisplayLocation;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.ClientApi;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.DhServerLevel;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhLevel;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.f3.F3Screen;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos2D;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.FormatUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.ThreadUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.RollingAverage;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.PriorityTaskPicker;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.ThreadPoolUtil;
+
+import java.time.Duration;
+import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
+import java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor;
+
+/** 
+ * Handles the {@link IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue} and any other necessary world gen information. 
+ * 
+ * @see LodRequestModule
+ * @see IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue
+ */
+public abstract class AbstractLodRequestState
+{
+	private static final DhLogger LOGGER = new DhLoggerBuilder().build();
+	
+	/** static so we only send the disable message once per session */
+	private static long firstProgressMessageSentMs = 0;
+	
+	
+	
+	public final IDhLevel dhLevel;
+	public final IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue retrievalQueue;
+	
+	private final ThreadPoolExecutor progressUpdaterThread = ThreadUtil.makeSingleDaemonThreadPool("World Gen Progress Updater");
+	private boolean progressUpdateThreadRunning = false;
+	
+	
+	
+	//===========================//
+	// request queue and logging //
+	//===========================//
+	//region
+	
+	public AbstractLodRequestState(IDhLevel dhLevel, IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue retrievalQueue)
+	{
+		this.dhLevel = dhLevel;
+		this.retrievalQueue = retrievalQueue;
+	}
+	
+	//endregion
+	
+	
+	
+	//===========================//
+	// request queue and logging //
+	//===========================//
+	//region
+	
+	/** @param targetPosForRequest the position that world generation should be centered around */
+	public void startRequestQueueAndSetTargetPos(DhBlockPos2D targetPosForRequest)
+	{
+		this.retrievalQueue.startAndSetTargetPos(targetPosForRequest);
+		this.startProgressUpdateThread();
+	}
+	private void startProgressUpdateThread()
+	{
+		// only start the thread once
+		if (!this.progressUpdateThreadRunning)
+		{
+			this.progressUpdateThreadRunning = true;
+			
+			progressUpdaterThread.execute(() ->
+			{
+				while (this.progressUpdateThreadRunning)
+				{
+					try
+					{
+						this.sendRetrievalProgress();
+						
+						// sleep so we only see an update once in a while
+						int sleepTimeInSec = Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationProgressDisplayIntervalInSeconds.get();
+						Thread.sleep(sleepTimeInSec * 1_000L);
+					}
+					catch (Exception e)
+					{
+						LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue displaying chunk retrieval progress [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
+					}
+				}
+			});
+		}
+	}
+	private void sendRetrievalProgress()
+	{
+		// format the remaining chunks
+		int remainingChunkCount = this.retrievalQueue.getRetrievalEstimatedRemainingChunkCount();
+		remainingChunkCount += this.retrievalQueue.getQueuedChunkCount();
+		String remainingChunkCountStr = F3Screen.NUMBER_FORMAT.format(remainingChunkCount);
+		
+		String message = "DH is generating chunks. ";
+		if (this.dhLevel.getClass() == DhServerLevel.class)
+		{
+			// server levels can have multiple world generators running at once,
+			// this helps us track of which queue is which
+			message += "For " + this.dhLevel.getLevelWrapper().getDimensionName() + " ";
+		}
+		message += remainingChunkCountStr + " left.";
+		
+		// show a message about how to disable progress logging if requested
+		int msToShowDisableInstructions = Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationProgressDisableMessageDisplayTimeInSeconds.get() * 1_000;
+		if (msToShowDisableInstructions > 0)
+		{
+			long timeSinceFirstMessageInMs = (System.currentTimeMillis() - firstProgressMessageSentMs);
+			// always show this message for the first tick
+			if (firstProgressMessageSentMs == 0
+				// show this message if there is still time
+				|| timeSinceFirstMessageInMs < msToShowDisableInstructions)
+			{
+				// append to the current message
+				message += " This message can be hidden in the DH config.";
+			}
+		}
+		
+		// add the remaining time estimate if available
+		double chunksPerSec = this.getEstimatedChunksPerSecond();
+		if (chunksPerSec > 0)
+		{
+			long estimatedRemainingTime = (long) (remainingChunkCount / chunksPerSec);
+			message += " ETA: " + FormatUtil.formatEta(Duration.ofSeconds(estimatedRemainingTime));
+			
+			if (Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationProgressIncludeChunksPerSecond.get())
+			{
+				message += " at " + F3Screen.NUMBER_FORMAT.format(chunksPerSec) + " chunks/sec";
+			}
+		}
+		
+		// only log if there are chunks needing to be generated
+		if (remainingChunkCount != 0)
+		{
+			// determine where to log
+			EDhApiDistantGeneratorProgressDisplayLocation displayLocation = Config.Common.WorldGenerator.showGenerationProgress.get();
+			if (displayLocation == EDhApiDistantGeneratorProgressDisplayLocation.OVERLAY)
+			{
+				ClientApi.INSTANCE.showOverlayMessageNextFrame(message);
+			}
+			else if (displayLocation == EDhApiDistantGeneratorProgressDisplayLocation.CHAT)
+			{
+				ClientApi.INSTANCE.showChatMessageNextFrame(message);
+			}
+			else if (displayLocation == EDhApiDistantGeneratorProgressDisplayLocation.LOG)
+			{
+				LOGGER.info(message);
+			}
+			
+			
+			// mark when the first message was sent
+			if (firstProgressMessageSentMs == 0)
+			{
+				firstProgressMessageSentMs = System.currentTimeMillis();
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	
+	/** @return -1 if this method isn't supported or available */
+	public double getEstimatedChunksPerSecond()
+	{
+		RollingAverage avg = this.retrievalQueue.getRollingAverageChunkGenTimeInMs();
+		if (avg == null)
+		{
+			return -1;
+		}
+		
+		
+		PriorityTaskPicker.Executor executor = ThreadPoolUtil.getWorldGenExecutor();
+		int threadCount = 1;
+		if (executor != null)
+		{
+			threadCount = executor.getPoolSize();
+		}
+		
+		// convert chunk generation time in milliseconds to chunks per second
+		double chunksPerSecond = (1 / avg.getAverage()) * 1_000;
+		// estimate the number of chunks that can be processed per second by all threads
+		// Note: this is probably higher than the actual number, we might want to drop this by 1 or 2 to give a more realistic estimate
+		chunksPerSecond = threadCount * chunksPerSecond;
+		
+		return chunksPerSecond;
+	}
+	
+	//endregion
+	
+	
+	
+	//================//
+	// base overrides //
+	//================//
+	//region
+	
+	public CompletableFuture<Void> closeAsync(boolean doInterrupt)
+	{
+		// this should stop the updater thread
+		this.progressUpdateThreadRunning = false;
+		
+		return this.retrievalQueue.startClosingAsync(true, doInterrupt)
+			.exceptionally(e ->
+				{
+					LOGGER.error("Error during first stage of generation queue shutdown, Error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
+					return null;
+				}
+			).thenRun(this.retrievalQueue::close)
+			.exceptionally(e ->
+			{
+				LOGGER.error("Error during second stage of generation queue shutdown, Error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
+				return null;
+			});
+	}
+	
+	//endregion
+	
+	
+	
+}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/generation/queues/IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue.java

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
  *    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
-package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation;
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.DataSourceRetrievalResult;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos2D;
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
  * Used by both world gen and server networking.
  * 
  * @see LodQuadTree
+ * @see AbstractLodRequestState
+ * @see LodRequestModule
  */
 public interface IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue extends Closeable
 {

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/generation/queues/LodRequestModule.java

@@ -17,39 +17,35 @@
  *    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
-package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level;
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues;
 
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.worldGeneration.EDhApiDistantGeneratorProgressDisplayLocation;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.ClientApi;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.fullDatafile.GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.*;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.f3.F3Screen;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos2D;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.FormatUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.ThreadUtil;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.RollingAverage;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.PriorityTaskPicker;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.ThreadPoolUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.DhApiWorldProxy;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 
 import java.io.Closeable;
-import java.time.Duration;
 import java.util.List;
-import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
 import java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor;
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicReference;
 import java.util.function.Supplier;
 
 /**
  * Handles both single-player/server-side world gen and client side LOD requests.
+ * 
+ * @see AbstractLodRequestState
+ * @see IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue
  */
 public class LodRequestModule implements Closeable
 {
 	private static final DhLogger LOGGER = new DhLoggerBuilder().build();
 	
+	
+	private final IDhLevel level;
 	private final GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider.IOnWorldGenCompleteListener onWorldGenCompleteListener;
 	private final ThreadPoolExecutor tickerThread;
 	
@@ -63,6 +59,7 @@ public class LodRequestModule implements Closeable
 	//=============//
 	// constructor //
 	//=============//
+	//region
 	
 	public LodRequestModule(
 			IDhLevel level,
@@ -71,38 +68,73 @@ public class LodRequestModule implements Closeable
 			Supplier<? extends AbstractLodRequestState> worldGenStateSupplier
 		)
 	{
+		this.level = level;
 		this.onWorldGenCompleteListener = onWorldGenCompleteListener;
 		this.dataSourceProvider = dataSourceProvider;
 		this.worldGenStateSupplier = worldGenStateSupplier;
 		
-		String levelId = level.getLevelWrapper().getDhIdentifier();
+		String levelId = this.level.getLevelWrapper().getDhIdentifier();
 		this.tickerThread = ThreadUtil.makeSingleDaemonThreadPool("Request Module Ticker ["+levelId+"]");
 		this.tickerThread.execute(this::tickLoop);
 	}
 	
+	//endregion
+	
 	
 	
 	//=========//
 	// ticking //
 	//=========//
+	//region
 	
 	private void tickLoop()
 	{
 		try
 		{
+			// Initial wait is to prevent an issue
+			// where this starts before the child object's constructor finishes,
+			// causing null pointers on final non-null references.
+			// The try-catch in the while loop should also handle this
+			// but this way we shouldn't have error logs.
+			Thread.sleep(500);
+			
+			// run until the threadpool is shut down
 			while (!Thread.interrupted())
+			{
+				try
 				{
 					Thread.sleep(20);
+					
 					this.tick();
 				}
+				catch (InterruptedException e) { throw e; }
+				catch (Exception e)
+				{
+					LOGGER.error("Unexpected error in [" + LodRequestModule.class.getSimpleName() + "] tick loop, error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
+				}
+			}
 		}
 		catch (InterruptedException ignore) { }
 	}
 	private void tick()
 	{
 		boolean shouldDoWorldGen = this.onWorldGenCompleteListener.shouldDoWorldGen();
+		
 		// if the world is read only don't generate anything
-		shouldDoWorldGen &= !DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.getReadOnly();
+		shouldDoWorldGen &= !DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.tryGetReadOnly();
+		
+		// don't generate chunks for client levels that aren't being rendered
+		// (this can happen when moving between dimensions)
+		if (this.level instanceof IDhClientLevel)
+		{
+			boolean isRendering = ((IDhClientLevel) this.level).isRendering();
+			if (!isRendering)
+			{
+				shouldDoWorldGen = false;
+			}
+		}
+		
+		
 		
 		boolean isWorldGenRunning = this.isWorldGenRunning();
 		if (shouldDoWorldGen && !isWorldGenRunning)
@@ -130,11 +162,14 @@ public class LodRequestModule implements Closeable
 		}
 	}
 	
+	//endregion
+	
 	
 	
 	//===================//
 	// world gen control //
 	//===================//
+	//region
 	
 	public void startWorldGen(GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider dataFileHandler, AbstractLodRequestState newWgs)
 	{
@@ -173,11 +208,14 @@ public class LodRequestModule implements Closeable
 		dataFileHandler.removeWorldGenCompleteListener(this.onWorldGenCompleteListener);
 	}
 	
+	//endregion
+	
 	
 	
 	//=======================//
 	// base method overrides //
 	//=======================//
+	//region
 	
 	@Override
 	public void close()
@@ -205,11 +243,14 @@ public class LodRequestModule implements Closeable
 		}
 	}
 	
+	//endregion
+	
 	
 	
 	//=========//
 	// getters //
 	//=========//
+	//region
 	
 	public boolean isWorldGenRunning() { return this.lodRequestStateRef.get() != null; }
 	
@@ -241,170 +282,7 @@ public class LodRequestModule implements Closeable
 		worldGenState.retrievalQueue.addDebugMenuStringsToList(messageList);
 	}
 	
-	
-	
-	//================//
-	// helper classes //
-	//================//
-	
-	/** Handles the {@link IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue} and any other necessary world gen information. */
-	public static abstract class AbstractLodRequestState
-	{
-		/** static so we only send the disable message once per session */
-		private static long firstProgressMessageSentMs = 0;
-		
-		public IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue retrievalQueue;
-		
-		private static final ThreadPoolExecutor PROGRESS_UPDATER_THREAD = ThreadUtil.makeSingleDaemonThreadPool("World Gen Progress Updater");
-		private boolean progressUpdateThreadRunning = false;
-		
-		
-		
-		/** @param targetPosForRequest the position that world generation should be centered around */
-		public void startRequestQueueAndSetTargetPos(DhBlockPos2D targetPosForRequest) 
-		{ 
-			this.retrievalQueue.startAndSetTargetPos(targetPosForRequest);
-			this.startProgressUpdateThread();
-		}
-		private void startProgressUpdateThread()
-		{
-			// only start the thread once
-			if (!this.progressUpdateThreadRunning)
-			{
-				this.progressUpdateThreadRunning = true;
-				
-				PROGRESS_UPDATER_THREAD.execute(() -> 
-				{
-					while (this.progressUpdateThreadRunning)
-					{
-						try
-						{
-							this.sendRetrievalProgress();
-							
-							// sleep so we only see an update once in a while
-							int sleepTimeInSec = Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationProgressDisplayIntervalInSeconds.get();
-							Thread.sleep(sleepTimeInSec * 1_000L);
-						}
-						catch (Exception e)
-						{
-							LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue displaying chunk retrieval progress [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
-						}
-					}
-				});
-			}
-		}
-		private void sendRetrievalProgress()
-		{
-			// format the remaining chunks
-			int remainingChunkCount = this.retrievalQueue.getRetrievalEstimatedRemainingChunkCount();
-			remainingChunkCount += this.retrievalQueue.getQueuedChunkCount();
-			String remainingChunkCountStr = F3Screen.NUMBER_FORMAT.format(remainingChunkCount);
-			
-			String message = "DH is generating chunks. " + remainingChunkCountStr + " left."; // TODO getting stuck at 32 chunks remaining
-			
-			// show a message about how to disable progress logging if requested
-			int msToShowDisableInstructions = Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationProgressDisableMessageDisplayTimeInSeconds.get() * 1_000;
-			if (msToShowDisableInstructions > 0)
-			{
-				long timeSinceFirstMessageInMs = (System.currentTimeMillis() - firstProgressMessageSentMs);
-				// always show this message for the first tick
-				if (firstProgressMessageSentMs == 0
-						// show this message if there is still time
-						|| timeSinceFirstMessageInMs < msToShowDisableInstructions)
-				{
-					// append to the current message
-					message += " This message can be hidden in the DH config.";
-				}
-			}
-			
-			// add the remaining time estimate if available
-			double chunksPerSec = this.getEstimatedChunksPerSecond();
-			if (chunksPerSec > 0)
-			{
-				long estimatedRemainingTime = (long) (remainingChunkCount / chunksPerSec);
-				message += " ETA: " + FormatUtil.formatEta(Duration.ofSeconds(estimatedRemainingTime));
-				
-				if (Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationProgressIncludeChunksPerSecond.get())
-				{
-					message += " at " + F3Screen.NUMBER_FORMAT.format(chunksPerSec) + " chunks/sec";
-				}
-			}
-			
-			// only log if there are chunks needing to be generated
-			if (remainingChunkCount != 0)
-			{
-				// determine where to log
-				EDhApiDistantGeneratorProgressDisplayLocation displayLocation = Config.Common.WorldGenerator.showGenerationProgress.get();
-				if (displayLocation == EDhApiDistantGeneratorProgressDisplayLocation.OVERLAY)
-				{
-					ClientApi.INSTANCE.showOverlayMessageNextFrame(message);
-				}
-				else if (displayLocation == EDhApiDistantGeneratorProgressDisplayLocation.CHAT)
-				{
-					ClientApi.INSTANCE.showChatMessageNextFrame(message);
-				}
-				else if (displayLocation == EDhApiDistantGeneratorProgressDisplayLocation.LOG)
-				{
-					LOGGER.info(message);
-				}
-				
-				
-				// mark when the first message was sent
-				if (firstProgressMessageSentMs == 0)
-				{
-					firstProgressMessageSentMs = System.currentTimeMillis();
-				}
-			}
-		}
-		
-		/** @return -1 if this method isn't supported or available */
-		public double getEstimatedChunksPerSecond()
-		{
-			RollingAverage avg = this.retrievalQueue.getRollingAverageChunkGenTimeInMs();
-			if (avg == null)
-			{
-				return -1;
-			}
-			
-			
-			PriorityTaskPicker.Executor executor = ThreadPoolUtil.getWorldGenExecutor();
-			int threadCount = 1;
-			if (executor != null)
-			{
-				threadCount = executor.getPoolSize();
-			}
-			
-			// convert chunk generation time in milliseconds to chunks per second
-			double chunksPerSecond = (1 / avg.getAverage()) * 1_000;
-			// estimate the number of chunks that can be processed per second by all threads
-			// Note: this is probably higher than the actual number, we might want to drop this by 1 or 2 to give a more realistic estimate
-			chunksPerSecond = threadCount * chunksPerSecond;
-			
-			return chunksPerSecond;
-		}
-		
-		
-		CompletableFuture<Void> closeAsync(boolean doInterrupt)
-		{
-			// this should stop the updater thread
-			this.progressUpdateThreadRunning = false;
-			
-			return this.retrievalQueue.startClosingAsync(true, doInterrupt)
-				.exceptionally(e ->
-				{
-					LOGGER.error("Error during first stage of generation queue shutdown, Error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
-					return null;
-				}
-				).thenRun(this.retrievalQueue::close)
-				.exceptionally(e ->
-				{
-					LOGGER.error("Error during second stage of generation queue shutdown, Error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
-					return null;
-				});
-		}
-		
-		
-	}
+	//endregion
 	
 	
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/generation/queues/RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue.java

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation;
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.fullDatafile.V2.FullDataSourceProviderV2;
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.WorldGenUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.RollingAverage;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.ThreadPoolUtil;
 
 import java.util.concurrent.*;
 

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/generation/queues/WorldGenerationQueue.java

@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
  *    along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
  */
 
-package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation;
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.worldGeneration.EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.worldGenerator.IDhApiWorldGenerator;
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.data.IDhApiFullDataSource;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.fullData.sources.FullDataSourceV2;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.fullDatafile.V2.FullDataSourceProviderV2;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.DhLightingEngine;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.DataSourceRetrievalResult;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.DataSourceRetrievalTask;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhServerLevel;
@@ -201,7 +202,7 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 	private synchronized void tryQueueNewWorldGenRequestsAsync()
 	{
 		if (!DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.worldLoaded()
-			|| DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.getReadOnly())
+			|| DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.tryGetReadOnly())
 		{
 			return;
 		}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/jar/installer/GitlabGetter.java

@@ -94,7 +94,10 @@ public class GitlabGetter
 		{
 			try
 			{
-				pipelineInfo.put(pipeline, WebDownloader.parseWebJsonList(this.GitProjID + "pipelines/" + pipeline + "/jobs"));
+				pipelineInfo.put(pipeline, WebDownloader.parseWebJsonList(this.GitProjID + "pipelines/" + pipeline + "/jobs?per_page=100")); 
+				// max page size is 100, 
+				// if we ever support more than 100 MC versions this logic will need to handle pagination
+				// https://docs.gitlab.com/api/rest/#pagination
 			}
 			catch (Exception e)
 			{

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/jar/updater/SelfUpdater.java

@@ -28,16 +28,13 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.jar.installer.GitlabGetter;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.jar.installer.ModrinthGetter;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.jar.installer.WebDownloader;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.f3.F3Screen;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.NativeDialogUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.IVersionConstants;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.StringUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.jar.DeleteOnUnlock;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 
-import javax.swing.*;
-import java.awt.*;
 import java.io.*;
 import java.net.URLEncoder;
 import java.nio.file.Files;
@@ -59,6 +56,8 @@ public class SelfUpdater
 {
 	private static final DhLogger LOGGER = new DhLoggerBuilder().build();
 	
+	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC_CLIENT = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
+	
 	/** As we cannot delete(or replace) the jar while the mod is running, we just have this to delete it once the game closes */
 	public static boolean deleteOldJarOnJvmShutdown = false;
 	
@@ -264,7 +263,7 @@ public class SelfUpdater
 			{
 				try
 				{
-					NativeDialogUtil.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, successMessage, "ok", "info");
+					MC_CLIENT.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, successMessage, "ok", "info");
 				}
 				catch (Exception ignore) { }
 			}).start();
@@ -287,7 +286,7 @@ public class SelfUpdater
 			LOGGER.error(failMessage, e);
 			try
 			{
-				NativeDialogUtil.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, failMessage, "ok", "error");
+				MC_CLIENT.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, failMessage, "ok", "error");
 			}
 			catch (Exception ignore) { }
 			
@@ -386,7 +385,7 @@ public class SelfUpdater
 			{
 				try
 				{
-					NativeDialogUtil.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, successMessage, "ok", "info");
+					MC_CLIENT.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, successMessage, "ok", "info");
 				}
 				catch (Exception ignore) { }
 			}).start();
@@ -424,7 +423,7 @@ public class SelfUpdater
 			LOGGER.error(failMessage, e);
 			try
 			{
-				NativeDialogUtil.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, failMessage, "ok", "error");
+				MC_CLIENT.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, failMessage, "ok", "error");
 			}
 			catch (Exception ignore) { }
 			

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/level/ClientLevelModule.java

@@ -29,8 +29,10 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos2D;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.QuadTree.LodQuadTree;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.RenderBufferHandler;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Vec3d;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.IWrapperFactory;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.render.renderPass.IDhGenericRenderer;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
@@ -44,6 +46,7 @@ public class ClientLevelModule implements Closeable, IDataSourceUpdateListenerFu
 {
 	private static final DhLogger LOGGER = new DhLoggerBuilder().build();
 	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC_CLIENT = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
+	private static final IMinecraftRenderWrapper MC_RENDER = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftRenderWrapper.class);
 	private static final IWrapperFactory WRAPPER_FACTORY = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IWrapperFactory.class);
 	
 	private final IDhClientLevel clientLevel;
@@ -106,7 +109,10 @@ public class ClientLevelModule implements Closeable, IDataSourceUpdateListenerFu
 			this.ClientRenderStateRef.set(clientRenderState);
 		}
 		
-		clientRenderState.quadtree.tryTick(new DhBlockPos2D(MC_CLIENT.getPlayerBlockPos()));
+		// use camera position instead of player pos so free cam mods work better
+		Vec3d cameraDoublePos = MC_RENDER.getCameraExactPosition();
+		DhBlockPos2D cameraBlockPos = new DhBlockPos2D((int)cameraDoublePos.x, (int)cameraDoublePos.z);
+		clientRenderState.quadtree.tryTick(cameraBlockPos);
 	}
 	
 	
@@ -170,6 +176,7 @@ public class ClientLevelModule implements Closeable, IDataSourceUpdateListenerFu
 		}
 		
 		this.fullDataSourceProvider.removeDataSourceUpdateListener(this);
+		this.genericRenderer.close();
 	}
 	
 	
@@ -259,7 +266,7 @@ public class ClientLevelModule implements Closeable, IDataSourceUpdateListenerFu
 		@Override
 		public void close()
 		{
-			LOGGER.info("Shutting down " + ClientRenderState.class.getSimpleName());
+			//LOGGER.info("Shutting down " + ClientRenderState.class.getSimpleName());
 			this.quadtree.close();
 		}
 		

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/level/DhClientLevel.java

@@ -27,7 +27,9 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.MinecraftTextFormat;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.fullDatafile.V2.FullDataSourceProviderV2;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.fullDatafile.RemoteFullDataSourceProvider;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.structure.ISaveStructure;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues.RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues.AbstractLodRequestState;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues.LodRequestModule;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.client.ClientNetworkState;
@@ -396,12 +398,10 @@ public class DhClientLevel extends AbstractDhLevel implements IDhClientLevel
 	//================//
 	//region
 	
-	private static class LodRequestState extends LodRequestModule.AbstractLodRequestState
+	private static class LodRequestState extends AbstractLodRequestState
 	{
 		LodRequestState(DhClientLevel clientLevel, ClientNetworkState networkState)
-		{
-			this.retrievalQueue = new RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue(networkState, clientLevel);
-		}
+		{ super(clientLevel, new RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue(networkState, clientLevel)); }
 	}
 	
 	//endregion

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/level/ServerLevelModule.java

@@ -23,7 +23,10 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.worldGenerator.IDhApiW
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.fullDatafile.GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.structure.ISaveStructure;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.BatchGenerator;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.WorldGenerationQueue;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues.IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues.WorldGenerationQueue;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues.AbstractLodRequestState;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues.LodRequestModule;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.DependencyInjection.WorldGeneratorInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
@@ -75,9 +78,11 @@ public class ServerLevelModule implements AutoCloseable
 	// helper classes //
 	//================//
 	
-	public static class LodRequestState extends LodRequestModule.AbstractLodRequestState
+	public static class LodRequestState extends AbstractLodRequestState
 	{
 		LodRequestState(IDhServerLevel level)
+		{ super(level, createRetrievalQueue(level)); }
+		private static IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue createRetrievalQueue(IDhServerLevel level)
 		{
 			IDhApiWorldGenerator worldGenerator = WorldGeneratorInjector.INSTANCE.get(level.getLevelWrapper());
 			if (worldGenerator == null)
@@ -88,9 +93,11 @@ public class ServerLevelModule implements AutoCloseable
 				// since core world generator's should have the lowest override priority
 				WorldGeneratorInjector.INSTANCE.bind(level.getLevelWrapper(), worldGenerator);
 			}
-			this.retrievalQueue = new WorldGenerationQueue(worldGenerator, level);
+			return new WorldGenerationQueue(worldGenerator, level);
 		}
 		
+		
+		
 	}
 	
 }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/multiplayer/client/AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue.java

@@ -151,8 +151,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue implements IDebugRende
 	
 	public synchronized boolean tick(DhBlockPos2D targetPos)
 	{
-		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.worldLoaded() 
-			&& DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.getReadOnly())
+		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.tryGetReadOnly())
 		{
 			return false;
 		}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/multiplayer/client/SyncOnLoadRequestQueue.java

@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.client;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.queues.RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.DataSourceRetrievalResult;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.DhClientLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/multiplayer/fullData/FullDataPayloadReceiver.java

@@ -7,10 +7,10 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.INetworkObject;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.messages.fullData.FullDataSplitMessage;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.sql.dto.FullDataSourceV2DTO;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
 import io.netty.buffer.CompositeByteBuf;
 import io.netty.buffer.Unpooled;
 
+import java.util.Objects;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentMap;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ public class FullDataPayloadReceiver implements AutoCloseable
 			.build();
 	
 	private final ConcurrentMap<Integer, CompositeByteBuf> buffersById = CacheBuilder.newBuilder()
-			.expireAfterAccess(10, TimeUnit.SECONDS)
+		.expireAfterAccess(30, TimeUnit.SECONDS)
 			.<Integer, CompositeByteBuf>build().asMap();
 	
 	@Override
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ public class FullDataPayloadReceiver implements AutoCloseable
 	public FullDataSourceV2DTO decodeDataSource(FullDataPayload payload)
 	{
 		CompositeByteBuf compositeByteBuffer = this.buffersById.get(payload.dtoBufferId);
-		LodUtil.assertTrue(compositeByteBuffer != null, "decoded data source missing byte buffer");
+		Objects.requireNonNull(compositeByteBuffer, "Unable to get a complete buffer for a received payload. Ignore this if it doesn't spam similar errors");
 		
 		try
 		{

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/QuadTree/LodQuadTree.java

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.QuadTree;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.listeners.IConfigListener;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.fullData.sources.FullDataSourceV2;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.EDhDirection;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.fullDatafile.V2.FullDataSourceProviderV2;
@@ -148,7 +149,8 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 			int initialPlayerBlockX, int initialPlayerBlockZ,
 			FullDataSourceProviderV2 fullDataSourceProvider)
 	{
-		super(viewDiameterInBlocks, new DhBlockPos2D(initialPlayerBlockX, initialPlayerBlockZ), DhSectionPos.SECTION_MINIMUM_DETAIL_LEVEL);
+		super(viewDiameterInBlocks, FullDataSourceV2.WIDTH, 
+			new DhBlockPos2D(initialPlayerBlockX, initialPlayerBlockZ), DhSectionPos.SECTION_MINIMUM_DETAIL_LEVEL);
 		
 		DEBUG_RENDERER.register(this, Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.DebugWireframe.showQuadTreeRenderStatus);
 		
@@ -245,17 +247,38 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 		//===================//
 		//region
 		
-		this.setCenterBlockPos(playerPos, (renderSection) ->
+		// remove out of bound sections
+		this.setCenterBlockPos(playerPos, 
+			// remove completely out of bound nodes
+			// (the root node is no longer in bounds)
+			(renderSection) ->
 			{
-			// removing out of bounds sections
 				if (renderSection != null)
 				{
 					this.fullDataSourceProvider.removeRetrievalRequestIf((long genPos) -> DhSectionPos.contains(renderSection.pos, genPos));
-				this.missingGenerationPosSet.remove(renderSection.pos);
-				this.queuedGenerationPosSet.remove(renderSection.pos);
+					
+					// unfortunately we have to fully go through each set
+					// since a removed position may be larger than the multiple generated positions
+					// it contains
+					this.missingGenerationPosSet.removeIf((Long genPos) -> DhSectionPos.contains(renderSection.pos, genPos));
+					this.queuedGenerationPosSet.removeIf((Long genPos) -> DhSectionPos.contains(renderSection.pos, genPos));
+					
 					renderSection.close();
 				}
-		});
+			},
+			// mutate partially out of bound nodes
+			// (the root node is still in bounds, but this individual child node isn't)
+			(renderSection) ->
+			{
+				if (renderSection != null)
+				{
+					// when this node comes back into render distance
+					// we'll need to re-load it since the full data
+					// may have been modified while it was out of bounds
+					renderSection.renderDataDirty = true;
+				}
+			}
+		);
 		
 		//endregion
 		
@@ -304,7 +327,7 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 					continue;
 				}
 				
-				node.value.retreivedMissingSectionsForRetreival = false;
+				node.value.queuedMissingSectionsForRetrieval = false;
 			}
 		}
 		
@@ -372,8 +395,6 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 		//=========================//
 		//region
 		
-		// also handles disabling beacons
-		
 		for (QuadNode<LodRenderSection> node : this.tickNodeHolder.getDisableNodes())
 		{
 			if (node == null || node.value == null) { continue; }
@@ -449,9 +470,9 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 						
 						// since this section wants to render
 						// check if it needs any generation to do so
-						if (!node.value.retreivedMissingSectionsForRetreival)
+						if (!node.value.queuedMissingSectionsForRetrieval)
 						{
-							node.value.retreivedMissingSectionsForRetreival = true;
+							node.value.queuedMissingSectionsForRetrieval = true;
 							this.tryQueuePosForRetrieval(node.value.pos); // can be quite slow
 						}
 					}
@@ -476,9 +497,10 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 	//=========================//
 	// tick - recursive update //
 	//=========================//
-	///region
+	//region
 	
-	private void recursivelyUpdateRenderSectionNode(
+	/** @return true if the node at this position has uploaded its render data */
+	private boolean recursivelyUpdateRenderSectionNode(
 		@NotNull DhBlockPos2D playerPos, 
 		@NotNull QuadNode<LodRenderSection> rootNode, 
 		@Nullable QuadNode<LodRenderSection> parentNode, 
@@ -490,19 +512,22 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 		// get/create the node //
 		// and render section  //
 		//=====================//
-		///region
+		//region
 		
-		// create the node
-		if (quadNode == null)
+		quadNode = this.tryAddNodeToTree(rootNode, quadNode, sectionPos);
+		
+		
+		// Skip sections that are out-of-bounds.
+		// If not done some sections will appear and/or generate 
+		// outside the desired render distance
+		if (!this.isSectionPosInBounds(quadNode.sectionPos))
 		{
-			rootNode.setValue(sectionPos, new LodRenderSection(sectionPos, this, this.level, this.fullDataSourceProvider));
-			quadNode = rootNode.getNode(sectionPos);
-		}
-		if (quadNode == null)
-		{
-			LodUtil.assertNotReach("Unable to add node with pos ["+DhSectionPos.toString(sectionPos)+"] to tree root ["+rootNode+"].");
+			this.tickNodeHolder.addDisableNode(quadNode);
+			this.recursivelyDisableChildNodes(quadNode);
+			return true;
 		}
 		
+		
 		// make sure the render section is created (shouldn't be necessary, but just in case)
 		LodRenderSection renderSection = quadNode.value;
 		if (renderSection == null)
@@ -511,7 +536,7 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 			quadNode.setValue(sectionPos, renderSection);
 		}
 		
-		///endregion
+		//endregion
 		
 		
 		
@@ -519,7 +544,7 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 		// handle enabling, loading,     //
 		// and disabling render sections //
 		//===============================//
-		///region
+		//region
 		
 		// load every node for rendering
 		if (!renderSection.gpuUploadInProgress()
@@ -535,94 +560,153 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 		
 		if (DhSectionPos.getDetailLevel(quadNode.sectionPos) > expectedDetailLevel)
 		{
-			this.onDetailLevelTooHigh(playerPos, rootNode, quadNode);
+			return this.onDetailLevelTooLow(playerPos, rootNode, quadNode);
 		}
 		// the (expectedDetailLevel-1) fixes corners being cut out due to distance calculations using the LOD center 
 		else if (DhSectionPos.getDetailLevel(quadNode.sectionPos) == expectedDetailLevel 
 			|| DhSectionPos.getDetailLevel(quadNode.sectionPos) == expectedDetailLevel - 1)
 		{
-			this.onDesiredDetailLevel(quadNode, parentNode);
+			return this.onDesiredDetailLevel(quadNode, parentNode);
 		}
 		else
 		{
 			throw new IllegalStateException("LodQuadTree shouldn't be updating renderSections below the expected detail level: [" + expectedDetailLevel + "].");
 		}
 		
-		///endregion
+		//endregion
 	}
-	private void onDetailLevelTooHigh(
+	/** @return true if the node at this position has uploaded its render data */
+	private boolean onDetailLevelTooLow(
 		@NotNull DhBlockPos2D playerPos, 
-		@NotNull QuadNode<LodRenderSection> rootNode, @NotNull QuadNode<LodRenderSection> quadNode)
+		@NotNull QuadNode<LodRenderSection> rootNode, 
+		@NotNull QuadNode<LodRenderSection> quadNode)
 	{
 		// recursively update each child node
-		boolean allChildNodesCanRender = true;
+		int childNodeRenderCount = 0;
 		for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
 		{
-			QuadNode<LodRenderSection> childNode = quadNode.getChildByIndex(i);
 			long childPos = DhSectionPos.getChildByIndex(quadNode.sectionPos, i);
-			this.recursivelyUpdateRenderSectionNode(
+			QuadNode<LodRenderSection> childNode = quadNode.getChildByIndex(i);
+			
+			boolean childCanRender = this.recursivelyUpdateRenderSectionNode(
 				playerPos,
 				rootNode, quadNode, childNode, childPos);
-			childNode = quadNode.getChildByIndex(i); // needs to be gotten again in case a new node was added to the tree (this will often happen when moving into new areas where the children were deleted)
-			
-			// nodes shouldn't be null, but just in case
-			if (childNode != null
-				&& childNode.value != null
-				&& !childNode.value.gpuUploadComplete())
+			if (childCanRender)
 			{
-				// the node is present but not uploaded yet
-				allChildNodesCanRender = false;
+				// node can be rendered
+				childNodeRenderCount++;
 			}
 		}
 		
-		
-		if (allChildNodesCanRender)
+		boolean isRootNode = (quadNode == rootNode);
+		if (isRootNode)
 		{
-			// all child nodes can render, this node isn't needed
+			// Never render the root node.
+			// This is done to prevent flashing when moving across root node
+			// boundaries.
+			// Otherwise, when moving, new empty nodes will be added at the edge of the tree
+			// which will require the root node to render to cover the "empty" area.
 			this.tickNodeHolder.addDisableNode(quadNode);
+			return false;
+		}
+		else if (childNodeRenderCount >= 4)
+		{
+			this.tickNodeHolder.addDisableNode(quadNode);
+			
+			// all children can render,
+			// the area will be filled when rendering
+			return true;
 		}
 		else
+		{
+			boolean nodeCanRender = quadNode.value != null
+									&& quadNode.value.canRender();
+			if (nodeCanRender)
 			{
 				// not all child positions are loaded yet, this one should be rendered instead
 				this.tickNodeHolder.addEnableNode(quadNode);
+				this.recursivelyDisableChildNodes(quadNode);
 			}
-	}
-	private void onDesiredDetailLevel(
-		@NotNull QuadNode<LodRenderSection> quadNode, @Nullable QuadNode<LodRenderSection> parentNode)
+			else
 			{
-		boolean allAdjNodesCanRender = true;
+				this.tickNodeHolder.addDisableNode(quadNode);
+			}
 			
-		// if the parent node is null, that means we're at the root node
-		// and we should always render
-		if (parentNode != null)
-		{
-			// check if all adjacent nodes are ready to render
-			// this check is done to prevent some overlapping due to the parent node
-			// still being active
-			for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
-			{
-				QuadNode<LodRenderSection> adjNode = parentNode.getChildByIndex(i);
-				// nodes shouldn't be null, but just in case there's an issue
-				if (adjNode != null
-					&& adjNode.value != null
-					&& !adjNode.value.gpuUploadComplete())
-				{
-					// the node is present but not uploaded yet
-					allAdjNodesCanRender = false;
-				}
+			return nodeCanRender;
 		}
 	}
 	
-		if (allAdjNodesCanRender
-			&& quadNode.value != null 
-			&& quadNode.value.gpuUploadComplete())
+	/** @return true if the node at this position has uploaded its render data */
+	private boolean onDesiredDetailLevel(
+		@NotNull QuadNode<LodRenderSection> quadNode,
+		@Nullable QuadNode<LodRenderSection> parentNode)
+	{
+		// Skip sections that are out-of-bounds.
+		// If not done some sections will appear and/or generate 
+		// outside the desired render distance
+		if (!this.isSectionPosInBounds(quadNode.sectionPos))
+		{
+			return true;
+		}
+		
+		if (quadNode.value != null 
+			&& quadNode.value.canRender())
+		{
+			if (!this.tickNodeHolder.getEnabledNodes().contains(parentNode))
 			{
 				this.tickNodeHolder.addEnableDeleteChildrenNode(quadNode);
+				return true;
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				this.tickNodeHolder.addDisableNode(quadNode);
+				return false;
+			}
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			this.tickNodeHolder.addDisableNode(quadNode);
+			return false;
 		}
 	}
 	
 	
-	///endregion
+	@NotNull
+	private QuadNode<LodRenderSection> tryAddNodeToTree(
+		@NotNull QuadNode<LodRenderSection> rootNode,
+		@Nullable QuadNode<LodRenderSection> quadNode,
+		long sectionPos // section pos is needed here since the quad node may be null
+		)
+	{
+		// create the node
+		if (quadNode == null)
+		{
+			rootNode.setValue(sectionPos, new LodRenderSection(sectionPos, this, this.level, this.fullDataSourceProvider));
+			quadNode = rootNode.getNode(sectionPos);
+		}
+		if (quadNode == null)
+		{
+			LodUtil.assertNotReach("Unable to add node with pos ["+DhSectionPos.toString(sectionPos)+"] to tree root ["+rootNode+"].");
+		}
+		
+		return quadNode;
+	}
+	
+	private void recursivelyDisableChildNodes(@NotNull QuadNode<LodRenderSection> quadNode)
+	{
+		for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
+		{
+			QuadNode<LodRenderSection> childNode = quadNode.getChildByIndex(i);
+			this.tickNodeHolder.removeEnableAndDisableNode(childNode);
+			
+			if (childNode != null)
+			{
+				this.recursivelyDisableChildNodes(childNode);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	
+	//endregion
 	
 	//=====================//
 	// tick - work queuing //
@@ -1127,7 +1211,7 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 			{
 				color = Color.ORANGE;
 			}
-			else if (!renderSection.gpuUploadComplete())
+			else if (!renderSection.canRender())
 			{
 				// uploaded but the buffer is missing
 				color = Color.PINK;
@@ -1169,7 +1253,7 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 	@Override
 	public void close()
 	{
-		LOGGER.info("Shutting down LodQuadTree...");
+		//LOGGER.info("Shutting down LodQuadTree...");
 		
 		DEBUG_RENDERER.unregister(this, Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.DebugWireframe.showQuadTreeRenderStatus);
 		Config.Common.WorldGenerator.enableDistantGeneration.removeListener(this);
@@ -1204,7 +1288,7 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 		});
 		
 		
-		LOGGER.info("Finished shutting down LodQuadTree");
+		//LOGGER.info("Finished shutting down LodQuadTree");
 	}
 	
 	//endregion base methods

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/QuadTree/LodRenderSection.java

@@ -34,11 +34,9 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos2D;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.AbstractDebugWireframeRenderer;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.BeaconRenderHandler;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.IDebugRenderable;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.render.bufferBuilding.LodBufferContainer;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.sql.dto.BeaconBeamDTO;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.sql.repo.BeaconBeamRepo;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.ExceptionUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.PriorityTaskPicker;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.ThreadPoolUtil;
@@ -48,10 +46,8 @@ import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
 import javax.annotation.WillNotClose;
 import java.awt.*;
-import java.util.*;
 import java.util.concurrent.*;
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicReference;
-import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock;
 
 /**
  * A render section represents an area that could be rendered.
@@ -67,7 +63,7 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 	
 	public final long pos;
 	
-	private final IDhClientLevel level;
+	private final IDhClientLevel clientLevel;
 	private final IClientLevelWrapper levelWrapper;
 	@WillNotClose
 	private final FullDataSourceProviderV2 fullDataSourceProvider;
@@ -75,8 +71,16 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 	
 	
 	private boolean renderingEnabled = false;
-	private boolean beaconsRendering = false;
-	public boolean retreivedMissingSectionsForRetreival = false;
+	/** 
+	 * Used when a node goes out of render distance
+	 * but isn't removed from the underlying quad tree structure. <br><br>
+	 * 
+	 * In those cases we should act as if the node was removed
+	 * for cached render data caching purposes, but not
+	 * for re-creating missing nodes.
+	 */
+	public boolean renderDataDirty = false;
+	public boolean queuedMissingSectionsForRetrieval = false;
 	
 	/** this reference is necessary so we can determine what VBO to render */
 	public LodBufferContainer renderBufferContainer; 
@@ -94,13 +98,6 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 	 */
 	private Runnable getAndBuildRenderDataRunnable = null;
 	
-	/** 
-	 * Represents just uploading the {@link LodQuadBuilder} to the GPU. <br>
-	 * Separate from {@link LodRenderSection#getAndBuildRenderDataFutureRef} because they run on
-	 * different threads (buffer uploading is on the MC render thread) and need to be canceled separately.
-	 */
-	private final AtomicReference<CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer>> bufferUploadFutureRef = new AtomicReference<>(null);
-	
 	
 	
 	//=============//
@@ -111,12 +108,12 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 	public LodRenderSection(
 			long pos, 
 			LodQuadTree quadTree, 
-			IDhClientLevel level, FullDataSourceProviderV2 fullDataSourceProvider)
+			IDhClientLevel clientLevel, FullDataSourceProviderV2 fullDataSourceProvider)
 	{
 		this.pos = pos;
 		this.quadTree = quadTree;
-		this.level = level;
-		this.levelWrapper = level.getClientLevelWrapper();
+		this.clientLevel = clientLevel;
+		this.levelWrapper = clientLevel.getClientLevelWrapper();
 		this.fullDataSourceProvider = fullDataSourceProvider;
 		
 		DEBUG_RENDERER.register(this, Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.DebugWireframe.showRenderSectionStatus);
@@ -158,6 +155,8 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		
 		try
 		{
+			// shouldn't happen since this method is synchronized, but just in case
+			// make sure we only ever start one upload task
 			if (!this.getAndBuildRenderDataFutureRef.compareAndSet(null, future))
 			{
 				CompletableFuture<Void> oldFuture = this.getAndBuildRenderDataFutureRef.get();
@@ -170,6 +169,7 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 			{
 				try
 				{
+					// build LOD data on a DH thread
 					LodQuadBuilder lodQuadBuilder = this.getAndBuildRenderData();
 					if (lodQuadBuilder == null)
 					{
@@ -177,7 +177,8 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 						return;
 					}
 					
-					this.uploadToGpuAsync(lodQuadBuilder)
+					// uploading will primarily happen on the render thread
+					this.uploadToGpuAsync(future, lodQuadBuilder)
 						.thenRun(() ->
 						{
 							// the future is passed in separately (IE not using the local var) to prevent any possible race condition null pointers
@@ -187,7 +188,7 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 				catch (Exception e)
 				{
 					LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue creating render data for pos: ["+DhSectionPos.toString(this.pos)+"], error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
-					future.complete(null);
+					future.completeExceptionally(e);
 				}
 			};
 			executor.execute(this.getAndBuildRenderDataRunnable);
@@ -202,6 +203,14 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 			return false;
 		}
 	}
+	
+	
+	//=======================//
+	// Get LOD ID data       //
+	// and build render data //
+	//=======================//
+	//region
+	
 	@Nullable
 	private synchronized LodQuadBuilder getAndBuildRenderData()
 	{
@@ -215,7 +224,7 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 			
 			
 			boolean enableTransparency = Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Quality.transparency.get().transparencyEnabled;
-			LodQuadBuilder lodQuadBuilder = new LodQuadBuilder(enableTransparency, this.level.getClientLevelWrapper());
+			LodQuadBuilder lodQuadBuilder = new LodQuadBuilder(enableTransparency, this.clientLevel.getClientLevelWrapper());
 			
 			
 			// get the adjacent positions
@@ -238,7 +247,7 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 
 				// the render sources are only needed by this synchronous method,
 				// then they can be closed
-				ColumnRenderBufferBuilder.makeLodRenderData(lodQuadBuilder, thisRenderSource, this.level, adjacentRenderSections, adjIsSameDetailLevel);
+				ColumnRenderBufferBuilder.makeLodRenderData(lodQuadBuilder, thisRenderSource, this.clientLevel, adjacentRenderSections, adjIsSameDetailLevel);
 				return lodQuadBuilder;
 			}
 			catch (Exception e)
@@ -288,52 +297,63 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		detailLevel += DhSectionPos.SECTION_MINIMUM_DETAIL_LEVEL;
 		return detailLevel == DhSectionPos.getDetailLevel(this.pos);
 	}
-	private synchronized CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer> uploadToGpuAsync(LodQuadBuilder lodQuadBuilder)
+	
+	//endregion
+	
+	
+	private synchronized CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer> uploadToGpuAsync(
+		CompletableFuture<Void> parentFuture, 
+		LodQuadBuilder lodQuadBuilder)
 	{
-		CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer> oldFuture = this.bufferUploadFutureRef.getAndSet(null);
-		if (oldFuture != null)
+		CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer> uploadFuture = LodBufferContainer.tryMakeAndUploadBuffersAsync(this.pos, this.clientLevel, lodQuadBuilder);
+		uploadFuture.whenComplete((bufferContainer, e) ->
 		{
-			// canceling the previous future
-			// prevents the CPU from working on something that won't be used
-			oldFuture.cancel(true);
+			try
+			{
+				// handle errors and early shutdown
+				if (e != null)
+				{
+					if (!ExceptionUtil.isShutdownException(e))
+					{
+						LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue uploading buffers for pos: [" + DhSectionPos.toString(this.pos) + "], error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
 					}
 					
-		CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer> future = ColumnRenderBufferBuilder.uploadBuffersAsync(this.level, this.pos, lodQuadBuilder);
-		future.handle((lodBufferContainer, throwable) -> 
+					if (bufferContainer != null)
 					{
-			if (!this.bufferUploadFutureRef.compareAndSet(future, null)
-				// if the old future is canceled then the future ref will be different and that's expected
-				&& !future.isCancelled()
-				// if the old future is already done, then we don't care about the ref being swapped
-				&& !future.isDone())
-			{
-				LOGGER.warn("Buffer upload future ref changed for pos: ["+DhSectionPos.toString(this.pos)+"].");
+						// shouldn't happen, but just in case
+						bufferContainer.close();
+					}
+					return;
 				}
 				
-			return null;
-		});
-		
-		future.thenAccept((LodBufferContainer buffer) ->
+				// close the old container
+				LodBufferContainer oldContainer = this.renderBufferContainer;
+				this.renderBufferContainer = bufferContainer.buffersUploaded ? bufferContainer : null;
+				if (oldContainer != null)
 				{
-			// needed to clean up the old data
-			LodBufferContainer previousContainer = this.renderBufferContainer;
+					oldContainer.close();
+				}
 				
 				// upload complete
-			this.renderBufferContainer = buffer.buffersUploaded ? buffer : null;
+				this.renderDataDirty = false;
 				
-			if (previousContainer != null)
+				
+				if (parentFuture.isCancelled())
 				{
-				previousContainer.close();
+					// if the parent future was canceled that likely means
+					// this LodRenderSection was closed before this point,
+					// meaning this buffer will become homeless, 
+					// so we need to clean it up here
+					bufferContainer.close();
+				}
+			}
+			catch (Exception finishEx)
+			{
+				LOGGER.error("Unexpected buffer finish exception: ["+finishEx.getMessage()+"]", finishEx);
 			}
 		});
 		
-		
-		if (!this.bufferUploadFutureRef.compareAndSet(null, future))
-		{
-			LodUtil.assertNotReach("Buffer upload future ref couldn't be set due to concurrency error, pos: ["+DhSectionPos.toString(this.pos)+"].");
-		}
-		
-		return future;
+		return uploadFuture;
 	}
 	
 	//endregion render data uploading
@@ -345,7 +365,14 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 	//=================//
 	//region
 	
-	public boolean gpuUploadComplete() { return this.renderBufferContainer != null; }
+	public boolean canRender() { return this.renderBufferContainer != null; }
+	public boolean gpuUploadComplete() 
+	{ 
+		return this.renderBufferContainer != null
+			// render dirty is here so we can trigger new GPU uploads
+			// even if the render data is present
+			&& !this.renderDataDirty; 
+	}
 	
 	public boolean getRenderingEnabled() { return this.renderingEnabled; }
 	public void setRenderingEnabled(boolean enabled) { this.renderingEnabled = enabled;}
@@ -374,14 +401,14 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		{
 			color = Color.yellow;
 		}
-		else if (this.gpuUploadComplete())
+		else if (this.canRender())
 		{
 			//color = Color.cyan;
 			return;
 		}
 		
-		int levelMinY = this.level.getLevelWrapper().getMinHeight();
-		int levelMaxY = this.level.getLevelWrapper().getMaxHeight();
+		int levelMinY = this.clientLevel.getLevelWrapper().getMinHeight();
+		int levelMaxY = this.clientLevel.getLevelWrapper().getMaxHeight();
 		
 		// show the wireframe a bit lower than world max height,
 		// since most worlds don't render all the way up to the max height
@@ -418,12 +445,7 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		}
 		
 		
-		if (this.renderBufferContainer != null)
-		{
-			this.renderBufferContainer.close();
-		}
-		
-		// removes any in-progress futures since they aren't needed any more
+		// render loading is no longer needed
 		CompletableFuture<Void> buildFuture = this.getAndBuildRenderDataFutureRef.get();
 		if (buildFuture != null)
 		{
@@ -439,12 +461,17 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 					renderLoaderExecutor.remove(runnable);
 				}
 			}
+			
+			// cancel the future after removing the runnable
+			// to make sure the runnable is properly removed
+			buildFuture.cancel(true);
 		}
 		
-		CompletableFuture<LodBufferContainer> uploadFuture = this.bufferUploadFutureRef.get();
-		if (uploadFuture != null)
+		
+		this.setRenderingEnabled(false);
+		if (this.renderBufferContainer != null)
 		{
-			uploadFuture.cancel(true);
+			this.renderBufferContainer.close();
 		}
 		
 	}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/QuadTree/QuadTreeTickNodeHolder.java

@@ -62,6 +62,12 @@ public class QuadTreeTickNodeHolder
 	public void addEnableNode(QuadNode<LodRenderSection> node)
 	{
 		if(this.presentNodes.add(node))
+		{
+			// in James testing as of 4-21-2026
+			// this should no longer be needed to prevent overlaps,
+			// however I'm keeping it here as a quick fix solution if 
+			// the problem comes up again
+			if (false)
 			{
 				// not a big fan of having to check every node to prevent overlaps, but it does work
 				this.nodesToEnable.removeIf((QuadNode<LodRenderSection> checkNode) ->
@@ -74,10 +80,22 @@ public class QuadTreeTickNodeHolder
 					
 					return contained;
 				});
+			}
 			
 			this.nodesToEnable.add(node);
 		}
 	}
+	
+	/**  */
+	public void removeEnableAndDisableNode(QuadNode<LodRenderSection> node)
+	{
+		this.nodesToEnable.remove(node);
+		this.nodesToEnableDeleteChildrenList.remove(node);
+		
+		this.presentNodes.add(node); // should already be present, but re-added just in case
+		this.nodesToDisable.add(node); // node shouldn't be rendered since it's being disabled by a parent
+	}
+	
 	public HashSet<QuadNode<LodRenderSection>> getEnabledNodes() { return this.nodesToEnable; }
 	
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/RenderParams.java

@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiRenderPass;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiRenderParam;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.SharedApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.rendering.DhRenderState;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.ModAccessorInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.jar.EPlatform;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhClientLevel;
@@ -17,6 +18,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftCli
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.misc.ILightMapWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.modAccessor.AbstractOptifineAccessor;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.modAccessor.IOptifineAccessor;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.render.renderPass.IDhGenericRenderer;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
 
@@ -30,6 +32,8 @@ public class RenderParams extends DhApiRenderParam
 	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC_CLIENT = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
 	private static final IMinecraftRenderWrapper MC_RENDER = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftRenderWrapper.class);
 	
+	private static final IOptifineAccessor OPTIFINE_ACCESSOR = ModAccessorInjector.INSTANCE.get(IOptifineAccessor.class);
+	
 	private static final long TIME_FOR_MAC_TO_FINISH_COMPILING_IN_MS = 10_000;
 	private static boolean initialLoadingComplete = false;
 	
@@ -164,7 +168,7 @@ public class RenderParams extends DhApiRenderParam
 			return "No MVM or Proj Matrix Given";
 		}
 		
-		if (AbstractOptifineAccessor.optifinePresent()
+		if (OPTIFINE_ACCESSOR != null
 			&& MC_RENDER.getTargetFramebuffer() == -1)
 		{
 			// wait for MC to finish setting up their renderer
@@ -172,45 +176,6 @@ public class RenderParams extends DhApiRenderParam
 		}
 		
 		
-		//// potential fix for a segfault when
-		//// Sodium and DH are running together
-		//if (EPlatform.get() == EPlatform.MACOS
-		//	&& !initialLoadingComplete)
-		//{
-		//	// Once MC starts rendering, wait a few seconds so
-		//	// MC/Sodium can finish their shader compiling before DH does its own.
-		//	// This will allow DH to compile its own shaders after Sodium finishes
-		//	// compiling its own.
-		//	long nowMs = System.currentTimeMillis();
-		//	long firstAllowedRenderTimeMs = firstRenderTimeMs + TIME_FOR_MAC_TO_FINISH_COMPILING_IN_MS;
-		//	if (nowMs < firstAllowedRenderTimeMs)
-		//	{
-		//		return "Waiting for initial MC compile...";
-		//	}
-		//	
-		//	
-		//	// null shouldn't happen, but just in case
-		//	PriorityTaskPicker.Executor renderLoadExecutor = ThreadPoolUtil.getRenderLoadingExecutor();
-		//	if (renderLoadExecutor == null)
-		//	{
-		//		return "Waiting for DH Threadpool...";
-		//	}
-		//	
-		//	// wait for DH to finish loading, by the time that's done
-		//	// java should have finished all of DH's JIT compiling,
-		//	// which will hopefully mean less concurrency and thus a lower
-		//	// chance of breaking
-		//	// (plus this gives Sodium/vanill a bit longer to finish their setup)
-		//	int taskCount = renderLoadExecutor.getQueueSize();
-		//	if (taskCount > 0)
-		//	{
-		//		return "Waiting for DH JIT compiling...";
-		//	}
-		//	
-		//	initialLoadingComplete = true;
-		//}
-		
-		
 		return null;
 	}
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/RenderThreadTaskHandler.java

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.TimerUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.RollingAverage;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftSharedWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
@@ -49,6 +50,14 @@ public class RenderThreadTaskHandler
 	
 	
 	private long nanoSinceTasksRun = System.nanoTime();
+	private final boolean running; 
+	
+	private Thread renderThread;
+	/** 
+	 * the currently running {@link QueuedRunnable}
+	 * will be null if nothing is running.
+	 */
+	private volatile @Nullable QueuedRunnable currentQueuedRunnable;
 	
 	
 	
@@ -57,7 +66,22 @@ public class RenderThreadTaskHandler
 	//=============//
 	//region
 	
-	private RenderThreadTaskHandler() { TIMER.scheduleAtFixedRate(TimerUtil.createTimerTask(this::manualCleanupTick), MS_BETWEEN_CLEANUP_TICKS, MS_BETWEEN_CLEANUP_TICKS); }
+	private RenderThreadTaskHandler() 
+	{
+		// we only want to run this when the client is available
+		IMinecraftSharedWrapper mcShared = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftSharedWrapper.class);
+		if (!mcShared.isDedicatedServer())
+		{
+			LOGGER.debug("Starting ["+RenderThreadTaskHandler.class.getSimpleName()+"]...");
+			this.running = true;
+			TIMER.scheduleAtFixedRate(TimerUtil.createTimerTask(this::manualCleanupTick), MS_BETWEEN_CLEANUP_TICKS, MS_BETWEEN_CLEANUP_TICKS);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			this.running = false;
+			LOGGER.debug("Skipping ["+RenderThreadTaskHandler.class.getSimpleName()+"] startup due to running on a dedicated server.");
+		}
+	}
 	
 	//endregion
 	
@@ -70,6 +94,13 @@ public class RenderThreadTaskHandler
 	
 	public void queueRunningOnRenderThread(String name, Runnable renderCall)
 	{
+		// don't queuing tasks if they'll never be run
+		if (!this.running)
+		{
+			return;
+		}
+		
+		
 		// don't get the stacktrace on release to reduce GC pressure
 		StackTraceElement[] stackTrace = null;
 		if (ModInfo.IS_DEV_BUILD)
@@ -116,12 +147,21 @@ public class RenderThreadTaskHandler
 		long loopStartTimeNano = System.nanoTime();
 		this.nanoSinceTasksRun = loopStartTimeNano;
 		
+		
+		if (this.renderThread == null)
+		{
+			this.renderThread = Thread.currentThread();
+		}
+		
+		
 		QueuedRunnable runnable = RENDER_THREAD_RUNNABLE_QUEUE.poll();
 		while(runnable != null)
 		{
 			long taskStartNano = System.nanoTime();
 			
+			this.currentQueuedRunnable = runnable;
 			runnable.run();
+			this.currentQueuedRunnable = null;
 			
 			// only try running for a limited amount of time to prevent lag spikes
 			long taskNano = System.nanoTime() - taskStartNano;
@@ -179,8 +219,19 @@ public class RenderThreadTaskHandler
 		// this means we could have GL jobs building up.
 		// Run the queued tasks on MC's executor (hopefully this should always run,
 		// even if DH's render code isn't being hit).
-		IMinecraftClientWrapper MC = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
-		MC.executeOnRenderThread(() -> this.runRenderThreadTasks(500 * 1_000_000L));
+		IMinecraftClientWrapper mcClient = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
+		if (mcClient != null)
+		{
+			mcClient.executeOnRenderThread(() -> this.runRenderThreadTasks(500 * 1_000_000L));
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			// shouldn't happen, but just in case
+			
+			// somehow the timer started when there wasn't a client wrapper
+			// this probably means the timer was started on a dedicated server
+			RATE_LIMITED_LOGGER.warn("["+RenderThreadTaskHandler.class.getSimpleName()+"] timer started when ["+IMinecraftClientWrapper.class.getSimpleName()+"] is null. This shouldn't happen but can likely be ignored.");
+		}
 	}
 	
 	//endregion
@@ -190,7 +241,7 @@ public class RenderThreadTaskHandler
 	//===========//
 	// debugging //
 	//===========//
-	///region
+	//region
 	
 	/** 
 	 * if tasks are currently queued the debug
@@ -246,7 +297,28 @@ public class RenderThreadTaskHandler
 		});
 	}
 	
-	///endregion
+	
+	/** Returns true if the currently running thread is being run by this handler */
+	public boolean isCurrentThread() 
+	{
+		if (this.renderThread != null)
+		{
+			return Thread.currentThread() == this.renderThread;
+		}
+		
+		// shouldn't normally be needed, but can be used if this
+		// handler hasn't been run yet
+		return Thread.currentThread().getName().equals("Render thread");
+	}
+	
+	/** 
+	 * Only recommended to be used by the task that's currently being run.
+	 * Use {@link RenderThreadTaskHandler#isCurrentThread()} to check. <br>
+	 * Can be used to get stack traces for render thread tasks while they're being run. 
+	 */
+	public @Nullable QueuedRunnable getCurrentlyRunningTask() { return this.currentQueuedRunnable; }
+	
+	//endregion
 	
 	
 	
@@ -255,7 +327,7 @@ public class RenderThreadTaskHandler
 	//================//
 	//region
 	
-	private static class QueuedRunnable implements Runnable
+	public static class QueuedRunnable implements Runnable
 	{
 		/** used to easily track what's being done on the render thread */
 		public final String name;

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/renderer/LodRenderer.java

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.ModAccessorInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.DhApiRenderProxy;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.RenderBufferHandler;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.RenderParams;
@@ -36,6 +37,8 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.modAccessor.IIrisAccess
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.render.renderPass.*;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.DependencyInjection.ApiEventInjector;
 
+import java.awt.*;
+
 /**
  * This is where all the magic happens. <br>
  * This is where LODs are draw to the world.
@@ -143,7 +146,8 @@ public class LodRenderer
 		//region
 		
 		ApiEventInjector.INSTANCE.fireAllEvents(DhApiBeforeRenderSetupEvent.class, renderParams);
-		profiler.push("LOD GL setup");
+		try (IProfilerWrapper.IProfileBlock terrainRender_profile = profiler.push("LOD GL setup")) // starts the new profile block for most DH rendering
+		{
 			
 			if (!this.renderersBound)
 			{
@@ -179,6 +183,24 @@ public class LodRenderer
 				renderBufferHandler.buildRenderList(renderParams);
 			}
 			
+			
+			boolean renderFog;
+			Boolean apiFogOverride = Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Fog.enableDhFog.getApiValue();
+			if (apiFogOverride != null)
+			{
+				// use whatever the API dictates if set
+				// (this could cause issues when underwater if a shader or something
+				// doesn't add their own, but that's relatively unlikely)
+				renderFog = apiFogOverride;
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				renderFog = Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Fog.enableDhFog.get();
+				// allow enabling fog when: underwater fog, blind, etc.
+				// otherwise LODs won't appear correctly
+				renderFog |= renderParams.vanillaFogEnabled;
+			}
+			
 			//endregion
 			
 			
@@ -188,8 +210,13 @@ public class LodRenderer
 			//===========//
 			
 			if (!runningDeferredPass)
+			{
+				// needs to be fired after all the textures have been created/bound
+				boolean clearTextures = !ApiEventInjector.INSTANCE.fireAllEvents(DhApiBeforeTextureClearEvent.class, renderParams);
+				if (clearTextures)
 				{
 					this.metaRenderer.clearDhDepthAndColorTextures(renderParams);
+				}
 				
 				
 				
@@ -241,9 +268,8 @@ public class LodRenderer
 				}
 				
 				// fog
-			if (Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Fog.enableDhFog.get() 
-				// this is done to fix issues with: underwater fog, blindness effect, etc.
-				|| renderParams.vanillaFogEnabled)
+				
+				if (renderFog)
 				{
 					profiler.popPush("LOD Fog");
 					
@@ -265,6 +291,22 @@ public class LodRenderer
 				}
 				
 				
+				if (Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.PositionFinder.positionFinderEnable.get())
+				{
+					// can be used to find specific positions when debugging
+					this.debugWireframeRenderer.renderBox(new AbstractDebugWireframeRenderer.Box(
+						DhSectionPos.encode(
+							Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.PositionFinder.positionFinderDetailLevel.get().byteValue(),
+							Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.PositionFinder.positionFinderXPos.get(),
+							Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.PositionFinder.positionFinderZPos.get()),
+						Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.PositionFinder.positionFinderMinBlockY.get(),
+						Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.PositionFinder.positionFinderMaxBlockY.get(),
+						Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.PositionFinder.positionFinderMarginPercent.get(),
+						Color.GREEN
+					));
+				}
+				
+				
 				
 				//=============================//
 				// Apply to the MC Framebuffer //
@@ -290,9 +332,7 @@ public class LodRenderer
 					this.renderTerrain(this.terrainRenderer, renderBufferHandler, renderParams, /*opaquePass*/ false, profiler);
 					
 					
-				if (Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Fog.enableDhFog.get()
-					// this is done to fix issues with: underwater fog, blindness effect, etc.
-					|| renderParams.vanillaFogEnabled)
+					if (renderFog)
 					{
 						profiler.popPush("LOD Fog");
 						
@@ -311,11 +351,7 @@ public class LodRenderer
 			ApiEventInjector.INSTANCE.fireAllEvents(DhApiBeforeRenderCleanupEvent.class, renderParams);
 			
 			this.metaRenderer.runRenderPassCleanup(renderParams);
-		
-		
-		
-		// end of internal LOD profiling
-		profiler.pop();
+		}
 	}
 	
 	//endregion
@@ -333,8 +369,6 @@ public class LodRenderer
 		// rendering //
 		//===========//
 		
-		ApiEventInjector.INSTANCE.fireAllEvents(DhApiBeforeRenderPassEvent.class, renderEventParam);
-		
 		SortedArraySet<LodBufferContainer> lodBufferContainer = lodBufferHandler.getColumnRenderBuffers();
 		if (lodBufferContainer != null)
 		{

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/ExceptionUtil.java

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ public class ExceptionUtil
 		return throwable instanceof InterruptedException
 				|| throwable instanceof UncheckedInterruptedException
 				|| throwable instanceof RejectedExecutionException
+				|| throwable instanceof CancellationException
 				|| throwable instanceof ClosedByInterruptException;
 	}
 	
@@ -37,8 +38,8 @@ public class ExceptionUtil
 				unwrapped instanceof CancellationException;
 	}
 	public static Throwable ensureUnwrap(Throwable t)
-	{
-		return t instanceof CompletionException ? ensureUnwrap(t.getCause()) : t;
-	}
+	{ return t instanceof CompletionException ? ensureUnwrap(t.getCause()) : t; }
+	
+	
 	
 }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/LodUtil.java

@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.block.IBlockStateWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.ColorUtil;
 
 /**
  * This class holds methods and constants that may be used in multiple places.

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/NativeDialogUtil.java

@@ -1,30 +0,0 @@
-package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util;
-
-import org.lwjgl.util.tinyfd.TinyFileDialogs;
-
-/**
- * Should be used instead of the direct call to {@link TinyFileDialogs}
- * so we can run additional validation and/or string cleanup.
- * Otherwise, we may get error messages back.
- * 
- * @see TinyFileDialogs
- */
-public class NativeDialogUtil
-{
-	/**
-	 * @param dialogType    the dialog type. One of:<br><table><tr><td>"ok"</td><td>"okcancel"</td><td>"yesno"</td><td>"yesnocancel"</td></tr></table>
-	 * @param iconType      the icon type. One of:<br><table><tr><td>"info"</td><td>"warning"</td><td>"error"</td><td>"question"</td></tr></table>
-	 */
-	public static boolean showDialog(String title, String message, String dialogType, String iconType)
-	{
-		// Tinyfd doesn't support the following characters, attempting to display them will cause the message
-		// to be replaced with an error message
-		String unsafeCharsRegex = "['\"`]";
-		
-		title = title.replaceAll(unsafeCharsRegex, "`");
-		message = message.replaceAll(unsafeCharsRegex, "`");
-		
-		return TinyFileDialogs.tinyfd_messageBox(title, message, dialogType, iconType, false);
-	}
-	
-}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/RenderDataPointReducingList.java

@@ -451,6 +451,21 @@ public class RenderDataPointReducingList extends AbstractPhantomArrayList
 			this.setBigger(smaller, bigger);
 		}
 		
+		if (writeIndex == 0)
+		{
+			// if every data point in the list is NULL (0) the write index will be 0,
+			// and in order to prevent accessing index -1 below, 
+			// setting the write index to 1 is needed.
+			
+			// This shouldn't happen normally, however if the lod data is slightly malformed
+			// (which is specifically the case for the commonly shared wyncraft LODs)
+			// this check is needed.
+			// It would probably be best to fix the 6 or so NULL datapoints that are next
+			// to each other in the full data source, but for now this fix works.
+			
+			writeIndex = 1;
+		}
+		
 		this.smallest = this.sortingArray.getShort(0);
 		this.biggest = this.sortingArray.getShort(writeIndex - 1);
 		this.setSmaller(this.getSmallest(), NULL);

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/RenderDataPointUtil.java

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.ILevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.ColorUtil;
 
 
 /**
@@ -246,10 +247,7 @@ public class RenderDataPointUtil
 		{
 			return "Y+:" + getYMax(dataPoint) +
 					" Y-:" + getYMin(dataPoint) +
-					" argb:" + getAlpha(dataPoint) + " " +
-					getRed(dataPoint) + " " +
-					getGreen(dataPoint) + " " +
-					getBlue(dataPoint) +
+					" argb:" + getAlpha(dataPoint) + "," + getRed(dataPoint) + "," + getGreen(dataPoint) + "," + getBlue(dataPoint) +
 					" BL:" + getLightBlock(dataPoint) +
 					" SL:" + getLightSky(dataPoint) +
 					" MAT:" + getBlockMaterialId(dataPoint) + "["+ EDhApiBlockMaterial.getFromIndex(getBlockMaterialId(dataPoint))+"]";

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/RenderUtil.java

@@ -123,7 +123,16 @@ public class RenderUtil
 			// At low render distances this hides the vanilla RD border
 			
 			int chunkRenderDistance = MC_RENDER.getRenderDistance();
-			if (chunkRenderDistance <= 2)
+			
+			if (IRIS_ACCESSOR != null
+				&& IRIS_ACCESSOR.isShaderPackInUse())
+			{
+				// shaders handle the near clip plane/overdraw differently, best to play it
+				// safe and have the plane really close otherwise
+				// there might be cutouts on the screen edges
+				overdraw = 0.2f;
+			}
+			else if (chunkRenderDistance <= 2)
 			{
 				overdraw = 0.2f;
 			}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/objects/pooling/PhantomArrayListPool.java

@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ public class PhantomArrayListPool
 							if (pool.logGarbageCollectedStacks
 								&& checkout.allocationStackTrace != null) // stack trace shouldn't be null, but just in case
 							{
-								putAndIncrementTrackingString(checkout.allocationStackTrace, allocationStackTraceCountPairList);
+								PhantomLoggingHelper.putAndIncrementTrackingString(checkout.allocationStackTrace, allocationStackTraceCountPairList);
 							}
 						}
 						else
@@ -363,18 +363,7 @@ public class PhantomArrayListPool
 							// log stack traces if present
 							if (pool.logGarbageCollectedStacks)
 							{
-								// high numbers first
-								allocationStackTraceCountPairList.sort((a, b) -> Integer.compare(b.second.get(), a.second.get()));
-								
-								StringBuilder stringBuilder = new StringBuilder();
-								for (int j = 0; j < allocationStackTraceCountPairList.size(); j++)
-								{
-									int count = allocationStackTraceCountPairList.get(j).second.get();
-									String stack = allocationStackTraceCountPairList.get(j).first;
-									
-									stringBuilder.append(count).append(". ").append(stack).append("\n");
-								}
-								LOGGER.warn("Stacks: ["+ allocationStackTraceCountPairList.size()+"]\n" + stringBuilder.toString());
+								PhantomLoggingHelper.LogAllocationStackTracePairCounts(LOGGER, allocationStackTraceCountPairList);
 							}
 						}
 					}
@@ -389,36 +378,6 @@ public class PhantomArrayListPool
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	/**
-	 * This was separated out so it could be used for other string pair lists.
-	 * James originally had an idea to add a shorter static string
-	 * ID to each allocated {@link PhantomArrayListCheckout} as a simpler version of the stack trace,
-	 * however it became a bit more difficult and messy than he wanted to deal with, so for now we just
-	 * have the stack trace.
-	 */
-	private static void putAndIncrementTrackingString(
-			String key,
-			ArrayList<Pair<String, AtomicInteger>> allocationStackTraceCountPairList)
-	{
-		// sequential search, for the number of elements we're dealing with (less than 20)
-		// this should be sufficiently fast
-		boolean pairFound = false;
-		for (int i = 0; i < allocationStackTraceCountPairList.size(); i++)
-		{
-			Pair<String, AtomicInteger> possiblePair = allocationStackTraceCountPairList.get(i);
-			if (possiblePair.first.equals(key))
-			{
-				possiblePair.second.getAndIncrement();
-				pairFound = true;
-				break;
-			}
-		}
-		
-		if (!pairFound)
-		{
-			allocationStackTraceCountPairList.add(new Pair<>(key, new AtomicInteger(1)));
-		}
-	}
 	
 	///endregion
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/objects/pooling/PhantomLoggingHelper.java

@@ -0,0 +1,232 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.pooling;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.f3.F3Screen;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.ThreadUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.Pair;
+
+import java.lang.ref.PhantomReference;
+import java.lang.ref.Reference;
+import java.lang.ref.ReferenceQueue;
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
+import java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
+
+public class PhantomLoggingHelper
+{
+	/**
+	 * This was separated out so it could be used for other string pair lists.
+	 * James originally had an idea to add a shorter static string
+	 * ID to each allocated {@link PhantomArrayListCheckout} as a simpler version of the stack trace,
+	 * however it became a bit more difficult and messy than he wanted to deal with, so for now we just
+	 * have the stack trace.
+	 */
+	public static void putAndIncrementTrackingString(
+		String key,
+		ArrayList<Pair<String, AtomicInteger>> allocationStackTraceCountPairList)
+	{
+		// sequential search, for the number of elements we're dealing with (less than 20)
+		// this should be sufficiently fast
+		boolean pairFound = false;
+		for (int i = 0; i < allocationStackTraceCountPairList.size(); i++)
+		{
+			Pair<String, AtomicInteger> possiblePair = allocationStackTraceCountPairList.get(i);
+			if (possiblePair.first.equals(key))
+			{
+				possiblePair.second.getAndIncrement();
+				pairFound = true;
+				break;
+			}
+		}
+		
+		if (!pairFound)
+		{
+			allocationStackTraceCountPairList.add(new Pair<>(key, new AtomicInteger(1)));
+		}
+	}
+	
+	public static void LogAllocationStackTracePairCounts(DhLogger logger, ArrayList<Pair<String, AtomicInteger>> allocationStackTraceCountPairList)
+	{
+		// high numbers first
+		allocationStackTraceCountPairList.sort((a, b) -> Integer.compare(b.second.get(), a.second.get()));
+		
+		StringBuilder stringBuilder = new StringBuilder();
+		for (int j = 0; j < allocationStackTraceCountPairList.size(); j++)
+		{
+			int count = allocationStackTraceCountPairList.get(j).second.get();
+			String stack = allocationStackTraceCountPairList.get(j).first;
+			
+			stringBuilder.append(count).append(". ").append(stack).append("\n");
+		}
+		logger.warn("Stacks: ["+ allocationStackTraceCountPairList.size()+"]\n" + stringBuilder.toString());
+	}
+	
+	
+	
+	//================//
+	// helper classes //
+	//================//
+	//region
+	
+	/**
+	 * Can be quickly added to a {@link AutoCloseable} implementing
+	 * class to confirm it's being properly closed.
+	 */
+	public static class BasicPhantomReference implements AutoCloseable
+	{
+		private static final DhLogger LOGGER = new DhLoggerBuilder().build();
+		
+		/** if enabled the number of GC'ed buffers will be logged */
+		private static final boolean LOG_PHANTOM_RECOVERY = true;
+		/**
+		 * If enabled the GC'ed buffers allocation/upload stacks will be logged. 
+		 * Note: due to how the buffers are often run on the render thread,
+		 * these stacks will likely only be of limited use.
+		 * For more robust debugging it would likely be best to somehow track
+		 * the stacks of where these calls are happening before they're queued
+		 * for the render thread.
+		 */
+		private static final boolean LOG_PHANTOM_ALLOCATION_STACKS = true;
+		
+		private static final int PHANTOM_REF_CHECK_TIME_IN_MS = 5 * 1000;
+		private static final ReferenceQueue<BasicPhantomReference> PHANTOM_REFERENCE_QUEUE = new ReferenceQueue<>();
+		private static final ConcurrentHashMap<PhantomReference<? extends BasicPhantomReference>, Class<?>> PHANTOM_TO_PARENT_CLASS = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
+		
+		private static final ThreadPoolExecutor CLEANUP_THREAD = ThreadUtil.makeSingleDaemonThreadPool("BasicPhantom Cleanup");
+		
+		
+		private final Class<?> parentClass;
+		private final PhantomReference<? extends BasicPhantomReference> phantomReference; 
+		
+		
+		
+		//==============//
+		// constructors //
+		//==============//
+		//region
+		
+		static { CLEANUP_THREAD.execute(() -> runPhantomReferenceCleanupLoop()); }
+		
+		public BasicPhantomReference(Class<?> parentClass)
+		{
+			this.parentClass = parentClass;
+			this.phantomReference = new PhantomReference<>(this, PHANTOM_REFERENCE_QUEUE);
+			PHANTOM_TO_PARENT_CLASS.put(this.phantomReference, this.parentClass);
+		}
+		
+		//endregion
+		
+		
+		
+		//================//
+		// base overrides //
+		//================//
+		//region
+		
+		@Override 
+		public void close()
+		{
+			this.phantomReference.clear();
+			PHANTOM_TO_PARENT_CLASS.remove(this.phantomReference);
+		}
+		
+		//endregion
+		
+		
+		
+		//================//
+		// static cleanup //
+		//================//
+		//region
+		
+		private static void runPhantomReferenceCleanupLoop()
+		{
+			// these arrays are stored here so they don't have to be re-allocated each loop
+			ArrayList<Pair<String, AtomicInteger>> allocationStackTraceCountPairList = new ArrayList<>();
+			ArrayList<Pair<String, AtomicInteger>> parentClassNameCountPairList = new ArrayList<>();
+			
+			while (true)
+			{
+				allocationStackTraceCountPairList.clear();
+				parentClassNameCountPairList.clear();
+				
+				try
+				{
+					try
+					{
+						Thread.sleep(PHANTOM_REF_CHECK_TIME_IN_MS);
+					}
+					catch (InterruptedException ignore) { }
+					
+					int collectedCount = 0;
+					
+					Reference<? extends BasicPhantomReference> phantomRef = PHANTOM_REFERENCE_QUEUE.poll();
+					while (phantomRef != null)
+					{
+						// destroy the buffer if it hasn't been cleared yet
+						Class<?> parentClass = PHANTOM_TO_PARENT_CLASS.remove((PhantomReference<? extends BasicPhantomReference>)phantomRef); // cast to make IntelliJ happy
+						{
+							String parentClassName = "NULL";
+							if (parentClass != null)
+							{
+								parentClassName = parentClass.getSimpleName();
+							}
+							
+							PhantomLoggingHelper.putAndIncrementTrackingString(parentClassName, parentClassNameCountPairList);
+							//LOGGER.info("Phantom collected for class: [" + parentClassName + "]");
+						}
+							
+						
+						//if (LOG_PHANTOM_ALLOCATION_STACKS) // stack trace shouldn't be null, but just in case
+						//{
+						//	String stack = BUFFER_ID_TO_ALLOCATION_STRING.get(idRef);
+						//	if (stack != null)
+						//	{
+						//		PhantomLoggingHelper.putAndIncrementTrackingString(stack, allocationStackTraceCountPairList);
+						//	}
+						//}
+						
+						
+						collectedCount++;
+						phantomRef = PHANTOM_REFERENCE_QUEUE.poll();
+					}
+					
+					
+					
+					if (LOG_PHANTOM_RECOVERY)
+					{
+						// we only want to log when something has been returned
+						if (collectedCount != 0)
+						{
+							LOGGER.warn("Phantoms collected: ["+ F3Screen.NUMBER_FORMAT.format(collectedCount)+"].");
+							
+							PhantomLoggingHelper.LogAllocationStackTracePairCounts(LOGGER, parentClassNameCountPairList);
+							
+							//// log stack traces if present
+							//if (LOG_PHANTOM_ALLOCATION_STACKS)
+							//{
+							//	PhantomLoggingHelper.LogAllocationStackTracePairCounts(LOGGER, allocationStackTraceCountPairList);
+							//}
+						}
+					}
+					
+				}
+				catch (Exception e)
+				{
+					LOGGER.error("Unexpected error in buffer cleanup thread: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		
+		//endregion
+		
+		
+	}
+	
+	//endregion
+	
+	
+	
+}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/objects/quadTree/QuadNode.java

@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ public class QuadNode<T>
 	
 	public void deleteAllChildren() { this.deleteAllChildren(null); }
 	/** @param removedItemConsumer is only fired for non-null nodes, however the value passed in may be null */
-	public void deleteAllChildren(Consumer<? super T> removedItemConsumer)
+	public void deleteAllChildren(@Nullable Consumer<? super T> removedItemConsumer)
 	{
 		for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
 		{

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/objects/quadTree/QuadTree.java

@@ -19,10 +19,12 @@
 
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.quadTree;
 
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.fullData.sources.FullDataSourceV2;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos2D;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.QuadTree.LodQuadTree;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.BitShiftUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.MathUtil;
@@ -61,6 +63,11 @@ public class QuadTree<T>
 	private final MovableGridRingList<QuadNode<T>> topRingList;
 	
 	private DhBlockPos2D centerBlockPos;
+	/** 
+	 * defines how many blocks the center needs to move in blocks
+	 * before we check for out-of-bound nodes.
+	 */
+	private int blockDistanceForNodeClearing;
 	
 	
 	
@@ -74,10 +81,13 @@ public class QuadTree<T>
 	 *
 	 * @param diameterInBlocks equivalent to the distance between the two opposing sides
 	 */
-	public QuadTree(int diameterInBlocks, DhBlockPos2D centerBlockPos, byte treeLeafDetailLevel)
+	public QuadTree(
+		int diameterInBlocks, int blockDistanceForNodeClearing,
+		DhBlockPos2D centerBlockPos, byte treeLeafDetailLevel)
 	{
 		this.centerBlockPos = centerBlockPos;
 		this.diameterInBlocks = diameterInBlocks;
+		this.blockDistanceForNodeClearing = blockDistanceForNodeClearing;
 		
 		this.treeLeafDetailLevel = treeLeafDetailLevel;
 		// the min detail level must be greater than 0 (to prevent divide by 0 errors) and greater than the maximum detail level
@@ -130,20 +140,24 @@ public class QuadTree<T>
 	public int leafNodeCount()
 	{
 		int count = 0;
-		for (QuadNode<T> node : this.topRingList)
+		for (QuadNode<T> rootNode : this.topRingList)
 		{
-			if (node == null)
+			if (rootNode == null)
 			{
 				continue;
 			}
 			
-			Iterator<QuadNode<T>> leafNodeIterator = node.getLeafNodeIterator();
+			Iterator<QuadNode<T>> leafNodeIterator = rootNode.getLeafNodeIterator();
 			while (leafNodeIterator.hasNext())
 			{
-				leafNodeIterator.next();
+				QuadNode<T> node = leafNodeIterator.next();
+				if (node != null
+					&& this.isSectionPosInBounds(node.sectionPos))
+				{
 					count++;
 				}
 			}
+		}
 		
 		return count;
 	}
@@ -236,32 +250,32 @@ public class QuadTree<T>
 		int ringListPosX = DhSectionPos.getX(rootPos);
 		int ringListPosZ = DhSectionPos.getZ(rootPos);
 		
-		QuadNode<T> topQuadNode = this.topRingList.get(ringListPosX, ringListPosZ);
-		if (topQuadNode == null)
+		QuadNode<T> rootQuadNode = this.topRingList.get(ringListPosX, ringListPosZ);
+		if (rootQuadNode == null)
 		{
 			if (!setNewValue)
 			{
 				return null;
 			}
 			
-			topQuadNode = new QuadNode<T>(rootPos, this.treeLeafDetailLevel);
-			boolean successfullyAdded = this.topRingList.set(ringListPosX, ringListPosZ, topQuadNode);
+			rootQuadNode = new QuadNode<T>(rootPos, this.treeLeafDetailLevel);
+			boolean successfullyAdded = this.topRingList.set(ringListPosX, ringListPosZ, rootQuadNode);
 			if (!successfullyAdded)
 			{
-				LodUtil.assertNotReach("Failed to add top quadTree node at position: " + rootPos);
+				LodUtil.assertNotReach("Failed to add root quadTree node at position: ["+DhSectionPos.toString(rootPos)+"]");
 			}
 		}
 		
-		if (!DhSectionPos.contains(topQuadNode.sectionPos, pos))
+		if (!DhSectionPos.contains(rootQuadNode.sectionPos, pos))
 		{
-			LodUtil.assertNotReach("failed to get a root node that contains the input position: " + pos + " root node pos: " + topQuadNode.sectionPos);
+			LodUtil.assertNotReach("failed to get a root node that contains the input position: " + pos + " root node pos: " + rootQuadNode.sectionPos);
 		}
 		
 		
-		QuadNode<T> returnNode = topQuadNode.getNode(pos);
+		QuadNode<T> returnNode = rootQuadNode.getNode(pos);
 		if (setNewValue)
 		{
-			topQuadNode.setValue(pos, newValue);
+			rootQuadNode.setValue(pos, newValue);
 		}
 		return returnNode;
 	}
@@ -354,32 +368,103 @@ public class QuadTree<T>
 	//================//
 	//region
 	
-	public void setCenterBlockPos(DhBlockPos2D newCenterPos) { this.setCenterBlockPos(newCenterPos, null); }
-	public void setCenterBlockPos(DhBlockPos2D newCenterPos, Consumer<? super T> removedItemConsumer)
+	public void setCenterBlockPos(DhBlockPos2D newCenterPos) { this.setCenterBlockPos(newCenterPos, null, null); }
+	/**
+	 * @param removedConsumer fired when a root node is completely removed from the underlying data structure
+	 * @param mutateOutOfBoundConsumer fired when a child node is out of bounds, but not removed from the underlying data structure
+	 */
+	public void setCenterBlockPos(
+		DhBlockPos2D newCenterPos, 
+		@Nullable Consumer<? super T> removedConsumer, 
+		@Nullable Consumer<? super T> mutateOutOfBoundConsumer)
 	{
-		this.centerBlockPos = newCenterPos;
-		
-		MovableGridRingList.Pos2D expectedCenterPos = new MovableGridRingList.Pos2D(
-				BitShiftUtil.divideByPowerOfTwo(this.centerBlockPos.x, this.treeRootDetailLevel),
-				BitShiftUtil.divideByPowerOfTwo(this.centerBlockPos.z, this.treeRootDetailLevel));
-		
-		if (this.topRingList.getCenter().equals(expectedCenterPos))
+		// did we move significantly?
+		boolean ringListMoved = false;
+		int newCenterPosX = BitShiftUtil.divideByPowerOfTwo(newCenterPos.x, this.treeRootDetailLevel);
+		int newCenterPosZ = BitShiftUtil.divideByPowerOfTwo(newCenterPos.z, this.treeRootDetailLevel);
+		if (this.topRingList.getCenter().getX() != newCenterPosX
+			|| this.topRingList.getCenter().getY() != newCenterPosZ)
 		{
-			// tree doesn't need to be moved
+			ringListMoved = true;
+		}
+		
+		// did we move a little bit?
+		boolean recalculateOutOfBoundNodes = false;
+		int centerBlockDistance = this.centerBlockPos.manhattanDist(newCenterPos);
+		if (centerBlockDistance >= this.blockDistanceForNodeClearing)
+		{
+			recalculateOutOfBoundNodes = true;
+		}
+		
+		if (!ringListMoved
+			&& !recalculateOutOfBoundNodes)
+		{
+			// the tree didn't move enough that we need
+			// to re-calculate anything
 			return;
 		}
 		
 		
-		// remove out of bounds root nodes
-		this.topRingList.moveTo(expectedCenterPos.getX(), expectedCenterPos.getY(), (quadNode) ->
-		{
-			if (quadNode != null && removedItemConsumer != null)
-			{
-				quadNode.deleteAllChildren(removedItemConsumer);
 		
-				removedItemConsumer.accept(quadNode.value);
+		this.centerBlockPos = newCenterPos;
+		
+		// remove out of bound root nodes
+		this.topRingList.moveTo(newCenterPosX, newCenterPosZ, (quadNode) ->
+		{
+			if (quadNode != null)
+			{
+				quadNode.deleteAllChildren(removedConsumer);
+				
+				if (removedConsumer != null)
+				{
+					removedConsumer.accept(quadNode.value);
+				}
 			}
 		});
+		
+		// mutate out of bound child nodes
+		this.topRingList.forEach((rootNode) ->
+		{
+			this.mutateOutOfBoundChildNodes(rootNode, mutateOutOfBoundConsumer);
+		});
+	}
+	/** 
+	 * we don't want to actually remove nodes or node data 
+	 * since that can cause the {@link LodQuadTree} to
+	 * flash low-detail LODs when moving into previously-loaded
+	 * LODs, which is really disorienting.
+	 */
+	private void mutateOutOfBoundChildNodes(@Nullable QuadNode<T> quadNode, @Nullable Consumer<? super T> mutateOutOfBoundConsumer)
+	{
+		// nodes shouldn't be null, but just in case
+		if (quadNode == null)
+		{
+			return;
+		}
+		
+		// go over each child node
+		for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
+		{
+			QuadNode<T> childNode = quadNode.getChildByIndex(i);
+			if (childNode == null
+				|| childNode.value == null)
+			{
+				// no need to go any deeper if this node is already empty
+				continue;
+			}
+			
+			// mutate nodes from the bottom up
+			this.mutateOutOfBoundChildNodes(childNode, mutateOutOfBoundConsumer);
+			
+			// mutate this node if out of bounds
+			if (!this.isSectionPosInBounds(childNode.sectionPos))
+			{
+				if (mutateOutOfBoundConsumer != null)
+				{
+					mutateOutOfBoundConsumer.accept(childNode.value);
+				}
+			}
+		}
 	}
 	
 	public final DhBlockPos2D getCenterBlockPos() { return this.centerBlockPos; }
@@ -484,7 +569,7 @@ public class QuadTree<T>
 	
 	private class QuadTreeNodeIterator implements Iterator<QuadNode<T>>
 	{
-		private final QuadTreeRootPosIterator rootNodeIterator;
+		private final QuadTreeRootPosIterator rootNodePosIterator;
 		private Iterator<QuadNode<T>> currentNodeIterator;
 		
 		private QuadNode<T> lastNode = null;
@@ -497,7 +582,7 @@ public class QuadTree<T>
 		
 		public QuadTreeNodeIterator(boolean onlyReturnLeaves, @Nullable INodeIteratorStoppingFunc<T> stopIteratingFunc)
 		{
-			this.rootNodeIterator = new QuadTreeRootPosIterator(false, stopIteratingFunc);
+			this.rootNodePosIterator = new QuadTreeRootPosIterator(false, stopIteratingFunc);
 			this.onlyReturnLeaves = onlyReturnLeaves;
 			
 			this.stopIteratingFunc = stopIteratingFunc;
@@ -508,7 +593,7 @@ public class QuadTree<T>
 		@Override
 		public boolean hasNext()
 		{
-			if (!this.rootNodeIterator.hasNext() 
+			if (!this.rootNodePosIterator.hasNext() 
 				&& this.currentNodeIterator != null 
 				&& !this.currentNodeIterator.hasNext())
 			{
@@ -544,9 +629,9 @@ public class QuadTree<T>
 		{
 			Iterator<QuadNode<T>> nodeIterator = null;
 			while ((nodeIterator == null || !nodeIterator.hasNext()) 
-					&& this.rootNodeIterator.hasNext())
+					&& this.rootNodePosIterator.hasNext())
 			{
-				long sectionPos = this.rootNodeIterator.nextLong();
+				long sectionPos = this.rootNodePosIterator.nextLong();
 				
 				// try-get to prevent concurrency errors if the tree is being moved while we walk through it
 				QuadNode<T> rootNode = QuadTree.this.tryGetNode(sectionPos);

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/threading/RateLimitedThreadPoolExecutor.java

@@ -73,10 +73,17 @@ public class RateLimitedThreadPoolExecutor extends ThreadPoolExecutor
 	{
 		super.afterExecute(runnable, throwable);
 		
+		double ratio = this.runTimeRatioConfig.get();
+		if (ratio >= 1.0)
+		{
+			// Avoid sleeping for 0 time
+			return;
+		}
+		
 		try
 		{
 			long runTime = System.nanoTime() - this.runStartTime.get();
-			Thread.sleep(TimeUnit.NANOSECONDS.toMillis((long) (runTime / this.runTimeRatioConfig.get() - runTime)));
+			Thread.sleep(TimeUnit.NANOSECONDS.toMillis((long) (runTime / ratio - runTime)));
 		}
 		catch (InterruptedException ignore)
 		{

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/world/AbstractDhWorld.java

@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractDhWorld implements IDhWorld, Closeable
 		String levelCountStr = F3Screen.NUMBER_FORMAT.format(this.getLoadedLevelCount());
 		
 		String readOnlyStr = "";
-		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.getReadOnly())
+		if (DhApiWorldProxy.INSTANCE.tryGetReadOnly())
 		{
 			readOnlyStr += " - ReadOnly";
 		}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/world/DhApiWorldProxy.java

@@ -113,6 +113,23 @@ public class DhApiWorldProxy implements IDhApiWorldProxy
 		return this.isReadOnly; 
 	}
 	
+	/** 
+	 * Returns false if no world is loaded.
+	 * Can be used in places where the world state might be a bit more questionable
+	 * without having to worry about the {@link IllegalStateException} thrown by
+	 * {@link DhApiWorldProxy#getReadOnly()}
+	 */
+	public boolean tryGetReadOnly()
+	{
+		if (SharedApi.getAbstractDhWorld() == null)
+		{
+			// no world is loaded, use the default value for the next world
+			return false;
+		}
+		
+		return this.isReadOnly;
+	}
+	
 	
 	
 	//================//

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/wrapperInterfaces/block/IBlockStateWrapper.java

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.block;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.block.IDhApiBlockStateWrapper;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents.DhApiBlockColorOverrideEvent;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
 
 import java.awt.*;
@@ -59,6 +60,11 @@ public interface IBlockStateWrapper extends IDhApiBlockStateWrapper
 	 * IE Iron, diamond, gold, etc. 
 	 */
 	boolean isBeaconBaseBlock();
+	/**
+	 * if true this block can have its color overridden
+	 * by {@link DhApiBlockColorOverrideEvent}
+	 */
+	boolean allowApiColorOverride();
 	
 	Color getMapColor();
 	Color getBeaconTintColor();

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/wrapperInterfaces/minecraft/IMinecraftClientWrapper.java

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhChunkPos;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.RenderThreadTaskHandler;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.interfaces.dependencyInjection.IBindable;
 
@@ -113,17 +114,19 @@ public interface IMinecraftClientWrapper extends IBindable
 	void crashMinecraft(String errorMessage, Throwable exception);
 	
 	/** 
-	 * This is only designed to be used internally by {@link GLProxy}
+	 * This is only designed to be used internally by {@link RenderThreadTaskHandler}
 	 * since it handles task frame limiting (reducing/preventing stuttering)
 	 * whereas this method causes the task to be run whenever MC decides to 
 	 * (likely all at once the next frame). <br><br>
 	 * 
 	 * Any tasks submitted here will be run on the render thread. 
 	 * 
-	 * @see GLProxy#queueRunningOnRenderThread(Runnable) 
+	 * @see RenderThreadTaskHandler 
 	 */
 	void executeOnRenderThread(Runnable runnable);
 	
+	void showDialog(String title, String message, String dialogType, String iconType);
+	
 	
 	
 	//=============//

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/wrapperInterfaces/minecraft/IProfilerWrapper.java

@@ -21,20 +21,26 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.interfaces.dependencyInjection.IBindable;
 
-/**
- * @author James Seibel
- * @version 11-20-2021
- */
 public interface IProfilerWrapper extends IBindable
 {
-	// Note to self:
-	// if "unspecified" shows up in the pie chart, it is
-	// possibly because the amount of time between sections
-	// is too small for the profiler to measures
-	void push(String newSection);
-	
+	IProfileBlock push(String newSection);
 	void popPush(String newSection);
 	
-	void pop();
+	
+	
+	//================//
+	// helper classes //
+	//================//
+	//region
+	
+	/** used to auto-pop blocks to prevent accidentally unevenly pushing/popping */
+	public static interface IProfileBlock extends AutoCloseable
+	{
+		@Override
+		public void close();
+	}
+	
+	//endregion
+	
 	
 }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/wrapperInterfaces/modAccessor/AbstractOptifineAccessor.java

@@ -70,8 +70,6 @@ public abstract class AbstractOptifineAccessor implements IOptifineAccessor
 		return null;
 	}
 	
-	public static boolean optifinePresent() { return getOptifineFogField() != null; }
-	
 	
 	
 	//===================//

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/wrapperInterfaces/render/renderPass/IDhGenericRenderer.java

@@ -23,10 +23,14 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.render.IDhApiCustomRenderRegist
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.RenderParams;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IProfilerWrapper;
 
-public interface IDhGenericRenderer extends IDhApiCustomRenderRegister
+public interface IDhGenericRenderer extends IDhApiCustomRenderRegister, AutoCloseable
 {
 	void render(RenderParams renderEventParam, IProfilerWrapper profiler, boolean renderingWithSsao);
 	
 	String getVboRenderDebugMenuString();
 	
+	@Override void close(); // override to remove "throws exception"
+	
+	
+	
 }

core/src/main/resources/assets/distanthorizons/lang/en_us.json

@@ -533,6 +533,26 @@
 
 
 
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.debugging.positionFinderDebugging":
+    "Position Finder",
+
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.debugging.positionFinderDebugging.positionFinderEnable":
+    "Enable Position Finder",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.debugging.positionFinderDebugging.positionFinderDetailLevel":
+    "Absolute Detail Level",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.debugging.positionFinderDebugging.positionFinderXPos":
+    "Pos X",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.debugging.positionFinderDebugging.positionFinderZPos":
+    "Pos Z",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.debugging.positionFinderDebugging.positionFinderMinBlockY":
+    "Min Block Y",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.debugging.positionFinderDebugging.positionFinderMaxBlockY":
+    "Max Block Y",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.debugging.positionFinderDebugging.positionFinderMarginPercent":
+    "Margin %",
+    
+
+
   "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.debugging.f3Screen":
     "F3 Screen",
 

core/src/main/resources/assets/distanthorizons/shaders/fade/blaze/dh_fade.fsh

@@ -41,8 +41,8 @@ void main()
     
     
     
-    // the DH texture will have white if nothing was written to that pixel.
-    if (dhColor == vec4(1))
+    // ignore anything that DH hasn't drawn to
+    if (dhColor.a == 0.0f)
     {
         // if not done vanilla clouds will render incorrectly at night
         dhColor = combinedMcDhColor;

core/src/main/resources/assets/distanthorizons/shaders/fade/blaze/vanilla_fade.fsh

@@ -28,13 +28,36 @@ layout (std140) uniform fragUniformBlock
 vec3 calcViewPosition(float fragmentDepth, mat4 invMvmProj) 
 {
     // normalized device coordinates
-    vec4 ndc = vec4(TexCoord.xy, fragmentDepth, 1.0);
+    vec4 ndc = vec4(
+        TexCoord.x, // UV [0,1]
+        TexCoord.y,
+        fragmentDepth, // depth [0,1]
+        1.0
+    );
+    // AKA: remap the [0,1] UV coordinates and depth value
+    // into the [-1,1] positions used by
+    // the NDC cube rendering stage
     ndc.xyz = ndc.xyz * 2.0 - 1.0;
     
     vec4 eyeCoord = invMvmProj * ndc;
     return eyeCoord.xyz / eyeCoord.w;
 }
 
+// TODO vulkan
+vec3 calcReversedZViewPosition(float fragmentDepth, mat4 invMvmProj)
+{
+    // Vulkan NDC: xy in [-1,+1], z already in [0,1] — don't remap z
+    vec4 ndc = vec4(
+        TexCoord.x * 2.0 - 1.0, // UV [0,1] -> NDC [-1,+1]
+        TexCoord.y * 2.0 - 1.0,
+        fragmentDepth, // no remapping needed, this depth is already in the [0,1] range
+        1.0 // w=1 placeholder for matrix multiplication
+    );
+    
+    vec4 eyeCoord = invMvmProj * ndc;
+    return eyeCoord.xyz / eyeCoord.w;
+}
+
 /**
  * Used to fade out vanilla chunks so the transition
  * between DH and vanilla is smoother.
@@ -56,8 +79,7 @@ void main()
     
     
     // ignore anything that DH hasn't drawn to
-    // We don't use DH's depth here because it would prevent the fade from running before DH has loaded
-    if (dhColor == vec4(1))
+    if (dhColor.a == 0.0f)
     {
         // if not done vanilla clouds will render incorrectly at night
         dhColor = combinedMcDhColor;
@@ -72,12 +94,13 @@ void main()
     {
         fragColor = vec4(combinedMcDhColor.rgb, 0.0);
     }
-    // a fragment depth of "1" means the fragment wasn't drawn to,
-    // we only want to fade vanilla rendered objects, not to the sky or LODs
-    else if (mcFragmentDepth < 1.0) 
+//    // a fragment depth of "1" means the fragment wasn't drawn to,
+//    // we only want to fade vanilla rendered objects, not to the sky or LODs
+//    else if (mcFragmentDepth < 1.0)
+    else if (mcFragmentDepth > 0)
     {
         // fade based on distance from the camera
-        vec3 mcVertexWorldPos = calcViewPosition(mcFragmentDepth, uMcInvMvmProj);
+        vec3 mcVertexWorldPos = calcReversedZViewPosition(mcFragmentDepth, uMcInvMvmProj);
         float mcFragmentDistance = length(mcVertexWorldPos.xzy);
         
         

core/src/main/resources/assets/distanthorizons/shaders/fade/blaze/vert.vsh

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #version 150 core
 
 in vec2 vPosition;
-in vec4 vColor;
 
 out vec4 fColor;
 out vec2 TexCoord;

core/src/main/resources/assets/distanthorizons/shaders/fade/gl/dh_fade.frag

@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ void main()
 
 
 
-    // the DH texture will have white if nothing was written to that pixel.
-    if (dhColor == vec4(1))
+    // ignore anything that DH hasn't drawn to
+    if (dhColor.a == 0.0f)
     {
         // if not done vanilla clouds will render incorrectly at night
         dhColor = combinedMcDhColor;

core/src/main/resources/assets/distanthorizons/shaders/fade/gl/vanilla_fade.frag

@@ -52,8 +52,7 @@ void main()
     
     
     // ignore anything that DH hasn't drawn to
-    // We don't use DH's depth here because it would prevent the fade from running before DH has loaded
-    if (dhColor == vec4(1))
+    if (dhColor.a == 0.0f)
     {
         // if not done vanilla clouds will render incorrectly at night
         dhColor = combinedMcDhColor;

core/src/main/resources/assets/distanthorizons/shaders/ssao/blaze/frag.fsh

@@ -113,12 +113,13 @@ void main()
         float fadeDistance = uFadeDistanceInBlocks;
         if (distanceFromCamera < fadeDistance)
         {
-            #ifdef GL_ARB_derivative_control
-            // Get higher precision derivatives when available
-            vec3 viewNormal = cross(dFdxFine(viewPos.xyz), dFdyFine(viewPos.xyz));
-            #else
+// TODO vulkan
+//            #ifdef GL_ARB_derivative_control
+//            // Get higher precision derivatives when available
+//            vec3 viewNormal = cross(dFdxFine(viewPos.xyz), dFdyFine(viewPos.xyz));
+//            #else
             vec3 viewNormal = cross(dFdx(viewPos.xyz), dFdy(viewPos.xyz));
-            #endif
+//            #endif
 
             viewNormal = normalize(viewNormal);
             occlusion = GetSpiralOcclusion(TexCoord, viewPos, viewNormal);

core/src/test/java/testItems/wrappers/TestBlockStateWrapper.java

@@ -14,49 +14,22 @@ public class TestBlockStateWrapper implements IBlockStateWrapper
 	
 	
 	
-	@Override 
-	public boolean isAir()
-	{ return false; }
-	@Override
-	public boolean isSolid()
-	{ return true; }
-	@Override 
-	public boolean isLiquid()
-	{ return false; }
-	@Override 
-	public String getSerialString()
-	{ return this.name; }
-	@Override 
-	public int getOpacity()
-	{ return 15; }
-	@Override
-	public int getLightEmission()
-	{ return 0; }
-	@Override 
-	public byte getMaterialId()
-	{ return 0; }
-	@Override
-	public boolean isBeaconBlock()
-	{ return false; }
-	@Override
-	public boolean isBeaconTintBlock()
-	{ return false; }
-	@Override 
-	public boolean allowsBeaconBeamPassage()
-	{ return false; }
-	@Override
-	public boolean isBeaconBaseBlock()
-	{ return false; }
-	@Override 
-	public Color getMapColor()
-	{ return Color.MAGENTA; }
-	@Override 
-	public Color getBeaconTintColor()
-	{ return Color.MAGENTA; }
+	@Override public boolean isAir() { return false; }
+	@Override public boolean isSolid() { return true; }
+	@Override public boolean isLiquid() { return false; }
+	@Override public String getSerialString() { return this.name; }
+	@Override public int getOpacity() { return 15; }
+	@Override public int getLightEmission() { return 0; }
+	@Override public byte getMaterialId() { return 0; }
+	@Override public boolean isBeaconBlock() { return false; }
+	@Override public boolean isBeaconTintBlock() { return false; }
+	@Override public boolean allowsBeaconBeamPassage() { return false; }
+	@Override public boolean isBeaconBaseBlock() { return false; }
+	@Override public boolean allowApiColorOverride() { return false; }
+	@Override public Color getMapColor() { return Color.MAGENTA; }
+	@Override public Color getBeaconTintColor() { return Color.MAGENTA; }
 	
-	@Override 
-	public Object getWrappedMcObject()
-	{ return this; }
+	@Override public Object getWrappedMcObject() { return this; }
 	
 	
 	@Override 

core/src/test/java/tests/QuadTreeTest.java

@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	public void BasicPositiveQuadTreeTest()
 	{
 		AbstractTestTreeParams treeParams = new LargeTestTree();
-		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
+		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
 		Assert.assertTrue("Tree min/max detail level out of expected bounds: " + tree, tree.treeRootDetailLevel >= 10 && tree.treeLeafDetailLevel <= 10 - 4);
 		
 		
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	public void BasicNegativeQuadTreeTest()
 	{
 		AbstractTestTreeParams treeParams = new LargeTestTree();
-		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), DhBlockPos2D.ZERO, LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
+		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), DhBlockPos2D.ZERO, LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
 		
 		
 		// root node //
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	public void OutOfBoundsQuadTreeTest()
 	{
 		AbstractTestTreeParams treeParams = new LargeTestTree();
-		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), new DhBlockPos2D(0, 0), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
+		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), new DhBlockPos2D(0, 0), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
 		Assert.assertEquals("tree diameter incorrect", treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), tree.diameterInBlocks());
 		
 		
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	public void outOfBoundsInTreeTest()
 	{
 		// very specific tree parameters to match test results
-		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(512, new DhBlockPos2D(125, -516), (byte) 6);
+		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(512, 8, new DhBlockPos2D(125, -516), (byte) 6);
 		Assert.assertEquals("Test may need to be re-calculated for different max detail level.", 9, tree.treeRootDetailLevel);
 		
 		
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	public void QuadTreeRootAlignedMovingTest()
 	{
 		AbstractTestTreeParams treeParams = new LargeTestTree();
-		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
+		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
 		
 		int pseudoRootNodeWidthInBlocks = BitShiftUtil.powerOfTwo(10);
 		
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 		testSet(tree, ne, 3);
 		testSet(tree, sw, 4);
 		testSet(tree, se, 5);
-		Assert.assertEquals("incorrect leaf node count", tree.leafNodeCount(), 4);
+		Assert.assertEquals("incorrect leaf node count", 4, tree.leafNodeCount());
 		
 		
 		// fake move //
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 		testGet(tree, ne, 3);
 		testGet(tree, sw, 4);
 		testGet(tree, se, 5);
-		Assert.assertEquals("incorrect leaf node count", tree.leafNodeCount(), 4);
+		Assert.assertEquals("incorrect leaf node count", 4,  tree.leafNodeCount());
 		
 		
 		
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 		testGet(tree, sw, null, IndexOutOfBoundsException.class);
 		testGet(tree, se, null, IndexOutOfBoundsException.class);
 		
-		Assert.assertEquals("incorrect leaf node count", tree.leafNodeCount(), 0);
+		Assert.assertEquals("incorrect leaf node count", 0, tree.leafNodeCount());
 		
 		
 		
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 		DhBlockPos2D edgeMoveBlockPos = new DhBlockPos2D(pseudoRootNodeWidthInBlocks - (treeParams.getWidthInRootNodes() * pseudoRootNodeWidthInBlocks), 0);
 		tree.setCenterBlockPos(edgeMoveBlockPos);
 		Assert.assertEquals("Tree center incorrect", edgeMoveBlockPos, tree.getCenterBlockPos());
-		Assert.assertEquals("incorrect leaf node count", 2, tree.leafNodeCount());
+		Assert.assertEquals("incorrect leaf node count", 0, tree.leafNodeCount());
 		
 	}
 	
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	public void QuadTreeIterationTest()
 	{
 		AbstractTestTreeParams treeParams = new LargeTestTree();
-		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
+		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
 		
 		
 		// (pseudo) root nodes //
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	public void QuadTreeIterationFilterTest()
 	{
 		AbstractTestTreeParams treeParams = new TinyTestTree();
-		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), (byte)0);
+		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), (byte)0);
 		
 		
 		
@@ -418,7 +418,10 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 		
 		
 	}
-	private static <T> void assertFilterCount(QuadTree<T> tree, String message, int expectedNodeCount, @Nullable QuadTree.INodeIteratorStoppingFunc<T> stoppingFilterFunc)
+	private static <T> void assertFilterCount(
+		QuadTree<T> tree, String message, 
+		int expectedNodeCount, 
+		@Nullable QuadTree.INodeIteratorStoppingFunc<T> stoppingFilterFunc)
 	{
 		ArrayList<String> foundNodePositionStrings = new ArrayList<>();
 		
@@ -532,7 +535,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	public void CenteredGridListIterationTest()
 	{
 		AbstractTestTreeParams treeParams = new TinyTestTree();
-		final QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
+		final QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
 		testSet(tree, DhSectionPos.encode(tree.treeRootDetailLevel, 0, 0), 0);
 		
 		// confirm the root node were added
@@ -573,18 +576,18 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 		AbstractTestTreeParams treeParams = new TinyTestTree();
 		
 		// exactly inside (5*0,0)
-		testGridListRootCount(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), 1);
+		testGridListRootCount(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), 1);
 		
 		// offset across (5*-1,0) and (5*0,0)
-		testGridListRootCount(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), new DhBlockPos2D(-treeParams.getWidthInBlocks() / 4, treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos().z), 2);
+		testGridListRootCount(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), new DhBlockPos2D(-treeParams.getWidthInBlocks() / 4, treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos().z), 2);
 		
 		// offset across the origin: (5*0,0), (5*-1,0), (5*0,-1), and (5*-1,-1)
-		testGridListRootCount(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), DhBlockPos2D.ZERO, 4);
+		testGridListRootCount(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), DhBlockPos2D.ZERO, 4);
 		
 	}
-	private static void testGridListRootCount(int treeWidth, DhBlockPos2D treeMovePos, int expectedRootNodeCount)
+	private static void testGridListRootCount(int treeWidth, int treeDistanceForNodeClearing, DhBlockPos2D treeMovePos, int expectedRootNodeCount)
 	{
-		final QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeWidth, DhBlockPos2D.ZERO, LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
+		final QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeWidth, treeDistanceForNodeClearing, DhBlockPos2D.ZERO, LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
 		Assert.assertEquals("tree creation failed, incorrect initial position", DhBlockPos2D.ZERO, tree.getCenterBlockPos());
 		
 		tree.setCenterBlockPos(treeMovePos);
@@ -615,7 +618,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	public void TinyGridAlignedTreeTest()
 	{
 		AbstractTestTreeParams treeParams = new MediumTestTree();
-		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
+		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), treeParams.getPositiveEdgeCenterPos(), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
 		// minimum size tree should be 3 root nodes wide
 		Assert.assertEquals("incorrect tree node width", 3, tree.ringListWidth());
 		Assert.assertEquals("incorrect tree width", treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), tree.diameterInBlocks());
@@ -644,7 +647,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	public void TinyGridOffsetTreeTest()
 	{
 		AbstractTestTreeParams treeParams = new MediumTestTree();
-		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), new DhBlockPos2D(0, 0), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
+		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), new DhBlockPos2D(0, 0), LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL);
 		// minimum size tree should be 3 root nodes wide
 		Assert.assertEquals("incorrect tree node width", 3, tree.ringListWidth());
 		Assert.assertEquals("incorrect tree width", treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), tree.diameterInBlocks());
@@ -683,7 +686,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	public void TreeDetailLevelLimitTest()
 	{
 		AbstractTestTreeParams treeParams = new MediumTestTree();
-		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), new DhBlockPos2D(0, 0), (byte) 8);
+		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), new DhBlockPos2D(0, 0), (byte) 8);
 		Assert.assertEquals("Test detail level's need to be adjusted. This isn't necessarily a failed test.", 10, tree.treeRootDetailLevel);
 		
 		// valid detail levels
@@ -705,7 +708,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	public void QuadNodeDetailLimitTest()
 	{
 		AbstractTestTreeParams treeParams = new MediumTestTree();
-		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), new DhBlockPos2D(0, 0), (byte) 6);
+		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), new DhBlockPos2D(0, 0), (byte) 6);
 		Assert.assertEquals("Test detail level's need to be adjusted. This isn't necessarily a failed test.", 10, tree.treeRootDetailLevel);
 		
 		// create the root node
@@ -817,8 +820,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	@Test
 	public void quadNodeChildPositionOutOfBoundsTest()
 	{
-		int treeWidthInBlocks = 64;
-		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeWidthInBlocks, new DhBlockPos2D(-2, 0), (byte) 0);
+		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(64, 1, new DhBlockPos2D(-2, 0), (byte) 0);
 		
 		
 		
@@ -865,7 +867,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	public void toStringTest()
 	{
 		AbstractTestTreeParams treeParams = new MediumTestTree();
-		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), new DhBlockPos2D(0, 0), (byte) 6);
+		QuadTree<Integer> tree = new QuadTree<>(treeParams.getWidthInBlocks(), treeParams.getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing(), new DhBlockPos2D(0, 0), (byte) 6);
 		
 		String treeString = tree.toString();
 		Assert.assertNotNull(treeString);
@@ -929,25 +931,28 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	private abstract static class AbstractTestTreeParams
 	{
 		public abstract int getWidthInBlocks();
+		public abstract int getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing();
 		
 		/** the tree should be slightly larger than the width in blocks to account for offset centers */
 		public int getWidthInRootNodes() { return MathUtil.log2(this.getWidthInBlocks()) + 2; }
 		/** the top (root) detail level in the tree */
-		public byte getMinDetailLevel() { return (byte) MathUtil.log2(this.getWidthInBlocks()); }
+		public byte getRootDetailLevel() { return (byte) MathUtil.log2(this.getWidthInBlocks()); }
 		/** @return the block pos so that the tree's negative corner lines up with (0,0) */
-		public DhBlockPos2D getPositiveEdgeCenterPos() { return new DhBlockPos2D(BitShiftUtil.powerOfTwo(this.getMinDetailLevel()) / 2, BitShiftUtil.powerOfTwo(this.getMinDetailLevel()) / 2); }
+		public DhBlockPos2D getPositiveEdgeCenterPos() { return new DhBlockPos2D(BitShiftUtil.powerOfTwo(this.getRootDetailLevel()) / 2, BitShiftUtil.powerOfTwo(this.getRootDetailLevel()) / 2); }
 		
 	}
 	
 	private static class LargeTestTree extends AbstractTestTreeParams
 	{
 		public int getWidthInBlocks() { return 8192; }
+		public int getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing() { return 16; }
 		
 	}
 	
 	private static class MediumTestTree extends AbstractTestTreeParams
 	{
 		public int getWidthInBlocks() { return 1024; }
+		public int getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing() { return 4; }
 		
 	}
 	
@@ -955,6 +960,7 @@ public class QuadTreeTest
 	{
 		// top detail level = 6
 		public int getWidthInBlocks() { return 32; }
+		public int getBlockDistanceForNodeClearing() { return 1; }
 		
 	}