remove dev from version number

Make some GLProxy methods static to prevent setup order issues

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/EDhApiDetailLevel.java

@@ -39,10 +39,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums;
  */
 public enum EDhApiDetailLevel
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
 	/**
 	 * detail level: 0 <Br>
 	 * width in Blocks: 1

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/config/EDhApiBlocksToAvoid.java

@@ -28,10 +28,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
  */
 public enum EDhApiBlocksToAvoid
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
 	NONE(false),
 	NON_COLLIDING(true);
 	

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/config/EDhApiDataCompressionMode.java

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
  * UNCOMPRESSED <br>
  * LZ4 <br>
  * Z_STD <br>
+ * Z_STD_STREAM <br>
  * LZMA2 <br><br>
  * 
  * Note: speed and compression ratios are examples
@@ -33,10 +34,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
  */
 public enum EDhApiDataCompressionMode
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
 	/** 
 	 * Should only be used internally and for unit testing. <br><br> 
 	 * 
@@ -57,27 +54,31 @@ public enum EDhApiDataCompressionMode
 	LZ4(1),
 	
 	/**
-	 * Decent speed and good compression. <br><br> 
+	 * Great speed and good compression. <br><br> 
+	 *
+	 * Read Speed: 2.1 MS / DTO <br>
+	 * Write Speed: 4.9 MS / DTO <br>
+	 * Compression ratio: 0.2606 <br>
+	 */
+	Z_STD_BLOCK(4),
+	
+	/**
+	 * Similar to {@link EDhApiDataCompressionMode#Z_STD_BLOCK}
+	 * except slower. <br><br>
+	 * 
+	 * This option is only provided for legacy support when processing old databases. <br><br>
 	 * 
 	 * Read Speed: 9.31 MS / DTO <br>
 	 * Write Speed: 15.13 MS / DTO <br>
 	 * Compression ratio: 0.2606 <br>
 	 */
-	Z_STD(4),
-	
-	/**
-	 * Similar to {@link EDhApiDataCompressionMode#Z_STD}
-	 * except slower.
-	 * <br>
-	 * This option is only provided for legacy support when processing old databases.
-	 */
 	@Deprecated
 	@DisallowSelectingViaConfigGui
 	Z_STD_STREAM(2),
 	
-	
 	/** 
-	 * Extremely slow, but very good compression. <br><br> 
+	 * Extremely slow, but very good compression. <br>
+	 * Often causes whole computer stuttering due to memory bandwidth saturation. <br><br>
 	 * 
 	 * Read Speed: 13.29 MS / DTO <br>
 	 * Write Speed: 70.95 MS / DTO <br>

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/config/EDhApiGpuUploadMethod.java

@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ public enum EDhApiGpuUploadMethod
 	/** Fast rendering but may stutter when uploading. */
 	SUB_DATA(false, false),
 	
-	/** Don't upload, only should be used for debugging */
+	///** Don't upload, only should be used for debugging */
-	@Deprecated // TODO remove before release
+	//@Deprecated
-	NONE(false, false),
+	//NONE(false, false),
 	
 	/**
 	 * May end up storing buffers in System memory. <br>

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/config/EDhApiGrassSideRendering.java

@@ -29,10 +29,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
  */
 public enum EDhApiGrassSideRendering
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
 	AS_GRASS,
 	FADE_TO_DIRT,
 	AS_DIRT;

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/config/EDhApiHorizontalQuality.java

@@ -31,11 +31,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
  */
 public enum EDhApiHorizontalQuality
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
-	
 	// Note: any quadraticBase less than 2.0f has issues with DetailDistanceUtil, and will always return the lowest detail level.
 	//  So for now we are limiting the lowest value to 2.0
 	//  LOWEST was originally 1.0f and LOW was 1.5f

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/config/EDhApiLodShading.java

@@ -29,10 +29,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
  */
 public enum EDhApiLodShading
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
 	/** 
 	 * Uses Minecraft's shading for LODs. <Br>
 	 * This means if Minecraft's shading is disabled DH's shading will be as well.

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/config/EDhApiMcRenderingFadeMode.java

@@ -33,10 +33,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
  */
 public enum EDhApiMcRenderingFadeMode
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
 	/**
 	 * No fading is done, there will be a pronounced border between
 	 * Minecraft and Distant Horizons. <br>

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/config/EDhApiServerFolderNameMode.java

@@ -35,11 +35,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
  */
 public enum EDhApiServerFolderNameMode
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
-	
 	/** Only use the server name */
 	NAME_ONLY,
 	

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/config/EDhApiVanillaOverdraw.java

@@ -34,11 +34,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
 @Deprecated // not currently in use, if the config this enum represents is re-implemented, the deprecated flag can be removed
 public enum EDhApiVanillaOverdraw
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
-	
 	/**
 	 * Don't draw LODs where a minecraft chunk could be.
 	 * Use Overdraw Offset to tweak the border thickness.

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/config/EDhApiWorldCompressionMode.java

@@ -28,10 +28,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config;
  */
 public enum EDhApiWorldCompressionMode
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
 	/** 
 	 * Every block/biome change is recorded in the database. <br>
 	 * This is what DH 2.0 and 2.0.1 all used by default and will store a lot of data. 

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/config/quickOptions/EDhApiQualityPreset.java

@@ -35,10 +35,6 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config.DisallowSelectingViaConfigGui
  */
 public enum EDhApiQualityPreset
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
 	@DisallowSelectingViaConfigGui
 	CUSTOM,
 	

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/config/quickOptions/EDhApiThreadPreset.java

@@ -34,10 +34,6 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config.DisallowSelectingViaConfigGui
  */
 public enum EDhApiThreadPreset
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
 	@DisallowSelectingViaConfigGui
 	CUSTOM,
 	

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/rendering/EDhApiDebugRendering.java

@@ -33,11 +33,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
  */
 public enum EDhApiDebugRendering
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
-	
 	/** LODs are rendered normally */
 	OFF,
 	

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/rendering/EDhApiFogDrawMode.java

@@ -33,10 +33,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
 @Deprecated
 public enum EDhApiFogDrawMode
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
 	/**
 	 * Use whatever Fog setting Optifine is using.
 	 * If Optifine isn't installed this defaults to {@link EDhApiFogDrawMode#FOG_ENABLED}.

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/rendering/EDhApiFogFalloff.java

@@ -30,11 +30,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
  */
 public enum EDhApiFogFalloff
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
-	
 	LINEAR(0),
 	EXPONENTIAL(1),
 	EXPONENTIAL_SQUARED(2);

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/rendering/EDhApiHeightFogDirection.java

@@ -33,11 +33,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
  */
 public enum EDhApiHeightFogDirection
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
-	
 	ABOVE_CAMERA                (true,  true,  false),
 	BELOW_CAMERA                (true,  false, true),
 	ABOVE_AND_BELOW_CAMERA      (true,  true,  true),

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/rendering/EDhApiRendererMode.java

@@ -29,11 +29,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
  */
 public enum EDhApiRendererMode
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
-	
 	DEFAULT,
 	DEBUG,
 	DISABLED;

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/rendering/EDhApiTransparency.java

@@ -29,11 +29,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering;
  */
 public enum EDhApiTransparency
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
-	
 	DISABLED(false, false),
 	FAKE(true, true),
 	COMPLETE(true, false);

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/worldGeneration/EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode.java

@@ -34,11 +34,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.worldGeneration;
  */
 public enum EDhApiDistantGeneratorMode
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
-	
 	/** Don't generate any new terrain, just generate LODs for already generated chunks. */
 	PRE_EXISTING_ONLY((byte) 1),
 	

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/enums/worldGeneration/EDhApiDistantGeneratorProgressDisplayLocation.java

@@ -31,11 +31,6 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.worldGeneration;
  */
 public enum EDhApiDistantGeneratorProgressDisplayLocation
 {
-	// Reminder:
-	// when adding items up the API minor version
-	// when removing items up the API major version
-	
-	
 	OVERLAY,
 	CHAT,
 	LOG,

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

@@ -161,9 +161,16 @@ public interface IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 	//=========//
 	
 	/** 
+	 * Creates a new cache you manage that can be used to speed up repeat
+	 * read operations. <br>
+	 * Without a cache each operation must: hit the backing database file,
+	 * decompress it, and parse it; which is a fairly slow process. <br>
+	 * 
 	 * @return a {@link IDhApiTerrainDataCache} backed by {@link java.lang.ref.SoftReference}'s.
-	 * @since API 3.0.0
+	 * @since API 5.0.0
 	 */
-	IDhApiTerrainDataCache getSoftCache();
+	IDhApiTerrainDataCache createSoftCache();
+	
+	
 	
 }

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/objects/data/DhApiChunk.java

@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import java.util.List;
  * Contains a list of {@link DhApiTerrainDataPoint} representing the blocks in a Minecraft chunk.
  *
  * @author Builderb0y, James Seibel
- * @version 2024-7-21
+ * @version 2025-12-11
  * @since API 2.0.0
  * 
  * @see IDhApiWrapperFactory

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

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ public final class ModInfo
 	public static final String NAME = "DistantHorizons";
 	/** Human-readable version of NAME */
 	public static final String READABLE_NAME = "Distant Horizons";
-	public static final String VERSION = "2.3.7-b-dev";
+	public static final String VERSION = "2.4.3-b";
 	/** Returns true if the current build is an unstable developer build, false otherwise. */
 	public static final boolean IS_DEV_BUILD = VERSION.toLowerCase().contains("dev");
 	

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

@@ -20,36 +20,41 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core;
 
 import com.github.luben.zstd.ZstdOutputStream;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.generic.GenericRenderObjectFactory;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.sql.DatabaseUpdater;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.IWrapperFactory;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.DhApiWorldProxy;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.external.methods.config.DhApiConfig;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.external.methods.data.DhApiTerrainDataRepo;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.DhApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.DhApiRenderProxy;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.StringUtil;
 import net.jpountz.lz4.LZ4FrameOutputStream;
-import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import org.sqlite.SQLiteJDBCLoader;
-import org.sqlite.util.OSInfo;
 import org.tukaani.xz.XZOutputStream;
 
-import java.awt.*;
+import java.lang.management.GarbageCollectorMXBean;
-import java.io.File;
+import java.lang.management.ManagementFactory;
+import java.util.List;
 
 /** Handles first time Core setup. */
 public class Initializer
 {
 	private static final DhLogger LOGGER = new DhLoggerBuilder().build();
 	
+	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC_CLIENT = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
+	
+	
 	
 	public static void init()
 	{
+		LOGGER.info("Running library validation...");
+		
 		// confirm that all referenced libraries are available to use
 		try
 		{
@@ -57,6 +62,17 @@ public class Initializer
 			// will throw an error (not an exception)
 			Class<?> lz4Compressor = LZ4FrameOutputStream.class;
 			Class<?> zstdCompressor = ZstdOutputStream.class;
+			
+			{
+				byte[] testCompressByteArray = new byte[1024];
+				for (int i = 0; i < testCompressByteArray.length; i++)
+				{
+					testCompressByteArray[i] = (byte) (i % 126);
+				}
+				byte[] compressedBytes = com.github.luben.zstd.Zstd.compress(testCompressByteArray);
+				com.github.luben.zstd.Zstd.decompress(compressedBytes);
+			}
+			
 			Class<?> lzmaCompressor = XZOutputStream.class;
 			//Class<?> networking = ByteBuf.class;
 			Class<?> config = com.electronwill.nightconfig.core.Config.class;
@@ -73,9 +89,7 @@ public class Initializer
 		}
 		catch (Throwable e)
 		{
-			LOGGER.fatal("Critical programmer error: One or more libraries aren't present. Error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
+			MC_CLIENT.crashMinecraft("Distant Horizons critical setup error: One or more libraries are either in-accessible, corrupted, or overwritten by another mod. Error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
-			// throwing here should crash the game, notifying the developer that something is wrong
-			throw new RuntimeException(e);
 		}
 		
 		// confirm the resource directory is present
@@ -89,8 +103,7 @@ public class Initializer
 		}
 		catch (Exception e)
 		{
-			LOGGER.fatal("Critical programmer error: Can't read SQL Scripts resource folder is either missing or malformed. Error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].");
+			MC_CLIENT.crashMinecraft("Critical programmer error: Can't read SQL Scripts resource folder is either missing or malformed. Error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
-			throw new RuntimeException(e);
 		}
 		
 		// This code has been disabled since it can cause Mac
@@ -121,6 +134,43 @@ public class Initializer
 			LOGGER.error("Programmer Error: No ["+IWrapperFactory.class.getSimpleName()+"] assigned to the DhApi.");
 		}
 		
+		// log a warning if G1GC is being used
+		// (this garbage collector is known to cause stuttering)
+		{
+			boolean g1GcInUse = false;
+			
+			StringBuilder garbageCollectorNames = new StringBuilder();
+			List<GarbageCollectorMXBean> gcMxBeans = ManagementFactory.getGarbageCollectorMXBeans();
+			for (GarbageCollectorMXBean gcMxBean : gcMxBeans)
+			{
+				if (!garbageCollectorNames.toString().isEmpty())
+				{
+					garbageCollectorNames.append(", ");
+				}
+				garbageCollectorNames.append(gcMxBean.getName());
+				
+				// "G1 Young Generation" // "G1 Concurrent GC" // "G1 Old Generation"
+				if (gcMxBean.getName().toLowerCase().contains("g1 "))
+				{
+					g1GcInUse = true;
+				}
+			}
+			LOGGER.info("Garbage collectors: ["+garbageCollectorNames+"]");
+			
+			
+			if (g1GcInUse
+				&& Config.Common.Logging.Warning.logGarbageCollectorWarning.get())
+			{
+				LOGGER.warn(
+					"Distant Horizons: G1 Garbage collector detected. \n" +
+					"This garbage collector can cause FPS stuttering. \n" +
+					"It's recommended to use a concurrent garbage collector \n" +
+					"like ZGC (Java 21+) or Shenandoah (Java 8 through 17) for a smoother experience. \n" +
+					"");
+				
+			}
+		}
+		
 	}
 	
 }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/api/external/methods/data/DhApiTerrainDataRepo.java

@@ -521,7 +521,7 @@ public class DhApiTerrainDataRepo implements IDhApiTerrainDataRepo
 	//=============//
 	
 	@Override
-	public IDhApiTerrainDataCache getSoftCache() { return new DhApiTerrainDataCache(); }
+	public IDhApiTerrainDataCache createSoftCache() { return new DhApiTerrainDataCache(); }
 	
 	
 	

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

@@ -23,16 +23,13 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.DhApi;
 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.external.methods.data.DhApiTerrainDataRepo;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.rendering.DhRenderState;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.structure.ClientOnlySaveStructure;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.messages.MessageRegistry;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhChunkPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.DhApiRenderProxy;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.VanillaFadeRenderer;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.*;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.LodRenderer;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.RenderParams;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.TimerUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.Pair;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
@@ -46,9 +43,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiRendererMode;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IServerKeyedClientLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.glObject.GLProxy;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.TestRenderer;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.AbstractDhWorld;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.DhClientServerWorld;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.DhClientWorld;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.IDhClientWorld;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.chunk.IChunkWrapper;
@@ -61,6 +56,8 @@ import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 import org.lwjgl.glfw.GLFW;
 
 import java.io.File;
+import java.lang.management.GarbageCollectorMXBean;
+import java.lang.management.ManagementFactory;
 import java.util.*;
 import java.util.concurrent.LinkedBlockingQueue;
 
@@ -98,6 +95,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 	private boolean isDevBuildMessagePrinted = false;
 	private boolean lowMemoryWarningPrinted = false;
 	private boolean highVanillaRenderDistanceWarningPrinted = false;
+	private boolean g1GarbageCollectorWarningPrinted = false;
 	
 	private long lastStaticWarningMessageSentMsTime = 0L;
 	
@@ -323,35 +321,6 @@ public class ClientApi
 	
 	
 	
-	//============//
-	// clint tick //
-	//============//
-	
-	@Deprecated
-	public void clientTickEvent()
-	{
-		IProfilerWrapper profiler = MC_CLIENT.getProfiler();
-		profiler.push("DH-ClientTick");
-		
-		try
-		{
-			IDhClientWorld clientWorld = SharedApi.tryGetDhClientWorld();
-			if (clientWorld != null)
-			{
-				clientWorld.clientTick();
-			}
-		}
-		catch (Exception e)
-		{
-			// handle errors here to prevent blowing up a mixin or API up stream
-			LOGGER.error("Unexpected error in ClientApi.clientTickEvent(), error: "+e.getMessage(), e);
-		}
-		
-		profiler.pop();
-	}
-	
-	
-	
 	//============//
 	// networking //
 	//============//
@@ -410,8 +379,11 @@ public class ClientApi
 			
 			try
 			{
+				// make sure the GLProxy is created for future use
+				GLProxy.getInstance();
+				
 				// these tasks always need to be called, regardless of whether the renderer is enabled or not to prevent memory leaks
-				GLProxy.getInstance().runRenderThreadTasks();
+				GLProxy.runRenderThreadTasks();
 			}
 			catch (Exception e)
 			{
@@ -679,7 +651,8 @@ public class ClientApi
 	{
 		// dev build
 		if (ModInfo.IS_DEV_BUILD 
-			&& !this.isDevBuildMessagePrinted && MC_CLIENT.playerExists())
+			&& !this.isDevBuildMessagePrinted 
+			&& MC_CLIENT.playerExists())
 		{
 			this.isDevBuildMessagePrinted = true;
 			this.lastStaticWarningMessageSentMsTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
@@ -725,10 +698,11 @@ public class ClientApi
 		if (!this.highVanillaRenderDistanceWarningPrinted 
 			&& Config.Common.Logging.Warning.showHighVanillaRenderDistanceWarning.get())
 		{
+			this.highVanillaRenderDistanceWarningPrinted = true;
+			
 			// DH generally doesn't need a vanilla render distance above 12 
 			if (MC_RENDER.getRenderDistance() > 12)
 			{
-				this.highVanillaRenderDistanceWarningPrinted = true;
 				this.lastStaticWarningMessageSentMsTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
 				
 				String message =

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

@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.event.internal.CloseInternalEvent;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.messages.base.LevelInitMessage;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.session.NetworkSession;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.glObject.GLProxy;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
@@ -89,7 +90,7 @@ public class ClientPluginChannelApi
 		
 		LOGGER.info("Server level key received: [" + msg.levelKey + "].");
 		
-		MC.executeOnRenderThread(() -> 
+		GLProxy.queueRunningOnRenderThread(() -> 
 		{
 			IClientLevelWrapper clientLevel = MC.getWrappedClientLevel(true);
 			IServerKeyedClientLevel existingKeyedClientLevel = KEYED_CLIENT_LEVEL_MANAGER.getServerKeyedLevel();

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

@@ -33,13 +33,12 @@ 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.IWrapperFactory;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftSharedWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
-import org.lwjgl.util.tinyfd.TinyFileDialogs;
 
-import java.awt.*;
 import java.io.File;
 import java.util.*;
 import java.util.List;
@@ -123,7 +122,6 @@ public class Config
 		{
 			// common config links need to have their destination
 			// since they aren't part of "client" config class
-			// TODO determine their destination programically instead of hard coding the value
 			
 			public static ConfigUIComment advancedHeader = new ConfigUIComment.Builder().setParentConfigClass(Advanced.class).build();
 			
@@ -169,6 +167,20 @@ public class Config
 				public static ConfigCategory culling = new ConfigCategory.Builder().set(Culling.class).build();
 				public static ConfigUISpacer cullingSpacer = new ConfigUISpacer.Builder().build();
 				
+				public static ConfigEntry<Boolean> overrideVanillaGraphicsSettings = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Boolean>()
+					.set(true)
+					.comment("" +
+						"If true some vanilla graphics settings will be automatically changed \n" +
+						"during DH setup to provide a better experience. \n" +
+						" \n" +
+						"IE disabling vanilla clouds (which render on top of DH LODs), \n" +
+						"   and chunk fading (DH already fades MC chunks) \n" +
+						"")
+					.build();
+				public static ConfigUISpacer overrideVanillaSpacer = new ConfigUISpacer.Builder().build();
+				
+				
+				
 				public static ConfigCategory experimental = new ConfigCategory.Builder().set(Experimental.class).build();
 				
 				
@@ -260,7 +272,7 @@ public class Config
 					public static ConfigEntry<Double> lodBias = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Double>()
 							.setMinDefaultMax(0d, 0d, null)
 							.comment(""
-									+ "What the value should vanilla Minecraft's texture LodBias be? \n"
+									+ "What value should vanilla Minecraft's texture LodBias be? \n"
 									+ "If set to 0 the mod wont overwrite vanilla's default (which so happens to also be 0)")
 							.build();
 					
@@ -407,6 +419,14 @@ public class Config
 									"")
 							.build();
 					
+					public static ConfigEntry<Integer> fadeDistanceInBlocks = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Integer>()
+							.setMinDefaultMax(0, 1_600, 30_000_000)
+							.comment("" +
+									"The distance in blocks from the camera where the SSAO will fade out to. \n"+
+									"This is done to prevent banding and noise at extreme distances. \n"+
+									"")
+							.build();
+					
 				}
 				
 				public static class GenericRendering
@@ -773,6 +793,11 @@ public class Config
 									+ "A comma separated list of block resource locations that won't be rendered by DH. \n"
 									+ "Air is always included in this list. \n"
 									+ "Requires a restart to change. \n"
+									+ "\n"
+									+ "Note:\n"
+									+ "If you see gaps, or holes you may have to change\n"
+									+ "worldCompression to ["+EDhApiWorldCompressionMode.MERGE_SAME_BLOCKS+"] and re-generate the LODs.\n"
+									+ "Black spots may happen occur to block lighting being zero for covered blocks.\n"
 									+ "")
 							.build();
 					
@@ -1233,20 +1258,14 @@ public class Config
 					public static ConfigUIButton uiButtonTest = new ConfigUIButton(() ->
 					{
 						// running on a separate thread is necessary to prevent locking
-						new Thread(() -> 
+						new Thread(() -> onButtonPressed()).start();
-						{
-							if (!GraphicsEnvironment.isHeadless())
-							{
-								LOGGER.info("Attempting to show tinyfd message box...");
-								boolean buttonPress = TinyFileDialogs.tinyfd_messageBox("Button pressed!", "UITester dialog", "ok", "info", false);
-								LOGGER.info("dialog returned with ["+(buttonPress ? "TRUE" : "FALSE")+"]");
-							}
-							else
-							{
-								LOGGER.info("button pressed!");
-							}
-						}).start();
 					});
+					public static void onButtonPressed()
+					{
+						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")+"]");
+					}
 					
 					public static ConfigCategory categoryTest = new ConfigCategory.Builder().set(CategoryTest.class).build();
 					
@@ -1362,6 +1381,37 @@ public class Config
 							+ "")
 					.build();
 			
+			public static ConfigEntry<Integer> generationCenterChunkX = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Integer>()
+				.setChatCommandName("generation.bounds.centerChunk.x")
+				.setAppearance(EConfigEntryAppearance.ONLY_IN_FILE)
+				.setMinDefaultMax(Integer.MIN_VALUE, 0, Integer.MAX_VALUE)
+				.comment("" +
+					"The center X chunk position that the world gen max radius is centered around. \n" +
+					"")
+				.build();
+			public static ConfigEntry<Integer> generationCenterChunkZ = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Integer>()
+				.setChatCommandName("generation.bounds.centerChunk.z")
+				.setAppearance(EConfigEntryAppearance.ONLY_IN_FILE)
+				.setMinDefaultMax(Integer.MIN_VALUE, 0, Integer.MAX_VALUE)
+				.comment("" +
+					"The center Z chunk position that the world gen max radius is centered around. \n" +
+					"")
+				.build();
+			public static ConfigEntry<Integer> generationMaxChunkRadius = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Integer>()
+				.setChatCommandName("generation.bounds.radiusInChunks")
+				.setAppearance(EConfigEntryAppearance.ONLY_IN_FILE)
+				.setMinDefaultMax(0, 0, Integer.MAX_VALUE)
+				.comment("" +
+					"The max radius in chunks around the central point where world generation is allowed. \n" +
+					"If this value is set to 0, generation bounds are disabled and the render distance will be used. \n" +
+					"\n" +
+					"This should only be set if you have a pre-generated world that has a very limited size. \n" +
+					"Setting this on a normal MC world will prevent the world generator from filling \n" +
+					"out your render distance. \n" +
+					"")
+				.build();
+			
+			
 		}
 		
 		public static class LodBuilding
@@ -1387,7 +1437,7 @@ public class Config
 					.build();
 			
 			public static ConfigEntry<EDhApiDataCompressionMode> dataCompression = new ConfigEntry.Builder<EDhApiDataCompressionMode>()
-					.set(EDhApiDataCompressionMode.Z_STD)
+					.set(EDhApiDataCompressionMode.Z_STD_BLOCK)
 					// only visible via the API since there is no reason to use any compressor except ZStandard as of 2025-11-24
 					.setAppearance(EConfigEntryAppearance.ONLY_IN_API)
 					.build();
@@ -1617,6 +1667,15 @@ public class Config
 								+ "")
 						.build();
 				
+				public static ConfigEntry<Boolean> logGarbageCollectorWarning = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Boolean>()
+					.set(true)
+					.comment(""
+						+ "If enabled, a message will be logged if the garbage \n"
+						+ "collector Java is currently using is known \n"
+						+ "to cause stutters and/or issues. \n"
+						+ "")
+					.build();
+				
 			}
 		}
 		
@@ -1686,32 +1745,6 @@ public class Config
 						"")
 				.build();
 		
-		public static ConfigEntry<Integer> generationBoundsX = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Integer>()
-				.setChatCommandName("generation.bounds.x")
-				.setAppearance(EConfigEntryAppearance.ONLY_IN_FILE)
-				.setMinDefaultMax(Integer.MIN_VALUE, 0, Integer.MAX_VALUE)
-				.comment("" +
-						"Defines the X-coordinate of the central point for generation boundaries, in blocks. \n" +
-						"")
-				.build();
-		public static ConfigEntry<Integer> generationBoundsZ = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Integer>()
-				.setChatCommandName("generation.bounds.z")
-				.setAppearance(EConfigEntryAppearance.ONLY_IN_FILE)
-				.setMinDefaultMax(Integer.MIN_VALUE, 0, Integer.MAX_VALUE)
-				.comment("" +
-						"Defines the Z-coordinate of the central point for generation boundaries, in blocks. \n" +
-						"")
-				.build();
-		public static ConfigEntry<Integer> generationBoundsRadius = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Integer>()
-				.setChatCommandName("generation.bounds.radius")
-				.setAppearance(EConfigEntryAppearance.ONLY_IN_FILE)
-				.setMinDefaultMax(0, 0, Integer.MAX_VALUE)
-				.comment("" +
-						"Defines the radius around the central point within which generation is allowed, in blocks. \n" +
-						"If this value is set to 0, generation bounds are disabled." +
-						"")
-				.build();
-		
 		
 		// Real-time updates
 		public static ConfigEntry<Boolean> enableRealTimeUpdates = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Boolean>()

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/config/file/ConfigFileHandler.java

@@ -24,12 +24,14 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.ConfigHandler;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.types.AbstractConfigBase;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.types.ConfigEntry;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.jar.EPlatform;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 
+import java.io.File;
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.nio.file.Files;
 import java.nio.file.Path;

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

@@ -29,13 +29,14 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.RenderDataPointUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.render.columnViews.ColumnArrayView;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.MathUtil;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.LongArrayList;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 
 public class ColumnBox
 {
-	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
+	private static final IMinecraftRenderWrapper MC_RENDER = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftRenderWrapper.class);
 	
 	/** 
 	 * if the skylight has this value that means
@@ -122,7 +123,7 @@ public class ColumnBox
 					&& !isTopTransparent;
 			if (!skipTop)
 			{
-				builder.addQuadUp(minX, maxY, minZ, width, width, ColorUtil.applyShade(color, MC.getShade(EDhDirection.UP)), irisBlockMaterialId, skyLightTop, blockLight);
+				builder.addQuadUp(minX, maxY, minZ, width, width, ColorUtil.applyShade(color, MC_RENDER.getShade(EDhDirection.UP)), irisBlockMaterialId, skyLightTop, blockLight);
 			}
 		}
 		
@@ -133,7 +134,7 @@ public class ColumnBox
 					&& !isBottomTransparent;
 			if (!skipBottom)
 			{
-				builder.addQuadDown(minX, minY, minZ, width, width, ColorUtil.applyShade(color, MC.getShade(EDhDirection.DOWN)), irisBlockMaterialId, skyLightBot, blockLight);
+				builder.addQuadDown(minX, minY, minZ, width, width, ColorUtil.applyShade(color, MC_RENDER.getShade(EDhDirection.DOWN)), irisBlockMaterialId, skyLightBot, blockLight);
 			}
 		}
 		
@@ -263,7 +264,7 @@ public class ColumnBox
 		// no adjacent data //
 		//==================//
 		
-		color = ColorUtil.applyShade(color, MC.getShade(direction));
+		color = ColorUtil.applyShade(color, MC_RENDER.getShade(direction));
 		
 		if (adjColumnView.size == 0
 			|| RenderDataPointUtil.hasZeroHeight(adjColumnView.get(0)))

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

@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 		
 		
 		// upload on MC's render thread
-		GLProxy.getInstance().queueRunningOnRenderThread(() ->
+		GLProxy.queueRunningOnRenderThread(() ->
 		{
 			try
 			{
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 	{
 		this.buffersUploaded = false;
 		
-		GLProxy.getInstance().queueRunningOnRenderThread(() ->
+		GLProxy.queueRunningOnRenderThread(() ->
 		{
 			for (GLVertexBuffer buffer : this.vbos)
 			{

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

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ 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.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.MathUtil;
 import org.lwjgl.system.MemoryUtil;
@@ -44,7 +45,7 @@ import org.lwjgl.system.MemoryUtil;
 public class LodQuadBuilder
 {
 	private static final DhLogger LOGGER = new DhLoggerBuilder().build();
-	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
+	private static final IMinecraftRenderWrapper MC_RENDER = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftRenderWrapper.class);
 	
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
 	private final ArrayList<BufferQuad>[] opaqueQuads = (ArrayList<BufferQuad>[]) new ArrayList[6];
@@ -379,7 +380,7 @@ public class LodQuadBuilder
 								// for horizontal and bottom faces of grass blocks, use the  dirt color to
 								// prevent green cliff walls
 								color = this.clientLevelWrapper.getDirtBlockColor();
-								color = ColorUtil.applyShade(color, MC.getShade(quad.direction));
+								color = ColorUtil.applyShade(color, MC_RENDER.getShade(quad.direction));
 							}
 						}
 					}
@@ -398,31 +399,33 @@ public class LodQuadBuilder
 	}
 	private void putVertex(ByteBuffer bb, short x, short y, short z, int color, byte normalIndex, byte irisBlockMaterialId, byte skylight, byte blocklight, int mx, int my, int mz)
 	{
-		skylight %= 16;
-		blocklight %= 16;
-		
 		bb.putShort(x);
 		bb.putShort(y);
 		bb.putShort(z);
 		
 		short meta = 0;
-		meta |= (skylight | (blocklight << 4));
+		{
-		byte mirco = 0;
+			skylight %= 16;
-		// mirco offset which is a xyz 2bit value
+			blocklight %= 16;
-		// 0b00 = no offset
+			meta |= (short) (skylight | (blocklight << 4));
-		// 0b01 = positive offset
-		// 0b11 = negative offset
-		// format is: 0b00zzyyxx
-		if (mx != 0) mirco |= mx > 0 ? 0b01 : 0b11;
-		if (my != 0) mirco |= my > 0 ? 0b0100 : 0b1100;
-		if (mz != 0) mirco |= mz > 0 ? 0b010000 : 0b110000;
-		meta |= mirco << 8;
 			
+			byte mircoOffset = 0;
+			// mirco offset which is a xyz 2bit value
+			// 0b00 = no offset
+			// 0b01 = positive offset
+			// 0b11 = negative offset
+			// format is: 0b00zzyyxx
+			if (mx != 0) { mircoOffset |= (byte) (mx > 0 ? 0b01 : 0b11); }
+			if (my != 0) { mircoOffset |= (byte) (my > 0 ? 0b0100 : 0b1100); }
+			if (mz != 0) { mircoOffset |= (byte) (mz > 0 ? 0b010000 : 0b110000); }
+			meta |= (short) (mircoOffset << 8);
+		}
 		bb.putShort(meta);
+		
 		byte r = (byte) ColorUtil.getRed(color);
 		byte g = (byte) ColorUtil.getGreen(color);
 		byte b = (byte) ColorUtil.getBlue(color);
-		byte a = this.doTransparency ? (byte) ColorUtil.getAlpha(color) : (byte) 255; // TODO should this be called here or happen somewhere else?
+		byte a = this.doTransparency ? (byte) ColorUtil.getAlpha(color) : (byte) 255;
 		bb.put(r);
 		bb.put(g);
 		bb.put(b);

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/enums/EMinecraftColor.java

@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums;
+
+/**
+ * TODO
+ * might be deprecated in the future? in that case we'll probably want a wrapper 
+ * function to handle colors for new MC versions
+ * 
+ * source: https://minecraft.wiki/w/Formatting_codes
+ */
+public class EMinecraftColor
+{
+}

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

@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ public class GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider extends FullDataSourceProviderV2 im
 	// constructor //
 	//=============//
 	
-	public GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider(IDhLevel level, ISaveStructure saveStructure) throws SQLException, IOException { super(level, saveStructure); }
+	public GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider(IDhLevel level, ISaveStructure saveStructure) throws SQLException, IOException 
+	{ this(level, saveStructure, null); }
 	public GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider(IDhLevel level, ISaveStructure saveStructure, @Nullable File saveDirOverride) throws SQLException, IOException
 	{
 		super(level, saveStructure, saveDirOverride);

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/file/fullDatafile/V2/FullDataUpdatePropagatorV2.java

@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ public class FullDataUpdatePropagatorV2 implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseab
 											parentDataSource.applyToParent = true;
 										}
 										
-										this.dataUpdater.updateDataSource(parentDataSource, false);
+										this.dataUpdater.updateDataSource(parentDataSource);
 									}
 								}
 							}
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ public class FullDataUpdatePropagatorV2 implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseab
 															childDataSource.applyToChildren = true;
 														}
 														
-														this.dataUpdater.updateDataSource(childDataSource, false);
+														this.dataUpdater.updateDataSource(childDataSource);
 													}
 												}
 											}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/file/fullDatafile/V2/FullDataUpdaterV2.java

@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ public class FullDataUpdaterV2 implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 	
 	/**
 	 * Can be used if you don't want to lock the current thread
-	 * Otherwise the sync version {@link FullDataUpdaterV2#updateDataSource(FullDataSourceV2, boolean)} may be a better choice.
+	 * Otherwise the sync version {@link FullDataUpdaterV2#updateDataSource(FullDataSourceV2)} may be a better choice.
 	 */
 	public CompletableFuture<Void> updateDataSourceAsync(@NotNull FullDataSourceV2 inputDataSource)
 	{
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ public class FullDataUpdaterV2 implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 			{
 				try
 				{
-					this.updateDataSource(inputDataSource, true);
+					this.updateDataSource(inputDataSource);
 				}
 				catch (Exception e)
 				{
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ public class FullDataUpdaterV2 implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 	}
 	
 	/** After this method returns the inputData will be written to file. */
-	public void updateDataSource(@NotNull FullDataSourceV2 inputData, boolean lockOnUpdatePos)
+	public void updateDataSource(@NotNull FullDataSourceV2 inputData)
 	{
 		if (this.isShutdownRef.get())
 		{
@@ -117,25 +117,20 @@ public class FullDataUpdaterV2 implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		
 		long updatePos = inputData.getPos();
 		
-		boolean methodLocked = false;
 		// a lock is necessary to prevent two threads from writing to the same position at once,
 		// if that happens only the second update will apply and the LOD will end up with hole(s)
 		ReentrantLock updateLock = this.updateLockProvider.getLock(updatePos);
 		
 		try
 		{
-			if (lockOnUpdatePos)
+			updateLock.lock();
-			{
+			this.lockedPosSet.add(updatePos);
-				methodLocked = true;
-				updateLock.lock();
-				this.lockedPosSet.add(updatePos);
-			}
 			
 			
 			// get or create the data source
 			try (FullDataSourceV2 recipientDataSource = this.provider.get(updatePos))
 			{
-				if (recipientDataSource != null)
+				if (recipientDataSource != null) // will be null if the repo was shut down
 				{
 					boolean dataModified = recipientDataSource.updateFromDataSource(inputData);
 					if (dataModified)
@@ -170,11 +165,8 @@ public class FullDataUpdaterV2 implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		}
 		finally
 		{
-			if (methodLocked)
+			updateLock.unlock();
-			{
+			this.lockedPosSet.remove(updatePos);
-				updateLock.unlock();
-				this.lockedPosSet.remove(updatePos);
-			}
 		}
 	}
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/generation/DhLightingEngine.java

@@ -118,14 +118,18 @@ public class DhLightingEngine
 	 * @param centerChunk the chunk we want to apply lighting to
 	 * @param nearbyChunkList should also contain centerChunk
 	 * @param maxSkyLight should be a value between 0 and 15
+	 * 
+	 * @return the number of light positions iterated over, can be used for profiling.
 	 */
-	private void lightChunk(
+	private int lightChunk(
 			@NotNull IChunkWrapper centerChunk, @NotNull ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> nearbyChunkList, 
 			int maxSkyLight, boolean updateBlockLight, boolean updateSkyLight)
 	{
 		DhChunkPos centerChunkPos = centerChunk.getChunkPos();
 		AdjacentChunkHolder adjacentChunkHolder = new AdjacentChunkHolder(centerChunk);
 		
+		// how many positions we've walked over, can be used for profiling/debugging
+		int posIterations = 0;
 			
 		// try-finally to handle the stableArray resources
 		StableLightPosStack blockLightWorldPosQueue = null;
@@ -245,13 +249,15 @@ public class DhLightingEngine
 				}
 			}
 			
+			
+			
 			// block light
 			if (updateBlockLight)
 			{
 				// done to prevent a rare issue where the light values are incorrectly set to -1
 				centerChunk.clearDhBlockLighting();
 				
-				this.propagateChunkLightPosList(blockLightWorldPosQueue, adjacentChunkHolder,
+				posIterations += this.propagateChunkLightPosList(blockLightWorldPosQueue, adjacentChunkHolder,
 					(neighbourChunk, relBlockPos) -> neighbourChunk.getDhBlockLight(relBlockPos.getX(), relBlockPos.getY(), relBlockPos.getZ()),
 					(neighbourChunk, relBlockPos, newLightValue) -> neighbourChunk.setDhBlockLight(relBlockPos.getX(), relBlockPos.getY(), relBlockPos.getZ(), newLightValue),
 					true);
@@ -262,7 +268,7 @@ public class DhLightingEngine
 			{
 				centerChunk.clearDhSkyLighting();
 				
-				this.propagateChunkLightPosList(skyLightWorldPosQueue, adjacentChunkHolder,
+				posIterations += this.propagateChunkLightPosList(skyLightWorldPosQueue, adjacentChunkHolder,
 					(neighbourChunk, relBlockPos) -> neighbourChunk.getDhSkyLight(relBlockPos.getX(), relBlockPos.getY(), relBlockPos.getZ()),
 					(neighbourChunk, relBlockPos, newLightValue) -> neighbourChunk.setDhSkyLight(relBlockPos.getX(), relBlockPos.getY(), relBlockPos.getZ(), newLightValue),
 					false);
@@ -287,10 +293,12 @@ public class DhLightingEngine
 		{
 			centerChunk.setIsDhSkyLightCorrect(true);
 		}
+		
+		return posIterations;
 	}
 	
 	/** Applies each {@link LightPos} from the queue to the given set of {@link IChunkWrapper}'s. */
-	private void propagateChunkLightPosList(
+	private int propagateChunkLightPosList(
 			StableLightPosStack lightPosQueue, AdjacentChunkHolder adjacentChunkHolder,
 			IGetLightFunc getLightFunc, ISetLightFunc setLightFunc,
 			boolean propagatingBlockLights)
@@ -320,66 +328,89 @@ public class DhLightingEngine
 		IBlockStateWrapper previousBlockState = null;
 		
 		
-		// update each light position
+		int iterations = 0;
-		while (!lightPosQueue.isEmpty())
+		
+		// update each light level
+		for (int currentLightLevel = LodUtil.MAX_MC_LIGHT; currentLightLevel >= LodUtil.MIN_MC_LIGHT; currentLightLevel--)
 		{
-			// since we don't care about the order the positions are processed,
+			// Walking down from the top light level to the bottom can reduce iterating over
-			// we can grab the last position instead of the first for a slight performance increase (this way the array doesn't need to be shifted over every loop)
+			// the same positions multiple times.
-			lightPosQueue.popMutate(lightPos);
+			// At best this seems to behave at roughly 2x the speed of just blindly putting light pos 
+			// in a queue and at worse slightly faster than the blind queue.
 			
-			int lightValue = lightPos.lightValue;
+			lightPos.lightValue = currentLightLevel;
 			
-			
+			// update each light position
-			// propagate the lighting in each cardinal direction, IE: -x, +x, -y, +y, -z, +z
+			while (!lightPosQueue.isLightLevelEmpty(currentLightLevel))
-			for (EDhDirection direction : EDhDirection.ALL) // since this is an array instead of an ArrayList this advanced for-loop shouldn't cause any GC issues
 			{
-				lightPos.mutateOffset(direction, neighbourBlockPos);
+				// since we don't care about the order the positions are processed,
-				neighbourBlockPos.mutateToChunkRelativePos(relNeighbourBlockPos);
+				// we can grab the last position instead of the first for a slight performance increase (this way the array doesn't need to be shifted over every loop)
+				lightPosQueue.popMutate(lightPos, currentLightLevel);
+				iterations++;
+				
+				int lightValue = lightPos.lightValue;
 				
 				
-				// only continue if the light position is inside one of our chunks
+				// propagate the lighting in each cardinal direction, IE: -x, +x, -y, +y, -z, +z
-				IChunkWrapper neighbourChunk = adjacentChunkHolder.getByBlockPos(neighbourBlockPos.getX(), neighbourBlockPos.getZ());
+				for (EDhDirection direction : EDhDirection.ALL) // since this is an array instead of an ArrayList this advanced for-loop shouldn't cause any GC issues
-				if (neighbourChunk == null)
 				{
-					// the light pos is outside our generator's range, ignore it
+					lightPos.mutateOffset(direction, neighbourBlockPos);
-					continue;
+					neighbourBlockPos.mutateToChunkRelativePos(relNeighbourBlockPos);
-				}
-				
-				if (relNeighbourBlockPos.getY() < neighbourChunk.getMinNonEmptyHeight()
-					|| relNeighbourBlockPos.getY() >= neighbourChunk.getExclusiveMaxBuildHeight())
-				{
-					// the light pos is outside the chunk's min/max height,
-					// this can happen if given a chunk that hasn't finished generating
-					continue;
-				}
 					
 					
-				int currentBlockLight = getLightFunc.getLight(neighbourChunk, relNeighbourBlockPos);
+					// only continue if the light position is inside one of our chunks
-				if (currentBlockLight >= (lightValue - 1))
+					IChunkWrapper neighbourChunk = adjacentChunkHolder.getByBlockPos(neighbourBlockPos.getX(), neighbourBlockPos.getZ());
-				{
+					if (neighbourChunk == null)
-					// short circuit for when the light value at this position
+					{
-					// is already greater-than what we could set it
+						// the light pos is outside our generator's range, ignore it
-					continue;
+						continue;
-				}
+					}
+					
+					if (relNeighbourBlockPos.getY() < neighbourChunk.getMinNonEmptyHeight()
+						|| relNeighbourBlockPos.getY() >= neighbourChunk.getExclusiveMaxBuildHeight())
+					{
+						// the light pos is outside the chunk's min/max height,
+						// this can happen if given a chunk that hasn't finished generating
+						continue;
+					}
 					
 					
-				IBlockStateWrapper neighbourBlockState = neighbourChunk.getBlockState(relNeighbourBlockPos, mcBlockPos, previousBlockState);
+					int currentBlockLight = getLightFunc.getLight(neighbourChunk, relNeighbourBlockPos);
-				previousBlockState = neighbourBlockState;
+					if (currentBlockLight >= (lightValue - 1))
+					{
+						// short circuit for when the light value at this position
+						// is already greater-than what we could set it
+						continue;
+					}
 					
-				// Math.max(1, ...) is used so that the propagated light level always drops by at least 1, preventing infinite cycles.
-				int targetLevel = lightValue - Math.max(1, neighbourBlockState.getOpacity());
-				if (targetLevel > currentBlockLight)
-				{
-					// this position is darker than the new light value, update/set it
-					setLightFunc.setLight(neighbourChunk, relNeighbourBlockPos, targetLevel);
 					
-					// now that light has been propagated to this blockPos
+					IBlockStateWrapper neighbourBlockState = neighbourChunk.getBlockState(relNeighbourBlockPos, mcBlockPos, previousBlockState);
-					// we need to queue it up so its neighbours can be propagated as well
+					previousBlockState = neighbourBlockState;
-					lightPosQueue.push(neighbourBlockPos.getX(), neighbourBlockPos.getY(), neighbourBlockPos.getZ(), targetLevel);
+					
+					// Math.max(1, ...) is used so that the propagated light level always drops by at least 1, preventing infinite cycles.
+					int targetLightLevel = lightValue - Math.max(1, neighbourBlockState.getOpacity());
+					if (targetLightLevel > currentBlockLight)
+					{
+						// this position is darker than the new light value, update/set it
+						setLightFunc.setLight(neighbourChunk, relNeighbourBlockPos, targetLightLevel);
+						
+						// now that light has been propagated to this blockPos
+						// we need to queue it up so its neighbours can be propagated as well
+						lightPosQueue.push(neighbourBlockPos.getX(), neighbourBlockPos.getY(), neighbourBlockPos.getZ(), targetLightLevel);
+					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
 		
+		for (int currentLightLevel = LodUtil.MAX_MC_LIGHT; currentLightLevel >= LodUtil.MIN_MC_LIGHT; currentLightLevel--)
+		{
+			if (!lightPosQueue.isLightLevelEmpty(currentLightLevel))
+			{
+				LodUtil.assertNotReach("Non empty light pos queue for light level ["+currentLightLevel+"] after light engine running");
+			}
+		}
+		
+		
 		
 		// can be enabled if troubleshooting lighting issues
 		if (RENDER_BLOCK_LIGHT_WIREFRAME 
@@ -395,6 +426,7 @@ public class DhLightingEngine
 		
 		
 		// propagation complete
+		return iterations;
 	}
 	
 	
@@ -748,16 +780,24 @@ public class DhLightingEngine
 		private static final Queue<StableLightPosStack> lightArrayCache = new ArrayDeque<>();
 		
 		/** the index of the last item in the array, -1 if empty */
-		private int index = -1;
+		private int[] indexByLightLevel = new int[LodUtil.MAX_MC_LIGHT + 1];
 
-		/** x, y, z, and lightValue. */
+		/** x, y, z */
-		public static final int INTS_PER_LIGHT_POS = 4;
+		public static final int INTS_PER_LIGHT_POS = 3;
 		
-		/**
+		private final IntArrayList[] lightPositionsByLightLevel = new IntArrayList[LodUtil.MAX_MC_LIGHT + 1];
-		 * When tested with a normal 1.20 world James saw a maximum of 36,709 block and 2,355 sky lights,
+		
-		 * so 40,000 should be a good starting point that can contain most lighting tasks.
+		
-		 */
+		public StableLightPosStack()
-		private final IntArrayList lightPositions = new IntArrayList(40_000 * INTS_PER_LIGHT_POS);
+		{
+			for (int i = 0; i < this.lightPositionsByLightLevel.length; i++)
+			{
+				// When tested with a normal 1.20 world James saw a maximum of 36,709 block and 2,355 sky lights,
+				// so 40,000 should be a good starting point that can contain most lighting tasks.
+				this.lightPositionsByLightLevel[i] = new IntArrayList(40_000 * INTS_PER_LIGHT_POS);
+				this.indexByLightLevel[i] = -1;
+			}
+		}
 		
 		
 		
@@ -804,45 +844,56 @@ public class DhLightingEngine
 		// stack methods //
 		//===============//
 		
-		public boolean isEmpty() { return this.index == -1; }
+		public boolean isLightLevelEmpty(int lightLevel) { return this.indexByLightLevel[lightLevel] == -1; }
-		public int size() { return this.index+1; }
+		//public int size() { return this.index+1; }
 		
-		public void push(int blockX, int blockY, int blockZ, int lightValue)
+		public void push(int blockX, int blockY, int blockZ, int lightLevel)
 		{
-			this.index++;
+			IntArrayList lightPositions = this.lightPositionsByLightLevel[lightLevel];
-			int subIndex = this.index * INTS_PER_LIGHT_POS;
+			
-			if (subIndex < this.lightPositions.size())
+			this.indexByLightLevel[lightLevel]++;
+			int subIndex = this.indexByLightLevel[lightLevel] * INTS_PER_LIGHT_POS;
+			if (subIndex < lightPositions.size())
 			{
-				this.lightPositions.set(subIndex, blockX);
+				lightPositions.set(subIndex, blockX);
-				this.lightPositions.set(subIndex + 1, blockY);
+				lightPositions.set(subIndex + 1, blockY);
-				this.lightPositions.set(subIndex + 2, blockZ);
+				lightPositions.set(subIndex + 2, blockZ);
-				this.lightPositions.set(subIndex + 3, lightValue);
 			}
 			else
 			{
 				// add a new pos
-				this.lightPositions.add(blockX);
+				lightPositions.add(blockX);
-				this.lightPositions.add(blockY);
+				lightPositions.add(blockY);
-				this.lightPositions.add(blockZ);
+				lightPositions.add(blockZ);
-				this.lightPositions.add(lightValue);
 			}
 		}
 		
 		/** mutates the given {@link LightPos} to match the next {@link LightPos} in the queue. */
-		public void popMutate(LightPos pos)
+		public void popMutate(LightPos pos, int lightLevel)
 		{
-			int subIndex = this.index * INTS_PER_LIGHT_POS;
+			int subIndex = this.indexByLightLevel[lightLevel] * INTS_PER_LIGHT_POS;
+			IntArrayList lightPositions = this.lightPositionsByLightLevel[lightLevel];
 			
-			pos.setX(this.lightPositions.getInt(subIndex));
+			pos.setX(lightPositions.getInt(subIndex));
-			pos.setY(this.lightPositions.getInt(subIndex + 1));
+			pos.setY(lightPositions.getInt(subIndex + 1));
-			pos.setZ(this.lightPositions.getInt(subIndex + 2));
+			pos.setZ(lightPositions.getInt(subIndex + 2));
-			pos.lightValue = this.lightPositions.getInt(subIndex + 3);
 			
-			this.index--;
+			this.indexByLightLevel[lightLevel]--;
 		}
 		
 		@Override
-		public String toString() { return this.index + "/" + (this.lightPositions.size() / INTS_PER_LIGHT_POS); }
+		public String toString() 
+		{ 
+			StringBuilder builder = new StringBuilder();
+			
+			for (int i = 0; i < this.indexByLightLevel.length; i++)
+			{
+				builder.append("light: ").append(i)
+					.append(" size: ").append(this.indexByLightLevel[i]).append("/").append(this.lightPositionsByLightLevel[i].size() / INTS_PER_LIGHT_POS).append("\n");
+			}
+			
+			return builder.toString();
+		}
 		
 	}
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/generation/PregenManager.java

@@ -56,10 +56,8 @@ public class PregenManager
 			return pregenState;
 		}
 		
-		MC_SERVER.setPreventAutoPause(true);
 		pregenState.whenComplete((result, throwable) -> {
 			this.pregenFuture.set(null);
-			MC_SERVER.setPreventAutoPause(false);
 		});
 		
 		pregenState.fillPendingQueue();

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

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos2D;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.IDebugRenderable;
 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;
 
@@ -110,12 +111,14 @@ public class RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue extends AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQue
 	@Override
 	protected boolean isSectionAllowedToGenerate(long sectionPos, DhBlockPos2D targetPos)
 	{
-		if (this.networkState.sessionConfig.getGenerationBoundsRadius() > 0)
+		if (this.networkState.sessionConfig.getGenerationMaxChunkRadius() > 0)
 		{
-			if (DhSectionPos.getChebyshevSignedBlockDistance(sectionPos, new DhBlockPos2D(
+			boolean posInRange = WorldGenUtil.isPosInWorldGenRange(
-					this.networkState.sessionConfig.getGenerationBoundsX(),
+				sectionPos,
-					this.networkState.sessionConfig.getGenerationBoundsZ()
+				this.networkState.sessionConfig.getGenerationCenterChunkX(), this.networkState.sessionConfig.getGenerationCenterChunkZ(),
-			)) > this.networkState.sessionConfig.getGenerationBoundsRadius())
+				this.networkState.sessionConfig.getGenerationMaxChunkRadius()
+				);
+			if (!posInRange)
 			{
 				return false;
 			}

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

@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 				while (!this.isGeneratorBusy()
 						&& taskStarted)
 				{
-					taskStarted = this.startNextWorldGenTask(this.generationTargetPos);
+					taskStarted = this.tryStartNextWorldGenTask(this.generationTargetPos);
 				}
 			}
 			catch (Exception e)
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 	 * @param targetPos the position to center the generation around
 	 * @return false if no tasks were found to generate
 	 */
-	private boolean startNextWorldGenTask(DhBlockPos2D targetPos)
+	private boolean tryStartNextWorldGenTask(DhBlockPos2D targetPos)
 	{
 		if (this.waitingTasks.isEmpty())
 		{
@@ -249,23 +249,23 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 		
 		
 		
-		Mapper closestTaskMap = this.waitingTasks.reduceEntries(1024,
+		TaskDistancePair closestTaskPair = this.waitingTasks.reduceEntries(1024,
-				entry -> new Mapper(entry.getValue(), DhSectionPos.getSectionBBoxPos(entry.getValue().pos).getCenterBlockPos().toPos2D().chebyshevDist(targetPos.toPos2D())),
+				entry -> new TaskDistancePair(entry.getValue(), DhSectionPos.getSectionBBoxPos(entry.getValue().pos).getCenterBlockPos().toPos2D().chebyshevDist(targetPos.toPos2D())),
-				(aMapper, bMapper) -> aMapper.dist < bMapper.dist ? aMapper : bMapper);
+				(TaskDistancePair aTaskPair, TaskDistancePair bTaskPair) -> (aTaskPair.dist < bTaskPair.dist) ? aTaskPair : bTaskPair);
 		
-		if (closestTaskMap == null)
+		if (closestTaskPair == null)
 		{
 			// FIXME concurrency issue
 			return false;
 		}
 		
-		WorldGenTask closestTask = closestTaskMap.task;
+		WorldGenTask closestTask = closestTaskPair.task;
 		
 		// remove the task we found, we are going to start it and don't want to run it multiple times
 		this.waitingTasks.remove(closestTask.pos, closestTask);
 		
 		// do we need to modify this task to generate it?
-		if (this.canGeneratePos(closestTask.pos))
+		if (this.canGenerateDetailLevel(DhSectionPos.getDetailLevel(closestTask.pos)))
 		{
 			// detail level is correct for generation, start generation
 			
@@ -276,11 +276,7 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 			{
 				// no task exists for this position, start one
 				InProgressWorldGenTaskGroup newTaskGroup = new InProgressWorldGenTaskGroup(closestTaskGroup);
-				boolean taskStarted = this.tryStartingWorldGenTaskGroup(newTaskGroup);
+				this.startWorldGenTaskGroup(newTaskGroup);
-				if (!taskStarted)
-				{
-					//LOGGER.trace("Unable to start task: "+closestTask.pos+", skipping. Task position may have already been generated.");
-				}
 			}
 			else
 			{
@@ -289,7 +285,7 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 				// 		   the newly selected task, we cannot use it,
 				//         as some chunks may have already been written into.
 				
-				//LOGGER.trace("A task already exists for this position, todo: "+closestTask.pos);
+				//LOGGER.warn("A task already exists for this position, todo: "+DhSectionPos.toString(closestTask.pos));
 			}
 			
 			// a task has been started
@@ -321,8 +317,7 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 			return true;
 		}
 	}
-	/** @return true if the task was started, false otherwise */
+	private void startWorldGenTaskGroup(InProgressWorldGenTaskGroup newTaskGroup)
-	private boolean tryStartingWorldGenTaskGroup(InProgressWorldGenTaskGroup newTaskGroup)
 	{
 		byte taskDetailLevel = newTaskGroup.group.dataDetail;
 		long taskPos = newTaskGroup.group.pos;
@@ -375,7 +370,6 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 		});
 		
 		this.inProgressGenTasksByLodPos.put(taskPos, newTaskGroup);
-		return true;
 	}
 	private CompletableFuture<Void> startGenerationEvent(
 		long requestPos, 
@@ -689,9 +683,9 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 	// helper methods //
 	//================//
 	
-	private boolean canGeneratePos(long taskPos)
+	private boolean canGenerateDetailLevel(byte taskDetailLevel)
 	{
-		byte requestedDetailLevel = (byte) (DhSectionPos.getDetailLevel(taskPos) - DhSectionPos.SECTION_MINIMUM_DETAIL_LEVEL);
+		byte requestedDetailLevel = (byte) (taskDetailLevel - DhSectionPos.SECTION_MINIMUM_DETAIL_LEVEL);
 		return (this.highestDataDetail <= requestedDetailLevel && requestedDetailLevel <= this.lowestDataDetail);
 	}
 	
@@ -701,11 +695,12 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 	// helper classes //
 	//================//
 	
-	private static class Mapper
+	private static class TaskDistancePair
 	{
 		public final WorldGenTask task;
 		public final int dist;
-		public Mapper(WorldGenTask task, int dist)
+		
+		public TaskDistancePair(WorldGenTask task, int dist)
 		{
 			this.task = task;
 			this.dist = dist;

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/jar/JarMain.java

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.sql.dto.FullDataSourceV2DTO;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.sql.repo.FullDataSourceV2Repo;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.NativeDialogUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.jar.gui.BaseJFrame;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.jar.gui.cusomJObject.JBox;
@@ -31,7 +32,6 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.jar.installer.WebDownloader;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.core.LoggerContext;
-import org.lwjgl.util.tinyfd.TinyFileDialogs;
 
 import javax.swing.*;
 import java.awt.*;
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ public class JarMain
 		installMod.addActionListener(e -> {
 			if (minecraftDirPop.getSelectedFile() == null)
 			{
-				TinyFileDialogs.tinyfd_messageBox(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, "Please select your install directory", "ok", "warning", false);
+				NativeDialogUtil.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, "Please select your install directory", "ok", "warning");
 				return;
 			}
 			
@@ -455,11 +455,11 @@ public class JarMain
 								ModInfo.NAME + "-" + ModrinthGetter.releaseNames.get(downloadID.get()) + ".jar"
 						).toFile());
 				
-				TinyFileDialogs.tinyfd_messageBox(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, "Installation done. \nYou can now close the installer", "ok", "info", false);
+				NativeDialogUtil.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, "Installation done. \nYou can now close the installer", "ok", "info");
 			}
 			catch (Exception f)
 			{
-				TinyFileDialogs.tinyfd_messageBox(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, "Download failed. Check your internet connection \nStacktrace: " + f.getMessage(), "error", "info", false);
+				NativeDialogUtil.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, "Download failed. Check your internet connection \nStacktrace: " + f.getMessage(), "error", "info");
 			}
 		});
 		frame.add(installMod);

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

@@ -29,12 +29,12 @@ 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.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 org.lwjgl.util.tinyfd.TinyFileDialogs;
 
 import javax.swing.*;
 import java.awt.*;
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ public class SelfUpdater
 		
 		if (!GitlabGetter.INSTANCE.getDownloads(pipeline.get("id")).containsKey(mcVersion))
 		{
-			LOGGER.warn("Minecraft version ["+ mcVersion +"] is not findable on Gitlab, findable versions are ["+ StringUtil.join(",", GitlabGetter.INSTANCE.getDownloads(pipeline.get("id")).keySet().toArray()) +"].");
+			LOGGER.warn("Minecraft version ["+ mcVersion +"] is not findable on Gitlab, findable versions are ["+ StringUtil.join(", ", GitlabGetter.INSTANCE.getDownloads(pipeline.get("id")).keySet().toArray()) +"].");
 			return false;
 		}
 		
@@ -258,14 +258,13 @@ public class SelfUpdater
 			
 			deleteOldJarOnJvmShutdown = true;
 			
-			// TODO one of these messages contains something TinyFd doesn't like, find it and fix it
+			String successMessage = "Distant Horizons successfully updated. It will apply on game`s relaunch"; 
-			String successMessage = "Distant Horizons successfully updated. It will apply on game's relaunch"; 
 			LOGGER.info(successMessage);
 			new Thread(() -> 
 			{
 				try
 				{
-					TinyFileDialogs.tinyfd_messageBox(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, successMessage, "ok", "info", false);
+					NativeDialogUtil.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, successMessage, "ok", "info");
 				}
 				catch (Exception ignore) { }
 			}).start();
@@ -288,7 +287,7 @@ public class SelfUpdater
 			LOGGER.error(failMessage, e);
 			try
 			{
-				TinyFileDialogs.tinyfd_messageBox(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, failMessage, "ok", "error", false);
+				NativeDialogUtil.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, failMessage, "ok", "error");
 			}
 			catch (Exception ignore) { }
 			
@@ -386,7 +385,7 @@ public class SelfUpdater
 			{
 				try
 				{
-					TinyFileDialogs.tinyfd_messageBox(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, successMessage, "ok", "info", false);
+					NativeDialogUtil.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, successMessage, "ok", "info");
 				}
 				catch (Exception ignore) { }
 			}).start();
@@ -424,7 +423,7 @@ public class SelfUpdater
 			LOGGER.error(failMessage, e);
 			try
 			{
-				TinyFileDialogs.tinyfd_messageBox(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, failMessage, "ok", "error", false);
+				NativeDialogUtil.showDialog(ModInfo.READABLE_NAME, failMessage, "ok", "error");
 			}
 			catch (Exception ignore) { }
 			

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

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.messages.requests.CancelMessage;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos2D;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.WorldGenUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Vec3d;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.misc.IServerPlayerWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.ILevelWrapper;
@@ -147,16 +148,15 @@ public abstract class AbstractDhServerLevel extends AbstractDhLevel implements I
 					return;
 				}
 				
-				if (Config.Server.generationBoundsRadius.get() > 0)
+				boolean posInRange = WorldGenUtil.isPosInWorldGenRange(
+					message.sectionPos,
+					Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkX.get(), Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkZ.get(),
+					Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationMaxChunkRadius.get()
+				);
+				if (!posInRange)
 				{
-					if (DhSectionPos.getChebyshevSignedBlockDistance(message.sectionPos, new DhBlockPos2D(
+					message.sendResponse(new RequestOutOfRangeException("Section out of allowed bounds"));
-							serverPlayerState.sessionConfig.getGenerationBoundsX(),
+					return;
-							serverPlayerState.sessionConfig.getGenerationBoundsZ()
-					)) > Config.Server.generationBoundsRadius.get())
-					{
-						message.sendResponse(new RequestOutOfRangeException("Section out of allowed bounds"));
-						return;
-					}
 				}
 				
 				if (!Config.Server.Experimental.enableNSizedGeneration.get() && DhSectionPos.getDetailLevel(message.sectionPos) != DhSectionPos.SECTION_MINIMUM_DETAIL_LEVEL)

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/logging/DhLogger.java

@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ public class DhLogger implements IConfigListener
 			
 			if (mc_client != null)
 			{
-				mc_client.logToChat(level, msgStr);
+				this.logToChat(level, msgStr);
 				messageLogged = true;
 			}
 		}
@@ -296,6 +296,41 @@ public class DhLogger implements IConfigListener
 	}
 	private static boolean loggingLevelIsLessSpecificThan(Level thisLoggingLevel, Level requestedLogLevel)
 	{ return thisLoggingLevel.intLevel() >= requestedLogLevel.intLevel(); }
+	/** Sends the given message to chat with a formatted prefix and color based on the log level. */
+	private void logToChat(Level logLevel, String message)
+	{
+		String prefix = "[" + ModInfo.READABLE_NAME + "] ";
+		if (logLevel == Level.ERROR)
+		{
+			prefix += "\u00A74";
+		}
+		else if (logLevel == Level.WARN)
+		{
+			prefix += "\u00A76";
+		}
+		else if (logLevel == Level.INFO)
+		{
+			prefix += "\u00A7f";
+		}
+		else if (logLevel == Level.DEBUG)
+		{
+			prefix += "\u00A77";
+		}
+		else if (logLevel == Level.TRACE)
+		{
+			prefix += "\u00A78";
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			prefix += "\u00A7f";
+		}
+		
+		prefix += "\u00A7l\u00A7u";
+		prefix += logLevel.name();
+		prefix += ":\u00A7r ";
+		
+		mc_client.sendChatMessage(prefix + message);
+	}
 	
 	
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/multiplayer/config/SessionConfig.java

@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ public class SessionConfig implements INetworkObject
 		
 		registerConfigEntry(Config.Common.WorldGenerator.enableDistantGeneration, Boolean::logicalAnd);
 		registerConfigEntry(Config.Server.maxGenerationRequestDistance, Math::min);
-		registerConfigEntry(Config.Server.generationBoundsX, (x, y) -> y);
+		registerConfigEntry(Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkX, (x, y) -> y);
-		registerConfigEntry(Config.Server.generationBoundsZ, (x, y) -> y);
+		registerConfigEntry(Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkZ, (x, y) -> y);
-		registerConfigEntry(Config.Server.generationBoundsRadius, (x, y) -> y);
+		registerConfigEntry(Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationMaxChunkRadius, (x, y) -> y);
 		registerConfigEntry(Config.Server.generationRequestRateLimit, Math::min);
 		
 		registerConfigEntry(Config.Server.enableRealTimeUpdates, Boolean::logicalAnd);
@@ -68,9 +68,9 @@ public class SessionConfig implements INetworkObject
 	
 	public boolean isDistantGenerationEnabled() { return this.getValue(Config.Common.WorldGenerator.enableDistantGeneration); }
 	public int getMaxGenerationRequestDistance() { return this.getValue(Config.Server.maxGenerationRequestDistance); }
-	public Integer getGenerationBoundsX() { return this.getValue(Config.Server.generationBoundsX); }
+	public Integer getGenerationCenterChunkX() { return this.getValue(Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkX); }
-	public Integer getGenerationBoundsZ() { return this.getValue(Config.Server.generationBoundsZ); }
+	public Integer getGenerationCenterChunkZ() { return this.getValue(Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkZ); }
-	public Integer getGenerationBoundsRadius() { return this.getValue(Config.Server.generationBoundsRadius); }
+	public Integer getGenerationMaxChunkRadius() { return this.getValue(Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationMaxChunkRadius); }
 	public int getGenerationRequestRateLimit() { return this.getValue(Config.Server.generationRequestRateLimit); }
 	
 	public boolean isRealTimeUpdatesEnabled() { return this.getValue(Config.Server.enableRealTimeUpdates); }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/multiplayer/server/ServerPlayerState.java

@@ -102,8 +102,8 @@ public class ServerPlayerState implements Closeable
 	private void sendConfigMessage()
 	{
 		double coordinateScale = this.getServerPlayer().getLevel().getDimensionType().getCoordinateScale();
-		this.sessionConfig.constrainValue(Config.Server.generationBoundsX, (int) (Config.Server.generationBoundsX.get() / coordinateScale));
+		this.sessionConfig.constrainValue(Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkX, (int) (Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkX.get() / coordinateScale));
-		this.sessionConfig.constrainValue(Config.Server.generationBoundsZ, (int) (Config.Server.generationBoundsZ.get() / coordinateScale));
+		this.sessionConfig.constrainValue(Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkZ, (int) (Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkZ.get() / coordinateScale));
 		
 		this.networkSession.sendMessage(new SessionConfigMessage(this.sessionConfig));
 	}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/network/session/NetworkSession.java

@@ -92,7 +92,8 @@ public class NetworkSession extends AbstractNetworkEventSource
 		{
 			LOGGER.error("Failed to handle the message. New messages will be ignored.", e);
 			LOGGER.error("Message: ["+message+"]");
-			this.close();
+			
+			this.close(e);
 		}
 	}
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/pos/DhSectionPos.java

@@ -281,17 +281,24 @@ public class DhSectionPos
 				+ Math.abs(getCenterBlockPosZ(pos) - blockPos.z);
 	}
 	
+	
+	/** see: {@link DhSectionPos#getChebyshevSignedBlockDistance(long, int, int)} */
+	public static int getChebyshevSignedBlockDistance(long pos, DhBlockPos  blockPos)
+	{ return getChebyshevSignedBlockDistance(pos, blockPos.getX(), blockPos.getZ()); }
+	/** see: {@link DhSectionPos#getChebyshevSignedBlockDistance(long, int, int)} */
+	public static int getChebyshevSignedBlockDistance(long pos, DhBlockPos2D blockPos)
+	{ return getChebyshevSignedBlockDistance(pos, blockPos.x, blockPos.z); }
 	/**
 	 * Returns the signed distance from a given block to a given section. <br>
 	 * Essentially acts like a distance from the block to the nearest edge of the section,
 	 * except inside the section it's negative. <br>
 	 * Useful for detail level insensitive distance comparisons.
 	 */
-	public static int getChebyshevSignedBlockDistance(long pos, DhBlockPos2D blockPos)
+	public static int getChebyshevSignedBlockDistance(long pos, int blockPosX, int blockPosZ)
 	{
 		return Math.max(
-				Math.abs(getCenterBlockPosX(pos) - blockPos.x),
+			Math.abs(getCenterBlockPosX(pos) - blockPosX),
-				Math.abs(getCenterBlockPosZ(pos) - blockPos.z)
+			Math.abs(getCenterBlockPosZ(pos) - blockPosZ)
 		) - getBlockWidth(pos) / 2;
 	}
 	

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

@@ -762,7 +762,6 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 			{
 				// walk through each node
 				Iterator<QuadNode<LodRenderSection>> nodeIterator = this.nodeIterator();
-				ArrayList<CompletableFuture<Void>> renderDataBuildFutures = new ArrayList<>();
 				while (nodeIterator.hasNext())
 				{
 					QuadNode<LodRenderSection> quadNode = nodeIterator.next();

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

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.DebugRenderer;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.generic.BeaconRenderHandler;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.sql.dto.BeaconBeamDTO;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.sql.repo.BeaconBeamRepo;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.PerfRecorder;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.WorldGenUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.PriorityTaskPicker;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.ThreadPoolUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
@@ -133,6 +133,7 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 	//=============//
 	// constructor //
 	//=============//
+	//region constructor
 	
 	public LodRenderSection(
 			long pos, 
@@ -153,11 +154,14 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		DebugRenderer.register(this, Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.DebugWireframe.showRenderSectionStatus);
 	}
 	
+	//endregion constructor
+	
 	
 	
 	//======================================//
 	// render data generation and uploading //
 	//======================================//
+	//region render data uploading
 	
 	/** @return true if the upload started, false if it wasn't able to for any reason */
 	public synchronized boolean uploadRenderDataToGpuAsync()
@@ -314,7 +318,10 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 				}
 			});
 	}
-	/** async is done so each thread can run without waiting on others */
+	/** 
+	 * async is done so each thread can run without waiting on others 
+	 * @param direction the direction to load relative to the given position, null will return the given position
+	 */
 	private CompletableFuture<ColumnRenderSource> getRenderSourceForPosAsync(long pos, @Nullable EDhDirection direction) 
 	{
 		if (direction != null)
@@ -400,11 +407,14 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		});
 	}
 	
+	//endregion render data uploading
 	
 	
-	//========================//
+	
-	// getters and properties //
+	//====================//
-	//========================//
+	// enabling rendering //
+	//====================//
+	//region enabling rendering
 	
 	public boolean canRender() { return this.bufferContainer != null; }
 	
@@ -439,11 +449,14 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 	
 	public boolean gpuUploadInProgress() { return this.getAndBuildRenderDataFuture != null; }
 	
+	//endregion enabling rendering
+	
 	
 	
 	//=================================//
 	// full data retrieval (world gen) //
 	//=================================//
+	//region full data retrieval
 	
 	public boolean isFullyGenerated()
 	{
@@ -528,6 +541,18 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 					}
 					
 					long pos = missingGenerationPos.removeLong(i);
+					
+					boolean posInRange = WorldGenUtil.isPosInWorldGenRange(
+						pos,
+						Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkX.get(), Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkZ.get(),
+						Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationMaxChunkRadius.get()
+					);
+					if (!posInRange)
+					{
+						continue;
+					}
+					
+					
 					boolean positionQueued = (this.fullDataSourceProvider.queuePositionForRetrieval(pos) != null);
 					if (!positionQueued)
 					{
@@ -539,11 +564,14 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		}
 	}
 	
+	//endregion full data retrieval
+	
 	
 	
 	//=================//
 	// beacon handling //
 	//=================//
+	//region beacon handling
 	
 	/** gets the active beacon list and stops/starts beacon rendering as necessary */
 	private void getAndRefreshRenderingBeacons()
@@ -617,11 +645,14 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		}
 	}
 	
+	//endregion beacon handling
+	
 	
 	
 	//==============//
 	// base methods //
 	//==============//
+	//region base methods
 	
 	@Override
 	public void debugRender(DebugRenderer debugRenderer)
@@ -708,6 +739,8 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		
 	}
 	
+	//endregion base methods
+	
 	
 	
 }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/glObject/GLProxy.java

@@ -56,13 +56,13 @@ public class GLProxy
 	
 	public static final Set<String> LOGGED_GL_MESSAGES = Collections.newSetFromMap(new ConcurrentHashMap<String, Boolean>());
 	
+	private static final ConcurrentLinkedQueue<Runnable> RENDER_THREAD_RUNNABLE_QUEUE = new ConcurrentLinkedQueue<>();
+	
 	
 	
 	private static GLProxy instance = null;
 	
 	
-	private final ConcurrentLinkedQueue<Runnable> renderThreadRunnableQueue = new ConcurrentLinkedQueue<>();
-	
 	/** Minecraft's GL capabilities */
 	public final GLCapabilities glCapabilities;
 	
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ public class GLProxy
 		return uploadOverride;
 	}
 	
-	public boolean runningOnRenderThread()
+	public static boolean runningOnRenderThread()
 	{
 		long currentContext = GLFW.glfwGetCurrentContext();
 		return currentContext != 0L; // if the context isn't null, it's the MC context
@@ -243,12 +243,12 @@ public class GLProxy
 	// Worker Thread Runnables //
 	//=========================//
 	
-	public void queueRunningOnRenderThread(Runnable renderCall)
+	public static void queueRunningOnRenderThread(Runnable renderCall)
 	{
 		StackTraceElement[] stackTrace = Thread.currentThread().getStackTrace();
-		this.renderThreadRunnableQueue.add(() -> this.runOpenGlCall(renderCall, stackTrace));
+		RENDER_THREAD_RUNNABLE_QUEUE.add(() -> runOpenGlCall(renderCall, stackTrace));
 	}
-	private void runOpenGlCall(Runnable renderCall, StackTraceElement[] stackTrace)
+	private static void runOpenGlCall(Runnable renderCall, StackTraceElement[] stackTrace)
 	{
 		try
 		{
@@ -266,11 +266,11 @@ public class GLProxy
 	 * Doesn't do any thread/GL Context validation.
 	 * Running this outside of the render thread may cause crashes or other issues. 
 	 */
-	public void runRenderThreadTasks()
+	public static void runRenderThreadTasks()
 	{
 		long startTime = System.nanoTime();
 		
-		Runnable runnable = this.renderThreadRunnableQueue.poll();
+		Runnable runnable = RENDER_THREAD_RUNNABLE_QUEUE.poll();
 		while(runnable != null)
 		{
 			runnable.run();
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ public class GLProxy
 				break;
 			}
 			
-			runnable = this.renderThreadRunnableQueue.poll();
+			runnable = RENDER_THREAD_RUNNABLE_QUEUE.poll();
 		}
 	}
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/glObject/buffer/GLBuffer.java

@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public class GLBuffer implements AutoCloseable
 	
 	protected void create(boolean asBufferStorage)
 	{
-		if (!GLProxy.getInstance().runningOnRenderThread())
+		if (!GLProxy.runningOnRenderThread())
 		{
 			LodUtil.assertNotReach("Thread ["+Thread.currentThread()+"] tried to create a GLBuffer outside the MC render thread.");
 		}
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ public class GLBuffer implements AutoCloseable
 			BUFFER_ID_TO_PHANTOM.remove(id);
 		}
 		
-		GLProxy.getInstance().queueRunningOnRenderThread(() -> 
+		GLProxy.queueRunningOnRenderThread(() -> 
 		{
 			// destroy the buffer if it exists,
 			// the buffer may not exist if the destroy method is called twice
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ public class GLBuffer implements AutoCloseable
 		
 		switch (uploadMethod)
 		{
-			case NONE:
+			//case NONE:
-				return;
+			//	return;
 			case AUTO:
 				LodUtil.assertNotReach("GpuUploadMethod AUTO must be resolved before call to uploadBuffer()!");
 			case BUFFER_STORAGE:

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/glObject/buffer/QuadElementBuffer.java

@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public class QuadElementBuffer extends GLElementBuffer
 	
 	public int getCapacity()
 	{
-		return super.getSize() / GLEnums.getTypeSize(getType());
+		return super.getSize() / GLEnums.getTypeSize(this.getType());
 	}
 	
 	private static void buildBufferByte(int quadCount, ByteBuffer buffer)
@@ -140,7 +140,6 @@ public class QuadElementBuffer extends GLElementBuffer
 			return;
 		}
 		int vertexCount = quadCount * 4; // 4 vertices per quad
-		GLProxy gl = GLProxy.getInstance();
 		
 		if (vertexCount < 255)
 		{ // Reserve 1 for the reset index
@@ -158,7 +157,7 @@ public class QuadElementBuffer extends GLElementBuffer
 		
 		ByteBuffer buffer = MemoryUtil.memAlloc(this.indicesCount * GLEnums.getTypeSize(this.type));
 		buildBuffer(quadCount, buffer, this.type);
-		if (!gl.bufferStorageSupported)
+		if (!GLProxy.getInstance().bufferStorageSupported)
 		{
 			
 			this.bind();

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/glObject/shader/ShaderProgram.java

@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ public class ShaderProgram
 		
 		for (int i = 0; i < attributes.length; i++)
 		{
-			GL32.glBindAttribLocation(id, i, attributes[i]);
+			GL32.glBindAttribLocation(this.id, i, attributes[i]);
 		}
 		GL32.glLinkProgram(this.id);
 		

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/glObject/texture/DHDepthTexture.java

@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@ public class DHDepthTexture
 		GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL11C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL11C.GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_S, GL13C.GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
 		GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL11C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL11C.GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_T, GL13C.GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
 		
+		// disable mip-mapping since DH is just going to draw straight to the screen
+		GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_BASE_LEVEL, 0);
+		GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_MAX_LEVEL, 0);
+		
 		GL43C.glBindTexture(GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0);
 	}
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/glObject/texture/DhColorTexture.java

@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ public class DhColorTexture
 		this.id = GL43C.glGenTextures();
 		
 		boolean isPixelFormatInteger = builder.internalFormat.getPixelFormat().isInteger();
-		this.setupTexture(this.id, builder.width, builder.height, !isPixelFormatInteger);
+		this.setupTexture(this.id, builder.width, builder.height, !isPixelFormatInteger); // this binds the texture
 		
 		// Clean up after ourselves
 		// This is strictly defensive to ensure that other buggy code doesn't tamper with our textures
@@ -67,6 +67,10 @@ public class DhColorTexture
 		GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL11C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL11C.GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, allowsLinear ? GL11C.GL_LINEAR : GL11C.GL_NEAREST);
 		GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL11C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL11C.GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_S, GL13C.GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
 		GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL11C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL11C.GL_TEXTURE_WRAP_T, GL13C.GL_CLAMP_TO_EDGE);
+		
+		// disable mip-mapping since DH is just going to draw straight to the screen
+		GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_BASE_LEVEL, 0);
+		GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_MAX_LEVEL, 0);
 	}
 	
 	private void resizeTexture(int texture, int width, int height)

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/glObject/vertexAttribute/VertexPointer.java

@@ -59,8 +59,10 @@ public final class VertexPointer
 	/** Always aligned to 4 bytes */
 	public static VertexPointer addUnsignedBytePointer(boolean normalized, boolean useInteger) { return new VertexPointer(1, GL32.GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, normalized, 4, useInteger); }
 	/** aligned to 4 bytes */
-	public static VertexPointer addUnsignedBytesPointer(int elementCount, boolean normalized, boolean useInteger) { return new VertexPointer(elementCount, GL32.GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, normalized, _align(elementCount), useInteger); }
+	public static VertexPointer addUnsignedBytesPointer(int elementCount, boolean normalized, boolean useInteger) 
-	public static VertexPointer addUnsignedShortsPointer(int elementCount, boolean normalized, boolean useInteger) { return new VertexPointer(elementCount, GL32.GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT, normalized, _align(elementCount * 2), useInteger); }
+	{ return new VertexPointer(elementCount, GL32.GL_UNSIGNED_BYTE, normalized, _align(elementCount), useInteger); }
+	public static VertexPointer addUnsignedShortsPointer(int elementCount, boolean normalized, boolean useInteger) 
+	{ return new VertexPointer(elementCount, GL32.GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT, normalized, _align(elementCount * 2), useInteger); }
 	public static VertexPointer addShortsPointer(int elementCount, boolean normalized, boolean useInteger) { return new VertexPointer(elementCount, GL32.GL_SHORT, normalized, _align(elementCount * 2), useInteger); }
 	public static VertexPointer addIntPointer(boolean normalized, boolean useInteger) { return new VertexPointer(1, GL32.GL_INT, normalized, 4, useInteger); }
 	public static VertexPointer addIVec2Pointer(boolean normalized, boolean useInteger) { return new VertexPointer(2, GL32.GL_INT, normalized, 8, useInteger); }

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

@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRen
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Mat4f;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Vec3d;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Vec3f;
-import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL32;
@@ -213,7 +212,7 @@ public class DebugRenderer
 		
 		// particle rendering		
 		BoxParticle head = null;
-		while ((head = this.particles.poll()) != null && head.isDead(System.nanoTime()))
+		while ((head = this.particles.poll()) != null && head.isDead())
 		{ /* remove dead particles */ }
 		if (head != null)
 		{
@@ -311,52 +310,50 @@ public class DebugRenderer
 	public static final class BoxParticle implements Comparable<BoxParticle>
 	{
 		public Box box;
-		public long startTime;
+		public long startMsTime;
-		public long duration;
+		public long durationInMs;
 		public float yChange;
 		
-		public BoxParticle(Box box, long startTime, long duration, float yChange)
+		private BoxParticle(Box box, long startMsTime, long durationInMs, float yChange)
 		{
 			this.box = box;
-			this.startTime = startTime;
+			this.startMsTime = startMsTime;
-			this.duration = duration;
+			this.durationInMs = durationInMs;
 			this.yChange = yChange;
 		}
 		
-		public BoxParticle(Box box, long nanoSecondDuratoin, float yChange) { this(box, System.nanoTime(), nanoSecondDuratoin, yChange); }
+		public BoxParticle(Box box, double secondDuration, float yChange) { this(box, System.currentTimeMillis(), (long) (secondDuration * 1_000), yChange); }
-		
-		public BoxParticle(Box box, double secondDuration, float yChange) { this(box, System.nanoTime(), (long) (secondDuration * 1000000000), yChange); }
 		
 		
 		@Override
 		public int compareTo(@NotNull BoxParticle particle)
 		{
-			return Long.compare(this.startTime + this.duration, particle.startTime + particle.duration);
+			return Long.compare(this.startMsTime + this.durationInMs, particle.startMsTime + particle.durationInMs);
 		}
 		
 		public Box getBox()
 		{
-			long now = System.nanoTime();
+			long nowMs = System.currentTimeMillis();
-			float percent = (now - this.startTime) / (float) this.duration;
+			float percent = (nowMs - this.startMsTime) / (float) this.durationInMs;
 			percent = (float) Math.pow(percent, 4);
 			float yDiff = this.yChange * percent;
 			return new Box(new Vec3f(this.box.minPos.x, this.box.minPos.y + yDiff, this.box.minPos.z), new Vec3f(this.box.maxPos.x, this.box.maxPos.y + yDiff, this.box.maxPos.z), this.box.color);
 		}
 		
-		public boolean isDead(long time) { return (time - this.startTime) > this.duration; }
+		public boolean isDead() { return (System.currentTimeMillis() - this.startMsTime) > this.durationInMs; }
 		
 	}
 	
 	public static final class BoxWithLife implements IDebugRenderable, Closeable
 	{
 		public Box box;
-		public BoxParticle particaleOnClose;
+		public BoxParticle particleOnClose;
 		
 		
 		public BoxWithLife(Box box, long ns, float yChange, Color deathColor)
 		{
 			this.box = box;
-			this.particaleOnClose = new BoxParticle(new Box(box.minPos, box.maxPos, deathColor), -1, ns, yChange);
+			this.particleOnClose = new BoxParticle(new Box(box.minPos, box.maxPos, deathColor), -1, ns, yChange);
 			register(this, null);
 		}
 		
@@ -366,7 +363,7 @@ public class DebugRenderer
 		public BoxWithLife(Box box, double s, float yChange, Color deathColor)
 		{
 			this.box = box;
-			this.particaleOnClose = new BoxParticle(new Box(box.minPos, box.maxPos, deathColor), s, yChange);
+			this.particleOnClose = new BoxParticle(new Box(box.minPos, box.maxPos, deathColor), s, yChange);
 		}
 		
 		public BoxWithLife(Box box, double s, float yChange) { this(box, s, yChange, box.color); }
@@ -377,7 +374,7 @@ public class DebugRenderer
 		@Override
 		public void close()
 		{
-			makeParticle(new BoxParticle(this.particaleOnClose.getBox(), System.nanoTime(), this.particaleOnClose.duration, this.particaleOnClose.yChange));
+			makeParticle(new BoxParticle(this.particleOnClose.getBox(), System.nanoTime(), this.particleOnClose.durationInMs, this.particleOnClose.yChange));
 			unregister(this, null);
 		}
 		

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

@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftGLW
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IProfilerWrapper;
 import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL32;
+import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL43C;
 
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 
@@ -95,11 +96,19 @@ public class DhFadeRenderer
 		}
 		
 		this.fadeTexture = GL32.glGenTextures();
-		GLMC.glBindTexture(this.fadeTexture);
+		{
-		GL32.glTexImage2D(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, GL32.GL_RGBA16, width, height, 0, GL32.GL_RGBA, GL32.GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT_4_4_4_4, (ByteBuffer) null);
+			GLMC.glBindTexture(this.fadeTexture);
-		GL32.glTexParameteri(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL32.GL_LINEAR);
+			GL32.glTexImage2D(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, GL32.GL_RGBA16, width, height, 0, GL32.GL_RGBA, GL32.GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT_4_4_4_4, (ByteBuffer) null);
-		GL32.glTexParameteri(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, GL32.GL_LINEAR);
+			GL32.glTexParameteri(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL32.GL_LINEAR);
+			GL32.glTexParameteri(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, GL32.GL_LINEAR);
+			
+			// disable mip-mapping since DH is just going to draw straight to the screen
+			GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_BASE_LEVEL, 0);
+			GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_MAX_LEVEL, 0);
+		}
+		
 		GL32.glFramebufferTexture2D(GL32.GL_FRAMEBUFFER, GL32.GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT0, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, this.fadeTexture, 0);
+		
 	}
 	
 	

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

@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public class DhTerrainShaderProgram extends ShaderProgram implements IDhApiShade
 	public int uNoiseDropoff = -1;
 	
 	// Debug Uniform
-	public int uWhiteWorld = -1;
+	public int uIsWhiteWorld = -1;
 	
 	
 	
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ public class DhTerrainShaderProgram extends ShaderProgram implements IDhApiShade
 		this.uNoiseDropoff = this.getUniformLocation("uNoiseDropoff");
 		
 		// Debug Uniform
-		this.uWhiteWorld = this.getUniformLocation("uWhiteWorld");
+		this.uIsWhiteWorld = this.getUniformLocation("uIsWhiteWorld");
 		
 		
 		// TODO: Add better use of the LODFormat thing
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ public class DhTerrainShaderProgram extends ShaderProgram implements IDhApiShade
 		this.setUniform(this.uNoiseDropoff, Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.NoiseTexture.noiseDropoff.get());
 		
 		// Debug
-		this.setUniform(this.uWhiteWorld, Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.enableWhiteWorld.get());
+		this.setUniform(this.uIsWhiteWorld, Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.enableWhiteWorld.get());
 		
 		// Clip Uniform
 		float dhNearClipDistance = RenderUtil.getNearClipPlaneInBlocksForFading(renderParameters.partialTicks);

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

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Mat4f;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftGLWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
 import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL32;
+import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL43C;
 
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 
@@ -87,11 +88,17 @@ public class FogRenderer
 		GLMC.glBindFramebuffer(GL32.GL_FRAMEBUFFER, this.fogFramebuffer);
 		
 		this.fogTexture = GLMC.glGenTextures();
-		GLMC.glBindTexture(this.fogTexture);
+		{
-		GL32.glTexImage2D(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, GL32.GL_RGBA16, width, height, 0, GL32.GL_RGBA, GL32.GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT_4_4_4_4, (ByteBuffer) null);
+			GLMC.glBindTexture(this.fogTexture);
-		GL32.glTexParameteri(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL32.GL_LINEAR);
+			GL32.glTexImage2D(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, GL32.GL_RGBA16, width, height, 0, GL32.GL_RGBA, GL32.GL_UNSIGNED_SHORT_4_4_4_4, (ByteBuffer) null);
-		GL32.glTexParameteri(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, GL32.GL_LINEAR);
+			GL32.glTexParameteri(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL32.GL_LINEAR);
-		GL32.glFramebufferTexture2D(GL32.GL_FRAMEBUFFER, GL32.GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT0, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, this.fogTexture, 0);
+			GL32.glTexParameteri(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, GL32.GL_LINEAR);
+			GL32.glFramebufferTexture2D(GL32.GL_FRAMEBUFFER, GL32.GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT0, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, this.fogTexture, 0);
+			
+			// disable mip-mapping since DH is just going to draw straight to the screen
+			GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_BASE_LEVEL, 0);
+			GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_MAX_LEVEL, 0);
+		}
 	}
 	
 	

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

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.shaders.*;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Mat4f;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Vec3d;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.SortedArraySet;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftGLWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IProfilerWrapper;
@@ -69,6 +70,7 @@ public class LodRenderer
 			.maxCountPerSecond(4)
 			.build();
 	
+	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
 	private static final IMinecraftRenderWrapper MC_RENDER = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftRenderWrapper.class);
 	private static final IMinecraftGLWrapper GLMC = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftGLWrapper.class);
 	private static final IIrisAccessor IRIS_ACCESSOR = ModAccessorInjector.INSTANCE.get(IIrisAccessor.class);
@@ -174,6 +176,13 @@ public class LodRenderer
 				return;
 			}
 			
+			// only do this once, that way they can still be reverted if desired
+			if (Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.overrideVanillaGraphicsSettings.get())
+			{
+				MC.disableVanillaClouds();
+				MC.disableVanillaChunkFadeIn();
+			}
+			
 			this.renderObjectsCreated = true;
 		}
 		
@@ -484,12 +493,8 @@ public class LodRenderer
 			return false;
 		}
 		
-		if (!GLProxy.hasInstance())
+		// GLProxy should have already been created by this point, but just in case create it now
-		{
+		GLProxy.getInstance();
-			// shouldn't normally happen, but just in case
-			LOGGER.warn("Renderer setup called but GLProxy has not yet been setup!");
-			return false;
-		}
 		
 		
 		

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

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftGLW
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Mat4f;
 import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL32;
+import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL43C;
 
 import java.nio.ByteBuffer;
 
@@ -87,10 +88,17 @@ public class SSAORenderer
 		GLMC.glBindFramebuffer(GL32.GL_FRAMEBUFFER, this.ssaoFramebuffer);
 		
 		this.ssaoTexture = GLMC.glGenTextures();
-		GLMC.glBindTexture(this.ssaoTexture);
+		{
-		GL32.glTexImage2D(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, GL32.GL_R16F, width, height, 0, GL32.GL_RED, GL32.GL_HALF_FLOAT, (ByteBuffer) null);
+			GLMC.glBindTexture(this.ssaoTexture);
-		GL32.glTexParameteri(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL32.GL_LINEAR);
+			GL32.glTexImage2D(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, 0, GL32.GL_R16F, width, height, 0, GL32.GL_RED, GL32.GL_HALF_FLOAT, (ByteBuffer) null);
-		GL32.glTexParameteri(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, GL32.GL_LINEAR);
+			GL32.glTexParameteri(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_MIN_FILTER, GL32.GL_LINEAR);
+			GL32.glTexParameteri(GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_MAG_FILTER, GL32.GL_LINEAR);
+			
+			// disable mip-mapping since DH is just going to draw straight to the screen
+			GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_BASE_LEVEL, 0);
+			GL43C.glTexParameteri(GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_2D, GL43C.GL_TEXTURE_MAX_LEVEL, 0);
+		}
+		
 		GL32.glFramebufferTexture2D(GL32.GL_FRAMEBUFFER, GL32.GL_COLOR_ATTACHMENT0, GL32.GL_TEXTURE_2D, this.ssaoTexture, 0);
 	}
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/renderer/generic/RenderableBoxGroup.java

@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@ public class RenderableBoxGroup
 		@Override 
 		public void close()
 		{
-			GLProxy.getInstance().queueRunningOnRenderThread(() ->
+			GLProxy.queueRunningOnRenderThread(() ->
 			{
 				if (this.instanceChunkPosVbo != 0)
 				{

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/renderer/shaders/FogShader.java

@@ -164,10 +164,11 @@ public class FogShader extends AbstractShaderRenderer
 		
 		
 		// Fog uniforms
-		this.shader.setUniform(this.uFogColor, MC_RENDER.isFogStateSpecial() ? this.getSpecialFogColor(partialTicks) : this.getFogColor(partialTicks));
+		this.shader.setUniform(this.uFogColor, this.getFogColor(partialTicks));
 		this.shader.setUniform(this.uFogScale, 1.f / lodDrawDistance);
 		this.shader.setUniform(this.uFogVerticalScale, 1.f / MC.getWrappedClientLevel().getMaxHeight());
-		this.shader.setUniform(this.uFullFogMode, MC_RENDER.isFogStateSpecial() ? 1 : 0);
+		// only used for debugging
+		this.shader.setUniform(this.uFullFogMode, 0); // 1 = render everything with fog color // 7 = use debug rendering
 		
 		
 		// fog config
@@ -177,6 +178,14 @@ public class FogShader extends AbstractShaderRenderer
 		float farFogMax = Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Fog.farFogMax.get().floatValue();
 		float farFogDensity = Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Fog.farFogDensity.get().floatValue();
 		
+		// override fog if underwater
+		if (MC_RENDER.isFogStateSpecial())
+		{
+			// hide everything behind fog
+			farFogStart = 0.0f;
+			farFogEnd = 0.0f;
+		}
+		
 		this.shader.setUniform(this.uFarFogStart, farFogStart);
 		this.shader.setUniform(this.uFarFogLength, farFogEnd - farFogStart);
 		this.shader.setUniform(this.uFarFogMin, farFogMin);
@@ -229,7 +238,6 @@ public class FogShader extends AbstractShaderRenderer
 		
 		return fogColor;
 	}
-	private Color getSpecialFogColor(float partialTicks) { return MC_RENDER.getSpecialFogColor(partialTicks); }
 	
 	public void setProjectionMatrix(Mat4f projectionMatrix)
 	{

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/render/renderer/shaders/SSAOShader.java

@@ -25,8 +25,10 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.glObject.shader.ShaderProgram;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.LodRenderer;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.SSAORenderer;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.ScreenQuad;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.NumberUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Mat4f;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftGLWrapper;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.MathUtil;
 import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL32;
 
 /**
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ public class SSAOShader extends AbstractShaderRenderer
 	public int uMinLight;
 	public int uBias;
 	public int uDepthMap;
+	public int uFadeDistanceInBlocks;
 	
 	
 	
@@ -81,6 +84,7 @@ public class SSAOShader extends AbstractShaderRenderer
 		this.uMinLight = this.shader.getUniformLocation("uMinLight");
 		this.uBias = this.shader.getUniformLocation("uBias");
 		this.uDepthMap = this.shader.getUniformLocation("uDepthMap");
+		this.uFadeDistanceInBlocks = this.shader.getUniformLocation("uFadeDistanceInBlocks");
 	}
 	
 	
@@ -120,6 +124,10 @@ public class SSAOShader extends AbstractShaderRenderer
 		this.shader.setUniform(this.uBias, bias.floatValue());
 		
 		GL32.glUniform1i(this.uDepthMap, 0);
+		
+		float fadeDistanceInBlocks = Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Ssao.fadeDistanceInBlocks.get().floatValue();
+		fadeDistanceInBlocks = MathUtil.clamp(0.0f, fadeDistanceInBlocks, Float.MAX_VALUE); // clamp to prevent accidentally setting a negative number
+		this.shader.setUniform(this.uFadeDistanceInBlocks, fadeDistanceInBlocks);
 	}
 	
 	

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

@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+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/WorldGenUtil.java

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhChunkPos;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos;
+
+public class WorldGenUtil
+{
+	
+	/** will always return true if a generation max radius isn't set */
+	public static boolean isPosInWorldGenRange(
+		long requestedPos,
+		int centerChunkX, int centerChunkZ,
+		int maxChunkRadius)
+	{
+		if (Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationMaxChunkRadius.get() <= 0)
+		{
+			return true;
+		}
+		
+		
+		DhBlockPos centerBlockPos = new DhChunkPos(centerChunkX, centerChunkZ).centerBlockPos();
+		int blockDistanceFromCenter = DhSectionPos.getChebyshevSignedBlockDistance(requestedPos, centerBlockPos);
+		int maxBlockRadius = maxChunkRadius * LodUtil.CHUNK_WIDTH;
+		boolean requestInRadius = (blockDistanceFromCenter <= maxBlockRadius);
+		return requestInRadius;
+	}
+	
+	
+	
+}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/objects/EventLoop.java

@@ -1,102 +0,0 @@
-/*
- *    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.core.util.objects;
-
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
-
-import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
-import java.util.concurrent.CompletionException;
-import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
-
-public class EventLoop implements AutoCloseable
-{
-	private static final DhLogger LOGGER = new DhLoggerBuilder().build();
-	
-	private final boolean PAUSE_ON_ERROR = ModInfo.IS_DEV_BUILD;
-	private final ExecutorService executorService;
-	
-	private final Runnable runnable;
-	/** the future related to the given runnable */
-	private CompletableFuture<Void> runnableFuture;
-	
-	private boolean isRunning = true;
-	
-	
-	
-	public EventLoop(ExecutorService executorService, Runnable runnable)
-	{
-		this.executorService = executorService;
-		this.runnable = runnable;
-	}
-	
-	
-	
-	public void tick()
-	{
-		if (runnableFuture != null && runnableFuture.isDone())
-		{
-			try
-			{
-				runnableFuture.join();
-			}
-			catch (CompletionException ce)
-			{
-				LOGGER.error("Uncaught exception in event loop", ce.getCause());
-				if (PAUSE_ON_ERROR)
-				{
-					isRunning = false;
-				}
-			}
-			catch (Exception e)
-			{
-				LOGGER.error("Exception in event loop", e);
-				if (PAUSE_ON_ERROR)
-				{
-					isRunning = false;
-				}
-			}
-			finally
-			{
-				runnableFuture = null;
-			}
-		}
-		
-		if (runnableFuture == null && isRunning)
-		{
-			runnableFuture = CompletableFuture.runAsync(runnable, executorService);
-		}
-	}
-	
-	public void close()
-	{
-		if (runnableFuture != null)
-		{
-			runnableFuture.cancel(true);
-		}
-		
-		runnableFuture = null;
-		executorService.shutdown();
-	}
-	
-	public boolean isRunning() { return runnableFuture != null && !runnableFuture.isDone(); }
-	
-}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/objects/dataStreams/DhDataInputStream.java

@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config.EDhApiDataCompressionMode;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.bytes.ByteArrayList;
 import net.jpountz.lz4.LZ4FrameInputStream;
-import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import org.tukaani.xz.ResettableArrayCache;
 import org.tukaani.xz.XZInputStream;
@@ -61,7 +60,7 @@ public class DhDataInputStream extends DataInputStream
 	{
 		// Z_Std handling compression outside the stream provides a significant performance boost
 		ByteArrayInputStream byteArrayInputStream;
-		if (compressionMode == EDhApiDataCompressionMode.Z_STD)
+		if (compressionMode == EDhApiDataCompressionMode.Z_STD_BLOCK)
 		{
 			byteArrayInputStream = new ByteArrayInputStream(Zstd.decompress(byteArray));
 		}
@@ -87,7 +86,7 @@ public class DhDataInputStream extends DataInputStream
 					return stream;
 				case LZ4:
 					return new LZ4FrameInputStream(stream);
-				case Z_STD:
+				case Z_STD_BLOCK:
 					// ZStd compression should be handled before this point
 					// just return the stream
 					return stream;

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/util/objects/dataStreams/DhDataOutputStream.java

@@ -20,14 +20,12 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.dataStreams;
 
 import com.github.luben.zstd.Zstd;
-import com.github.luben.zstd.ZstdOutputStream;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config.EDhApiDataCompressionMode;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.bytes.ByteArrayList;
 import net.jpountz.lz4.LZ4Factory;
 import net.jpountz.lz4.LZ4FrameOutputStream;
 import net.jpountz.xxhash.XXHashFactory;
-import org.apache.logging.log4j.LogManager;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import org.tukaani.xz.*;
 
@@ -85,7 +83,7 @@ public class DhDataOutputStream extends DataOutputStream
 							//LZ4Factory.nativeInstance().fastCompressor(),
 							//XXHashFactory.nativeInstance().hash32(),
 							LZ4FrameOutputStream.FLG.Bits.BLOCK_INDEPENDENCE);
-				case Z_STD:
+				case Z_STD_BLOCK:
 					// ZStd compression should be handled after the stream is closed
 					// just return the stream
 					return stream;
@@ -127,7 +125,7 @@ public class DhDataOutputStream extends DataOutputStream
 		
 		
 		this.outputByteArray.clear();
-		if (this.compressionMode == EDhApiDataCompressionMode.Z_STD)
+		if (this.compressionMode == EDhApiDataCompressionMode.Z_STD_BLOCK)
 		{
 			this.outputByteArray.addElements(0, Zstd.compress(this.wrappedByteStream.toByteArray(), 3));
 		}

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

@@ -21,27 +21,21 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.ClientApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.DhClientServerLevel;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.ThreadUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.TimerUtil;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.EventLoop;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.ILevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IServerLevelWrapper;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 
-import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.*;
-import java.util.Collections;
-import java.util.HashSet;
-import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
-import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
 
 public class DhClientServerWorld extends AbstractDhServerWorld<DhClientServerLevel> implements IDhClientWorld
 {
 	private final Set<DhClientServerLevel> dhLevels = Collections.synchronizedSet(new HashSet<>());
 	
-	public ExecutorService dhTickerThread = ThreadUtil.makeSingleThreadPool("Client Server World Ticker", 2);
+	private final Timer clientTickTimer = TimerUtil.CreateTimer("ClientTickTimer");
-	public EventLoop eventLoop = new EventLoop(this.dhTickerThread, this::_clientTick); //TODO: Rate-limit the loop
 	
 	
 	
@@ -53,6 +47,15 @@ public class DhClientServerWorld extends AbstractDhServerWorld<DhClientServerLev
 	{
 		super(EWorldEnvironment.CLIENT_SERVER);
 		LOGGER.info("Started DhWorld of type " + this.environment);
+		
+		this.clientTickTimer.scheduleAtFixedRate(new TimerTask() 
+		{
+			@Override 
+			public void run()
+			{
+				DhClientServerWorld.this.dhLevels.forEach(DhClientServerLevel::clientTick);
+			}
+		}, 0, IDhClientWorld.TICK_RATE_IN_MS);
 	}
 	
 	
@@ -136,19 +139,6 @@ public class DhClientServerWorld extends AbstractDhServerWorld<DhClientServerLev
 		}
 	}
 	
-	private void _clientTick()
-	{
-		//LOGGER.info("Client world tick with {} levels", levels.size());
-		this.dhLevels.forEach(DhClientServerLevel::clientTick);
-	}
-	
-	@Override 
-	public void clientTick()
-	{
-		//LOGGER.info("Client world tick");
-		this.eventLoop.tick();
-	}
-	
 	
 	
 	//================//
@@ -194,8 +184,8 @@ public class DhClientServerWorld extends AbstractDhServerWorld<DhClientServerLev
 		
 		
 		this.dhLevelByLevelWrapper.clear();
-		this.eventLoop.close();
+		this.clientTickTimer.cancel();
-		LOGGER.info("Closed DhWorld of type " + this.environment);
+		LOGGER.info("Closed DhWorld of type [" + this.environment + "].");
 	}
 	
 }

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

@@ -24,17 +24,17 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.structure.ClientOnlySaveStructure;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.DhClientLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.client.ClientNetworkState;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.ThreadUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.TimerUtil;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.EventLoop;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.ILevelWrapper;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Timer;
+import java.util.TimerTask;
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
-import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
 
 public class DhClientWorld extends AbstractDhWorld implements IDhClientWorld
 {
@@ -42,8 +42,7 @@ public class DhClientWorld extends AbstractDhWorld implements IDhClientWorld
 	public final ClientOnlySaveStructure saveStructure;
 	public final ClientNetworkState networkState = new ClientNetworkState();
 	
-	public final ExecutorService dhTickerThread = ThreadUtil.makeSingleThreadPool("Client World Ticker");
+	private final Timer clientTickTimer = TimerUtil.CreateTimer("ClientTickTimer");
-	public final EventLoop eventLoop = new EventLoop(this.dhTickerThread, this::_clientTick);
 	
 	
 	
@@ -59,6 +58,15 @@ public class DhClientWorld extends AbstractDhWorld implements IDhClientWorld
 		this.levels = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
 		
 		LOGGER.info("Started DhWorld of type " + this.environment);
+		
+		this.clientTickTimer.scheduleAtFixedRate(new TimerTask()
+		{
+			@Override
+			public void run()
+			{
+				DhClientWorld.this.levels.values().forEach(DhClientLevel::clientTick);
+			}
+		}, 0, IDhClientWorld.TICK_RATE_IN_MS);
 	}
 	
 	
@@ -127,11 +135,6 @@ public class DhClientWorld extends AbstractDhWorld implements IDhClientWorld
 		}
 	}
 	
-	private void _clientTick() { this.levels.values().forEach(DhClientLevel::clientTick); }
-	
-	@Override 
-	public void clientTick() { this.eventLoop.tick(); }
-	
 	@Override
 	public void addDebugMenuStringsToList(List<String> messageList)
 	{
@@ -143,7 +146,6 @@ public class DhClientWorld extends AbstractDhWorld implements IDhClientWorld
 	public void close()
 	{
 		this.networkState.close();
-		this.dhTickerThread.shutdownNow();
 		
 		ArrayList<CompletableFuture<Void>> closeFutures = new ArrayList<>();
 		for (DhClientLevel dhClientLevel : this.levels.values())
@@ -175,7 +177,7 @@ public class DhClientWorld extends AbstractDhWorld implements IDhClientWorld
 		}
 		
 		this.levels.clear();
-		this.eventLoop.close();
+		this.clientTickTimer.cancel();
 		LOGGER.info("Closed DhWorld of type [" + this.environment + "].");
 	}
 	

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

@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.ILevelWrapper;
 
 public interface IDhClientWorld extends IDhWorld
 {
-	void clientTick();
+	/** how long in between client ticks in milliseconds */
+	long TICK_RATE_IN_MS = 100L;
 	
 	default IDhClientLevel getOrLoadClientLevel(ILevelWrapper levelWrapper) { return (IDhClientLevel) this.getOrLoadLevel(levelWrapper); }
 	default IDhClientLevel getClientLevel(ILevelWrapper levelWrapper) { return (IDhClientLevel) this.getLevel(levelWrapper); }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/wrapperInterfaces/chunk/IChunkWrapper.java

@@ -126,8 +126,6 @@ public interface IChunkWrapper extends IBindable
 	
 	IBiomeWrapper getBiome(int relX, int relY, int relZ);
 	
-	boolean isStillValid();
-	
 	
 	
 	//========================//

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

@@ -32,33 +32,11 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.interfaces.dependencyInjection.IBindab
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.ILevelWrapper;
 import org.apache.logging.log4j.Level;
 
-/**
- * Contains everything related to the Minecraft object.
- *
- * @author James Seibel
- * @version 2022-8-20
- */
 public interface IMinecraftClientWrapper extends IBindable
 {
-	//================//
+	//======================//
-	// helper methods //
+	// multiplayer handling //
-	//================//
+	//======================//
-	
-	/**
-	 * This should be called at the beginning of every frame to
-	 * clear any Minecraft data that becomes out of date after a frame. <br> <br>
-	 * <p>
-	 * LightMaps and other time sensitive objects fall in this category. <br> <br>
-	 * <p>
-	 * This doesn't affect OpenGL objects in any way.
-	 */
-	void clearFrameObjectCache();
-	
-	//=================//
-	// method wrappers //
-	//=================//
-	
-	float getShade(EDhDirection lodDirection);
 	
 	boolean hasSinglePlayerServer();
 	boolean clientConnectedToDedicatedServer();
@@ -69,24 +47,26 @@ public interface IMinecraftClientWrapper extends IBindable
 	String getCurrentServerIp();
 	String getCurrentServerVersion();
 	
-	//=============//
+	
-	// Simple gets //
+	
-	//=============//
+	//=================//
+	// player handling //
+	//=================//
 	
 	boolean playerExists();
 	
-	UUID getPlayerUUID();
-	
-	String getUsername();
-	
-	// TODO returning null would be easier to understand but might make things harder to parse in some cases
 	/** @return (0,0,0) if no player is loaded */
 	DhBlockPos getPlayerBlockPos();
 	
-	// TODO returning null would be easier to understand but might make things harder to parse in some cases
 	/** @return (0,0) if no player is loaded */
 	DhChunkPos getPlayerChunkPos();
 	
+	
+	
+	//================//
+	// level handling //
+	//================//
+	
 	/**
 	 * Returns the level the client is currently in. <br>
 	 * Returns null if the client isn't in a level.
@@ -98,49 +78,37 @@ public interface IMinecraftClientWrapper extends IBindable
 	 */
 	IClientLevelWrapper getWrappedClientLevel(boolean bypassLevelKeyManager);
 	
-	IProfilerWrapper getProfiler();
 	
-	/** Returns all worlds available to the server */
+	
-	ArrayList<ILevelWrapper> getAllServerWorlds();
+	//===========//
+	// messaging //
+	//===========//
 	
 	void sendChatMessage(String string);
-	/** Will default to sending a chat message if not supported by the current MC version */
+	
+	/** 
+	 * Will default to sending a chat message if not supported by 
+	 * the current MC version (1.19.2 and older).
+	 */
 	void sendOverlayMessage(String string);
 	
-	/** Sends the given message to chat with a formatted prefix and color based on the log level. */
-	default void logToChat(Level logLevel, String message)
-	{
-		String prefix = "[" + ModInfo.READABLE_NAME + "] ";
-		if (logLevel == Level.ERROR)
-		{
-			prefix += "\u00A74";
-		}
-		else if (logLevel == Level.WARN)
-		{
-			prefix += "\u00A76";
-		}
-		else if (logLevel == Level.INFO)
-		{
-			prefix += "\u00A7f";
-		}
-		else if (logLevel == Level.DEBUG)
-		{
-			prefix += "\u00A77";
-		}
-		else if (logLevel == Level.TRACE)
-		{
-			prefix += "\u00A78";
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			prefix += "\u00A7f";
-		}
-		prefix += "\u00A7l\u00A7u";
-		prefix += logLevel.name();
-		prefix += ":\u00A7r ";
 	
-		this.sendChatMessage(prefix + message);
+	
-	}
+	//==========================//
+	// vanilla option overrides //
+	//==========================//
+	
+	void disableVanillaClouds();
+	
+	void disableVanillaChunkFadeIn();
+	
+	
+	
+	//======//
+	// misc //
+	//======//
+	
+	IProfilerWrapper getProfiler();
 	
 	/**
 	 * Crashes Minecraft, displaying the given errorMessage <br> <br>
@@ -150,15 +118,17 @@ public interface IMinecraftClientWrapper extends IBindable
 	 * Error: <strong>ExceptionClass: exceptionErrorMessage</strong>  <br>
 	 * Exit Code: -1  <br>
 	 */
-	void crashMinecraft(String errorMessage, Throwable exception); //FIXME: Move to IMinecraftSharedWrapper
+	void crashMinecraft(String errorMessage, Throwable exception);
 	
+	
+	
+	//=============//
+	// mod support //
+	//=============//
+	
+	/** used for Optifine */
 	Object getOptionsObject();
 	
-	/** 
+	
-	 * Executes the given task on Minecraft's render thread.
-	 * @deprecated use {@link GLProxy#runningOnRenderThread()} instead
-	 */
-	@Deprecated
-	void executeOnRenderThread(Runnable runnable);
 	
 }

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

@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft;
 
 import java.awt.Color;
 
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.EDhDirection;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.misc.ILightMapWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.interfaces.dependencyInjection.IBindable;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Vec3d;
@@ -46,8 +47,6 @@ public interface IMinecraftRenderWrapper extends IBindable
 	
 	Color getFogColor(float partialTicks);
 	
-	default Color getSpecialFogColor(float partialTicks) { return getFogColor(partialTicks); }
-	
 	/** Unless you really need to know if the player is blind, use {@link IMinecraftRenderWrapper#isFogStateSpecial()} instead */
 	boolean isFogStateSpecial();
 	
@@ -58,9 +57,6 @@ public interface IMinecraftRenderWrapper extends IBindable
 	/** Measured in chunks */
 	int getRenderDistance();
 	
-	int getScreenWidth();
-	int getScreenHeight();
-	
 	boolean mcRendersToFrameBuffer();
 	boolean runningLegacyOpenGL();
 	
@@ -82,5 +78,8 @@ public interface IMinecraftRenderWrapper extends IBindable
 	@Nullable
 	ILightMapWrapper getLightmapWrapper(@NotNull ILevelWrapper level);
 	
+	float getShade(EDhDirection lodDirection);
+	
+	
 	
 }

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

@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.interfaces.dependencyInjection.IBindab
 
 import java.io.File;
 
-//TODO: Maybe have IMCClientWrapper & IMCDedicatedWrapper extend this interface???
 public interface IMinecraftSharedWrapper extends IBindable
 {
 	boolean isDedicatedServer();
@@ -32,6 +31,6 @@ public interface IMinecraftSharedWrapper extends IBindable
 	
 	int getPlayerCount();
 	
-	void setPreventAutoPause(boolean preventAutoPause);
+	
 	
 }

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

@@ -79,58 +79,6 @@ public abstract class AbstractOptifineAccessor implements IOptifineAccessor
 	// interface methods //
 	//===================//
 	
-	//@Override
-	@Deprecated
-	public EDhApiFogDrawMode getFogDrawMode()
-	{
-		if (this.ofFogField == null)
-		{
-			// either optifine isn't installed,
-			// the variable name was changed, or
-			// the setup method wasn't called yet.
-			return EDhApiFogDrawMode.FOG_ENABLED;
-		}
-
-		int returnNum = 0;
-
-		try
-		{
-			returnNum = (int) this.ofFogField.get(this.mcOptionsObject);
-		}
-		catch (IllegalArgumentException | IllegalAccessException e)
-		{
-			LOGGER.error("Unable to get project fog draw mode from Optifine, error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
-		}
-
-		switch (returnNum)
-		{
-			default:
-			case 0: // optifine's "default" option,
-				// it should never be used, so default to fog Enabled
-
-				// normal options
-			case 1: // fast
-			case 2: // fancy
-				return EDhApiFogDrawMode.FOG_ENABLED;
-			case 3: // off
-				return EDhApiFogDrawMode.FOG_DISABLED;
-		}
-	}
-	
-	@Override
-	public double getRenderResolutionMultiplier()
-	{
-		/*
-		 * TODO remove comment when done, this is just here as reference
-		 * Returns the percentage multiplier of the screen's current resolution. <br>
-		 * 1.0 = 100% <br>
-		 * 1.5 = 150% <br>
-		 */
-		
-		// TODO
-		return 1.0;
-	}
-	
 	
 	public boolean getIsShaderActive()
 	{

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

@@ -27,11 +27,4 @@ import java.util.HashSet;
 public interface IOptifineAccessor extends IModAccessor
 {
 	
-	/**
-	 * Returns the percentage multiplier of the screen's current resolution. <br>
-	 * 1.0 = 100% <br>
-	 * 1.5 = 150% <br>
-	 */
-	double getRenderResolutionMultiplier();
-	
 }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/wrapperInterfaces/world/ILevelWrapper.java

@@ -52,6 +52,10 @@ public interface ILevelWrapper extends IDhApiLevelWrapper, IBindable
 	@Override
 	IDimensionTypeWrapper getDimensionType();
 	
+	/**
+	 * Includes both the namespace and name. <br> 
+	 * example: "minecraft:overworld" 
+	 */
 	@Override
 	String getDimensionName();
 	

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

@@ -208,6 +208,10 @@
     "Blur Radius",
   "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.ssao.blurRadius.@tooltip":
     "The radius, measured in pixels, that blurring is calculated for the SSAO. \nHigher numbers will reduce banding at the cost of GPU performance.",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.ssao.fadeDistanceInBlocks":
+    "Fade Distance",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.ssao.fadeDistanceInBlocks.@tooltip":
+    "The distance in blocks from the camera where the SSAO will fade out to. \nThis is done to prevent banding and noise at extreme distances.",
 
 
 
@@ -385,6 +389,11 @@
   "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.culling.ignoredRenderCaveBlockCsv.@tooltip":
     "A comma separated list of block resource locations that shouldn't be rendered \nif they are in a 0 sky light underground area. \nNote: air is always included in this list.",
 
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.overrideVanillaGraphicsSettings":
+    "Override Vanilla Settings",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.overrideVanillaGraphicsSettings.@tooltip":
+    "If true some vanilla graphics settings will be automatically changed \nduring DH setup to provide a better experience. \n\nIE disabling vanilla clouds (which render on top of DH LODs), \nand chunk fading (DH already fades MC chunks).",
+    
 
 
   "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.experimental":
@@ -728,6 +737,8 @@
     "Show Slow World Gen Warnings",
   "distanthorizons.config.common.logging.warning.showModCompatibilityWarningsOnStartup":
     "Show Mod Compatibility Warnings",
+  "distanthorizons.config.common.logging.warning.logGarbageCollectorWarning":
+    "Log Garbage Collector Warning",
 
 
 
@@ -980,7 +991,7 @@
     "Uncompressed",
   "distanthorizons.config.enum.EDhApiDataCompressionMode.LZ4":
     "Fastest/Big - LZ4",
-  "distanthorizons.config.enum.EDhApiDataCompressionMode.Z_STD":
+  "distanthorizons.config.enum.EDhApiDataCompressionMode.Z_STD_BLOCK":
     "Fastest/Small - Z_STD - Block",
   "distanthorizons.config.enum.EDhApiDataCompressionMode.Z_STD_STREAM":
     "Fast/Small - Z_STD - Stream",

core/src/main/resources/shaders/ssao/ao.frag

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ uniform float uMinLight;
 uniform float uBias;
 uniform mat4 uInvProj;
 uniform mat4 uProj;
+uniform float uFadeDistanceInBlocks;
 
 const float EPSILON = 1.e-6;
 const float GOLDEN_ANGLE = 2.39996323;
@@ -99,16 +100,30 @@ void main()
     {
         vec3 viewPos = calcViewPosition(vec3(TexCoord, fragmentDepth));
         
-        #ifdef GL_ARB_derivative_control
+        // fading is done to prevent banding/noise
-        // Get higher precision derivatives when available
+        // at super far distance
-        vec3 viewNormal = cross(dFdxFine(viewPos.xyz), dFdyFine(viewPos.xyz));
+        float distanceFromCamera = length(viewPos);
-        #else
+        float fadeDistance = uFadeDistanceInBlocks;
-        vec3 viewNormal = cross(dFdx(viewPos.xyz), dFdy(viewPos.xyz));
+        if (distanceFromCamera < fadeDistance)
-        #endif
+        {
+            #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
 
-        viewNormal = normalize(viewNormal);
+            viewNormal = normalize(viewNormal);
+            occlusion = GetSpiralOcclusion(TexCoord, viewPos, viewNormal);
             
-        occlusion = GetSpiralOcclusion(TexCoord, viewPos, viewNormal);
+            // linearly fade with distance
+            occlusion *= (fadeDistance - distanceFromCamera) / fadeDistance;
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            // we're out of range, no need to do any SSAO calculations
+            occlusion = 0.0;
+        }
     }
     
     fragColor = vec4(vec3(1.0 - occlusion), 1.0);

core/src/main/resources/shaders/standard.vert

@@ -8,13 +8,12 @@ out vec4 vertexColor;
 out vec3 vertexWorldPos;
 out float vertexYPos;
 
-uniform bool uWhiteWorld;
+uniform bool uIsWhiteWorld;
 
 uniform mat4 uCombinedMatrix;
 uniform vec3 uModelOffset;
 uniform float uWorldYOffset;
 
-uniform int uWorldSkyLight;
 uniform sampler2D uLightMap;
 uniform float uMircoOffset;
 
@@ -57,7 +56,7 @@ void main()
 	float light = (float(lights/16u)+0.5) / 16.0;
 	vertexColor = vec4(texture(uLightMap, vec2(light, light2)).xyz, 1.0);
     
-    if (!uWhiteWorld)
+    if (!uIsWhiteWorld)
     {
         vertexColor *= color;
     }

core/src/test/java/tests/CompressionTest.java

@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.StringUtil;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.LongArrayList;
 //import org.apache.commons.compress.compressors.zstandard.ZstdCompressorOutputStream;
 import org.junit.Assert;
-import org.junit.Test;
 
 import java.io.*;
 
@@ -204,7 +203,7 @@ public class CompressionTest
 	public void Zstd() // middle of the road
 	{
 		String compressorName = "Zstd";
-		this.testCompressor(compressorName, EDhApiDataCompressionMode.Z_STD);
+		this.testCompressor(compressorName, EDhApiDataCompressionMode.Z_STD_BLOCK);
 	}
 	
 	//@Test

core/src/test/java/tests/DataSourceRepoTests.java

@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ public class DataSourceRepoTests
 								Assert.assertFalse(pooledDto.compressedWorldCompressionModeByteArray.isEmpty());
 								
 								try (FullDataSourceV2 dataSource = pooledDto.createUnitTestDataSource();
-									FullDataSourceV2DTO compressedDto = FullDataSourceV2DTO.CreateFromDataSource(dataSource, EDhApiDataCompressionMode.Z_STD))
+									FullDataSourceV2DTO compressedDto = FullDataSourceV2DTO.CreateFromDataSource(dataSource, EDhApiDataCompressionMode.Z_STD_BLOCK))
 								{
 									repo.save(compressedDto);