Add proof-of-concept dynamic fade

Done to fix a forge limitation where logos can't contain a file pathhttps://github.com/MinecraftForge/MinecraftForge/issues/7348

api/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/api/methods/events/sharedParameterObjects/DhApiRenderParam.java

@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiRenderPass;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.world.IDhApiLevelWrapper;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents.DhApiWorldLoadEvent;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.interfaces.IDhApiEventParam;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiMat4f;
 
@@ -27,7 +29,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiMat4f;
  * Contains information relevant to Distant Horizons and Minecraft rendering.
  *
  * @author James Seibel
- * @version 2024-1-31
+ * @version 2025-12-23
  * @since API 1.0.0
  */
 public class DhApiRenderParam implements IDhApiEventParam
@@ -61,6 +63,13 @@ public class DhApiRenderParam implements IDhApiEventParam
 	
 	public final int worldYOffset;
 	
+	/**
+	 * The level currently being rendered.
+	 * 
+	 * @since API 5.1.0 
+	 */
+	public final IDhApiLevelWrapper clientLevelWrapper;
+	
 	
 	
 	//==============//
@@ -70,12 +79,13 @@ public class DhApiRenderParam implements IDhApiEventParam
 	public DhApiRenderParam(DhApiRenderParam parent)
 	{
 		this(
-				parent.renderPass,
-				parent.partialTicks,
-				parent.nearClipPlane, parent.farClipPlane,
-				parent.mcProjectionMatrix.copy(), parent.mcModelViewMatrix.copy(),
-				parent.dhProjectionMatrix.copy(), parent.dhModelViewMatrix.copy(),
-				parent.worldYOffset
+			parent.renderPass,
+			parent.partialTicks,
+			parent.nearClipPlane, parent.farClipPlane,
+			parent.mcProjectionMatrix.copy(), parent.mcModelViewMatrix.copy(),
+			parent.dhProjectionMatrix.copy(), parent.dhModelViewMatrix.copy(),
+			parent.worldYOffset,
+			parent.clientLevelWrapper
 		);
 	}
 	public DhApiRenderParam(
@@ -84,7 +94,8 @@ public class DhApiRenderParam implements IDhApiEventParam
 			float nearClipPlane, float farClipPlane,
 			DhApiMat4f newMcProjectionMatrix, DhApiMat4f newMcModelViewMatrix,
 			DhApiMat4f newDhProjectionMatrix, DhApiMat4f newDhModelViewMatrix,
-			int worldYOffset
+			int worldYOffset,
+			IDhApiLevelWrapper clientLevelWrapper
 		)
 	{
 		this.renderPass = renderPass;
@@ -101,6 +112,7 @@ public class DhApiRenderParam implements IDhApiEventParam
 		this.dhModelViewMatrix = newDhModelViewMatrix;
 		
 		this.worldYOffset = worldYOffset;
+		this.clientLevelWrapper = clientLevelWrapper;
 		
 	}
 	

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

@@ -38,14 +38,14 @@ 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 = "2.4.3-b-dev";
+	public static final String VERSION = "2.4.6-b-dev";
 	/** Returns true if the current build is an unstable developer build, false otherwise. */
 	public static final boolean IS_DEV_BUILD = VERSION.toLowerCase().contains("dev");
 	
 	/** This version should only be updated when breaking changes are introduced to the DH API */
 	public static final int API_MAJOR_VERSION = 5;
 	/** This version should be updated whenever new methods are added to the DH API */
-	public static final int API_MINOR_VERSION = 0;
+	public static final int API_MINOR_VERSION = 1;
 	/** This version should be updated whenever non-breaking fixes are added to the DH API */
 	public static final int API_PATCH_VERSION = 0;
 	

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

@@ -20,7 +20,9 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core;
 
 import com.github.luben.zstd.ZstdOutputStream;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents.DhApiBeforeRenderEvent;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.eventHandlers.IgnoredDimensionCsvHandler;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.generic.GenericRenderObjectFactory;
@@ -171,6 +173,8 @@ public class Initializer
 			}
 		}
 		
+		DhApi.events.bind(DhApiBeforeRenderEvent.class, IgnoredDimensionCsvHandler.INSTANCE);
+		
 	}
 	
 }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/api/external/methods/config/client/DhApiFogConfig.java

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.config.client.IDhApiHeightFogCo
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.api.DhApiConfigValue;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.api.converters.ApiFogDrawModeConverter;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.api.converters.InvertedBoolConverter;
 
 public class DhApiFogConfig implements IDhApiFogConfig
 {
@@ -67,7 +68,7 @@ public class DhApiFogConfig implements IDhApiFogConfig
 	@Override
 	@Deprecated
 	public IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> disableVanillaFog()
-	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<>(Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Fog.disableVanillaFog); }
+	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<>(Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Fog.enableVanillaFog, new InvertedBoolConverter()); }
 	@Override
 	public IDhApiConfigValue<Boolean> enableVanillaFog()
 	{ return new DhApiConfigValue<>(Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Fog.enableVanillaFog); }

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

@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ 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.api.objects.DhApiResult;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.rendering.DhRenderState;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.MinecraftTextFormat;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.structure.ClientOnlySaveStructure;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.messages.MessageRegistry;
@@ -31,21 +33,21 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhChunkPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.DhApiRenderProxy;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.*;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.TimerUtil;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Mat4f;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.Pair;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.ThreadPoolUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.DependencyInjection.ApiEventInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.messages.AbstractNetworkMessage;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.session.NetworkSession;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiDebugRendering;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiRendererMode;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IServerKeyedClientLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.glObject.GLProxy;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.AbstractDhWorld;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.DhClientWorld;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.IDhClientWorld;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.chunk.IChunkWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IProfilerWrapper;
@@ -53,13 +55,23 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapp
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
+import org.joml.Matrix4f;
+import org.joml.Vector4f;
 import org.lwjgl.glfw.GLFW;
+import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL32;
+import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL46;
 
+import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
+import java.awt.*;
+import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
 import java.io.File;
-import java.lang.management.GarbageCollectorMXBean;
-import java.lang.management.ManagementFactory;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.text.NumberFormat;
 import java.util.*;
 import java.util.concurrent.LinkedBlockingQueue;
+import java.util.concurrent.RejectedExecutionException;
+import java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor;
+import java.util.function.Function;
 
 /**
  * This holds the methods that should be called
@@ -95,7 +107,6 @@ public class ClientApi
 	private boolean isDevBuildMessagePrinted = false;
 	private boolean lowMemoryWarningPrinted = false;
 	private boolean highVanillaRenderDistanceWarningPrinted = false;
-	private boolean g1GarbageCollectorWarningPrinted = false;
 	
 	private long lastStaticWarningMessageSentMsTime = 0L;
 	
@@ -156,10 +167,10 @@ public class ClientApi
 				
 				if (Config.Common.Logging.Warning.showReplayWarningOnStartup.get())
 				{
-					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("\u00A76" + "Distant Horizons: Replay detected." + "\u00A7r"); // gold color
+					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage(MinecraftTextFormat.ORANGE + "Distant Horizons: Replay detected." + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING);
 					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("DH may behave strangely or have missing functionality.");
 					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("In order to use pre-generated LODs, put your DH database(s) in:");
-					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("\u00A77"+".Minecraft" + File.separator + ClientOnlySaveStructure.SERVER_DATA_FOLDER_NAME + File.separator + ClientOnlySaveStructure.REPLAY_SERVER_FOLDER_NAME + File.separator + "DIMENSION_NAME"+"\u00A7r"); // light gray color
+					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage(MinecraftTextFormat.GRAY +".Minecraft" + File.separator + ClientOnlySaveStructure.SERVER_DATA_FOLDER_NAME + File.separator + ClientOnlySaveStructure.REPLAY_SERVER_FOLDER_NAME + File.separator + "DIMENSION_NAME"+ MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING);
 					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("This can be disabled in DH's config under Advanced -> Logging.");
 					MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("");
 				}
@@ -245,7 +256,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 		}
 	}
 	
-	public void clientLevelLoadEvent(IClientLevelWrapper levelWrapper)
+	public void clientLevelLoadEvent(@Nullable IClientLevelWrapper levelWrapper)
 	{
 		// wait a moment before loading the level to give the server a chance to handle the client's login request
 		if (MC_CLIENT.clientConnectedToDedicatedServer())
@@ -332,10 +343,27 @@ public class ClientApi
 	 */
 	public void pluginMessageReceived(@NotNull AbstractNetworkMessage message)
 	{
-		NetworkSession networkSession = this.pluginChannelApi.networkSession;
-		if (networkSession != null)
+		@Nullable ThreadPoolExecutor executor = ThreadPoolUtil.networkClientHandlerExecutor();
+		if (executor == null)
 		{
-			networkSession.tryHandleMessage(message);
+			LOGGER.warn("warn");
+			return;
+		}
+		
+		try
+		{
+			executor.execute(() ->
+			{
+				NetworkSession networkSession = this.pluginChannelApi.networkSession;
+				if (networkSession != null)
+				{
+					networkSession.tryHandleMessage(message);
+				}
+			});
+		}
+		catch (RejectedExecutionException e)
+		{
+			LOGGER.warn("Plugin message executor rejected");
 		}
 	}
 	
@@ -511,10 +539,10 @@ public class ClientApi
 			this.rendererDisabledBecauseOfExceptions = true;
 			LOGGER.error("Unexpected Renderer error in render pass [" + renderPass + "]. Error: " + e.getMessage(), e);
 			
-			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("\u00A74\u00A7l\u00A7uERROR: Distant Horizons renderer has encountered an exception!");
-			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("\u00A74Renderer disabled to try preventing GL state corruption.");
-			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("\u00A74Toggle DH rendering via the config UI to re-activate DH rendering.");
-			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("\u00A74Error: " + e);
+			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage(MinecraftTextFormat.DARK_RED + "" + MinecraftTextFormat.BOLD + "ERROR: Distant Horizons renderer has encountered an exception!" + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING);
+			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage(MinecraftTextFormat.DARK_RED + "Renderer disabled to try preventing GL state corruption." + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING);
+			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage(MinecraftTextFormat.DARK_RED + "Toggle DH rendering via the config UI to re-activate DH rendering." + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING);
+			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage(MinecraftTextFormat.DARK_RED + "Error: " + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING + e);
 		}
 		
 		
@@ -533,8 +561,11 @@ public class ClientApi
 	 * The first fade pass.
 	 * Called after MC finishes rendering the opaque passes. 
 	 */
-	public void renderFadeOpaque()
+	public void renderFadeOpaque() // TODO this is actually the transparent pass
 	{
+		DepthCalculator.INSTANCE.getMcTransparentDepthTexture();
+		DepthCalculator.INSTANCE.tryCalculateAsync();
+		
 		// only fade when DH is rendering
 		if (Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.rendererMode.get() == EDhApiRendererMode.DEFAULT
 			&&
@@ -555,8 +586,10 @@ public class ClientApi
 	 * Called after MC finishes rendering both opaque
 	 * and transparent passes. 
 	 */
-	public void renderFadeTransparent()
+	public void renderFadeTransparent() // TODO this is actually the opaque pass
 	{
+		DepthCalculator.INSTANCE.getMcOpaqueDepthTexture();
+		
 		// only fade when DH is rendering
 		if (Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.rendererMode.get() == EDhApiRendererMode.DEFAULT)
 		{
@@ -585,27 +618,30 @@ public class ClientApi
 	/** Trigger once on key press, with CLIENT PLAYER. */
 	public void keyPressedEvent(int glfwKey)
 	{
-		if (!Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.enableDebugKeybindings.get())
-		{
-			// keybindings are disabled
-			return;
-		}
+		//if (!Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.enableDebugKeybindings.get())
+		//{
+		//	// keybindings are disabled
+		//	return;
+		//}
 		
 		
 		if (glfwKey == GLFW.GLFW_KEY_F8)
 		{
-			Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.debugRendering.set(EDhApiDebugRendering.next(Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.debugRendering.get()));
-			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("F8: Set debug mode to " + Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.debugRendering.get());
+			DepthCalculator.INSTANCE.pause = true;
+			//Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.debugRendering.set(EDhApiDebugRendering.next(Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.debugRendering.get()));
+			//MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("F8: Set debug mode to " + Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.debugRendering.get());
 		}
 		else if (glfwKey == GLFW.GLFW_KEY_F6)
 		{
-			Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.rendererMode.set(EDhApiRendererMode.next(Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.rendererMode.get()));
-			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("F6: Set rendering to " + Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.rendererMode.get());
+			DepthCalculator.INSTANCE.pause = true;
+			//Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.rendererMode.set(EDhApiRendererMode.next(Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.rendererMode.get()));
+			//MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("F6: Set rendering to " + Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.rendererMode.get());
 		}
 		else if (glfwKey == GLFW.GLFW_KEY_P)
 		{
-			prefLoggerEnabled = !prefLoggerEnabled;
-			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("P: Debug Pref Logger is " + (prefLoggerEnabled ? "enabled" : "disabled"));
+			DepthCalculator.INSTANCE.pause = true;
+			//prefLoggerEnabled = !prefLoggerEnabled;
+			//MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage("P: Debug Pref Logger is " + (prefLoggerEnabled ? "enabled" : "disabled"));
 		}
 	}
 	
@@ -659,8 +695,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 			
 			// remind the user that this is a development build
 			String message =
-					// green text
-					"\u00A72" + "Distant Horizons: nightly/unstable build, version: [" + ModInfo.VERSION+"]." + "\u00A7r\n" +
+					MinecraftTextFormat.DARK_GREEN + "Distant Horizons: nightly/unstable build, version: [" + ModInfo.VERSION+"]." + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING + "\n" +
 							"Issues may occur with this version.\n" +
 							"Here be dragons!\n";
 			MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage(message);
@@ -684,7 +719,7 @@ public class ClientApi
 			{
 				String message =
 						// orange text		
-						"\u00A76" + "Distant Horizons: Low memory detected." + "\u00A7r \n" +
+						MinecraftTextFormat.ORANGE + "Distant Horizons: Low memory detected." + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING + "\n" +
 						"Stuttering or low FPS may occur. \n" +
 						"Please increase Minecraft's available memory to 4 GB or more. \n" +
 						"This warning can be disabled in DH's config under Advanced -> Logging. \n";
@@ -706,15 +741,13 @@ public class ClientApi
 				this.lastStaticWarningMessageSentMsTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
 				
 				String message =
-						// yellow text
-						"\u00A7e" + "Distant Horizons: High vanilla render distance detected." + "\u00A7r \n" +
-						"Using a high vanilla render distance uses a lot of CPU power \n" +
-						"and doesn't improve graphics much after about 12.\n" +
-						"Lowing your vanilla render distance will give you better FPS\n" +
-						"and reduce stuttering at a similar visual quality.\n" +
-						// gray text		
-						"\u00A77" + "A vanilla render distance of 8 is recommended." + "\u00A7r \n" +
-						"This message can be disabled in DH's config under Advanced -> Logging.\n";
+					MinecraftTextFormat.YELLOW + "Distant Horizons: High vanilla render distance detected." + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING + "\n" +
+					"Using a high vanilla render distance uses a lot of CPU power \n" +
+					"and doesn't improve graphics much after about 12.\n" +
+					"Lowering your vanilla render distance will give you better FPS\n" +
+					"and reduce stuttering at a similar visual quality.\n" +
+					MinecraftTextFormat.GRAY + "A vanilla render distance of 8 is recommended." + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING + "\n" +
+					"This message can be disabled in DH's config under Advanced -> Logging.\n";
 				MC_CLIENT.sendChatMessage(message);
 			}
 		}

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

@@ -82,15 +82,15 @@ public class ServerApi
 	// level events //
 	//==============//
 	
-	public void serverLevelLoadEvent(IServerLevelWrapper level)
+	public void serverLevelLoadEvent(IServerLevelWrapper levelWrapper)
 	{
-		LOGGER.debug("Server Level " + level + " loading");
+		LOGGER.debug("Server Level " + levelWrapper + " loading");
 		
 		AbstractDhWorld serverWorld = SharedApi.getAbstractDhWorld();
 		if (serverWorld != null)
 		{
-			serverWorld.getOrLoadLevel(level);
-			ApiEventInjector.INSTANCE.fireAllEvents(DhApiLevelLoadEvent.class, new DhApiLevelLoadEvent.EventParam(level));
+			serverWorld.getOrLoadLevel(levelWrapper);
+			ApiEventInjector.INSTANCE.fireAllEvents(DhApiLevelLoadEvent.class, new DhApiLevelLoadEvent.EventParam(levelWrapper));
 		}
 	}
 	public void serverLevelUnloadEvent(IServerLevelWrapper level)

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

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.Initializer;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.chunkUpdating.ChunkUpdateData;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.chunkUpdating.ChunkUpdateQueueManager;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.eventHandlers.IgnoredDimensionCsvHandler;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.DhLightingEngine;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.DhClientLevel;
@@ -184,12 +185,11 @@ public class SharedApi
 	public void chunkBlockChangedEvent(IChunkWrapper chunk, ILevelWrapper level) { this.applyChunkUpdate(chunk, level, true, false); }
 	public void chunkLoadEvent(IChunkWrapper chunk, ILevelWrapper level) { this.applyChunkUpdate(chunk, level, true, true); }
 	
-	//public void applyChunkUpdate(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, ILevelWrapper level, boolean canGetNeighboringChunks) { this.applyChunkUpdate(chunkWrapper, level, canGetNeighboringChunks, false); }
 	public void applyChunkUpdate(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, ILevelWrapper level, boolean canGetNeighboringChunks, boolean newlyLoaded)
 	{
-		//========================//
-		// world and level checks //
-		//========================//
+		//===================//
+		// validation checks //
+		//===================//
 		
 		if (chunkWrapper == null)
 		{
@@ -217,7 +217,6 @@ public class SharedApi
 			return;
 		}
 		
-		
 		// only continue if the level is loaded
 		IDhLevel dhLevel = dhWorld.getLevel(level);
 		if (dhLevel == null)
@@ -232,6 +231,7 @@ public class SharedApi
 			return;
 		}
 		
+		// ignore chunk updates if the network should handle them
 		if (dhLevel instanceof DhClientLevel)
 		{
 			if (!((DhClientLevel) dhLevel).shouldProcessChunkUpdate(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos()))
@@ -240,7 +240,14 @@ public class SharedApi
 			}
 		}
 		
-		// shoudln't normally happen, but just in case
+		// ignore chunk updates for non-rendered levels
+		String dimName = dhLevel.getLevelWrapper().getDimensionName();
+		if (IgnoredDimensionCsvHandler.INSTANCE.dimensionNameShouldBeIgnored(dimName))
+		{
+			return;
+		}
+		
+		// shouldn't normally happen, but just in case
 		if (CHUNK_UPDATE_QUEUE_MANAGER.contains(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos()))
 		{
 			// TODO this will prevent some LODs from updating across dimensions if multiple levels are loaded
@@ -248,94 +255,20 @@ public class SharedApi
 		}
 		
 		
-		
-		//===============================//
-		// update the necessary chunk(s) //
-		//===============================//
-		
-		if (!canGetNeighboringChunks)
-		{
-			// only update the center chunk
-			queueChunkUpdate(chunkWrapper, null, dhLevel, false);
-			return;
-		}
-		
-		
-		ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> neighboringChunkList = getNeighborChunkListForChunk(chunkWrapper, dhLevel);
-		
-		if (newlyLoaded)
-		{
-			// this means this chunkWrapper is a newly loaded chunk 
-			// which may be missing some neighboring chunk data
-			// because it is bordering the render distance
-			// thus, only the chunks neighboring this chunkWrapper will get updated
-			// because those are more likely to have their full neighboring chunk data
-			//TODO this does not prevent those neighboring chunks from updating
-			// this newly loaded chunk that were just skipped
-			// leading to occasional lighting issues
-			for (IChunkWrapper neighboringChunk : neighboringChunkList)
-			{
-				if (neighboringChunk == chunkWrapper)
-				{
-					continue;
-				}
-				
-				this.applyChunkUpdate(neighboringChunk, level, true, false);
-			}
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			// if not all neighboring chunk data is available, do not try to update
-			if (neighboringChunkList.size() < 9)
-			{
-				return;
-			}
-			
-			// update the center with any existing neighbour chunks. 
-			// this is done so lighting changes are propagated correctly
-			queueChunkUpdate(chunkWrapper, neighboringChunkList, dhLevel, true);
-		}
-	}
-	private static ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> getNeighborChunkListForChunk(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, IDhLevel dhLevel)
-	{
-		// get the neighboring chunk list
-		ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> neighborChunkList = new ArrayList<>(9);
-		for (int xOffset = -1; xOffset <= 1; xOffset++)
-		{
-			for (int zOffset = -1; zOffset <= 1; zOffset++)
-			{
-				if (xOffset == 0 && zOffset == 0)
-				{
-					// center chunk
-					neighborChunkList.add(chunkWrapper);
-				}
-				else
-				{
-					// neighboring chunk 
-					DhChunkPos neighborPos = new DhChunkPos(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos().getX() + xOffset, chunkWrapper.getChunkPos().getZ() + zOffset);
-					IChunkWrapper neighborChunk = dhLevel.getLevelWrapper().tryGetChunk(neighborPos);
-					if (neighborChunk != null)
-					{
-						neighborChunkList.add(neighborChunk);
-					}
-				}
-			}
-		}
-		return neighborChunkList;
+		queueChunkUpdate(chunkWrapper, dhLevel);
 	}
 	
-	private static void queueChunkUpdate(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, @Nullable ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> neighborChunkList, IDhLevel dhLevel, boolean canGetNeighboringChunks)
+	private static void queueChunkUpdate(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, IDhLevel dhLevel)
 	{
-				
 		// return if the chunk is already queued
 		if (CHUNK_UPDATE_QUEUE_MANAGER.contains(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos()))
 		{
 			return;
 		}
-			
+		
 		
 		// add chunk update data to preUpdate queue
-		ChunkUpdateData updateData = new ChunkUpdateData(chunkWrapper, neighborChunkList, dhLevel, canGetNeighboringChunks);
+		ChunkUpdateData updateData = new ChunkUpdateData(chunkWrapper, dhLevel);
 		CHUNK_UPDATE_QUEUE_MANAGER.addItemToPreUpdateQueue(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos(), updateData);
 		
 		
@@ -343,7 +276,8 @@ public class SharedApi
 		// (this prevents doing extra work queuing tasks that may not be necessary)
 		// and makes sure the chunks closest to the player are updated first
 		PriorityTaskPicker.Executor executor = ThreadPoolUtil.getChunkToLodBuilderExecutor();
-		if (executor != null && executor.getQueueSize() < executor.getPoolSize())
+		if (executor != null
+			&& executor.getQueueSize() < executor.getPoolSize())
 		{
 			try
 			{
@@ -383,10 +317,7 @@ public class SharedApi
 		// update the necessary chunk(s) //
 		//===============================//
 		
-		// process preUpdate queue
 		processQueuedChunkPreUpdate();
-		
-		// process update queue
 		processQueuedChunkUpdate();
 		
 		// queue the next position if there are still positions to process
@@ -415,8 +346,7 @@ public class SharedApi
 		
 		IDhLevel dhLevel = preUpdateData.dhLevel;
 		IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper = preUpdateData.chunkWrapper;
-		boolean canGetNeighboringChunks = preUpdateData.canGetNeighboringChunks;
-		ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> neighborChunkList = preUpdateData.neighborChunkList;
+		chunkWrapper.createDhHeightMaps();
 		
 		try
 		{
@@ -433,34 +363,6 @@ public class SharedApi
 					// do not update the chunk if the hash is the same
 					return;
 				}
-				
-				// if this chunk will update and can get neighbors
-				// then queue neighboring chunks to update as well
-				// neighboring chunk will get added directly to the update queue
-				// so they won't queue further chunk updates
-				if (neighborChunkList != null 
-					&& !neighborChunkList.isEmpty())
-				{
-					for (IChunkWrapper adjacentChunk : neighborChunkList)
-					{
-						// pulling a new chunkWrapper is necessary to prevent concurrent modification on the existing chunkWrappers
-						IChunkWrapper newCenterChunk = dhLevel.getLevelWrapper().tryGetChunk(adjacentChunk.getChunkPos());
-						if (newCenterChunk != null)
-						{
-							ChunkUpdateData newUpdateData;
-							if (canGetNeighboringChunks)
-							{
-								newUpdateData = new ChunkUpdateData(newCenterChunk, getNeighborChunkListForChunk(newCenterChunk, dhLevel), dhLevel, true);
-							}
-							else
-							{
-								newUpdateData = new ChunkUpdateData(newCenterChunk, null, dhLevel, false);
-							}
-							
-							CHUNK_UPDATE_QUEUE_MANAGER.addItemToUpdateQueue(newCenterChunk.getChunkPos(), newUpdateData);
-						}
-					}
-				}
 			}
 			
 			CHUNK_UPDATE_QUEUE_MANAGER.addItemToUpdateQueue(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos(), preUpdateData);
@@ -473,8 +375,6 @@ public class SharedApi
 	
 	private static void processQueuedChunkUpdate()
 	{
-		//LOGGER.trace(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos() + " " + executor.getActiveCount() + " / " + executor.getQueue().size() + " - " + executor.getCompletedTaskCount());
-		
 		ChunkUpdateData updateData = CHUNK_UPDATE_QUEUE_MANAGER.updateQueue.popClosest();
 		if (updateData == null)
 		{
@@ -484,15 +384,11 @@ public class SharedApi
 		IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper = updateData.chunkWrapper;
 		IDhLevel dhLevel = updateData.dhLevel;
 		ILevelWrapper levelWrapper = dhLevel.getLevelWrapper();
-		// having a list of the nearby chunks is needed for lighting and beacon generation
-		@Nullable ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> nearbyChunkList = updateData.neighborChunkList; 
 		
-		// a non-null list is needed for the lighting engine
-		if (nearbyChunkList == null)
-		{
-			nearbyChunkList = new ArrayList<IChunkWrapper>();
-			nearbyChunkList.add(chunkWrapper);
-		}
+		// having a list of the nearby chunks is needed for lighting and beacon generation
+		ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> nearbyChunkList  = tryGetNeighborChunkListForChunk(chunkWrapper);
+		
+		
 		
 		try
 		{
@@ -508,6 +404,35 @@ public class SharedApi
 		{
 			LOGGER.error("Unexpected error when updating chunk at pos: [" + chunkWrapper.getChunkPos() + "]", e);
 		}
+		
+		CHUNK_UPDATE_QUEUE_MANAGER.queuedChunkWrapperByChunkPos.remove(updateData.chunkWrapper.getChunkPos());
+	}
+	private static ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> tryGetNeighborChunkListForChunk(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper)
+	{
+		// get the neighboring chunk list
+		ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> neighborChunkList = new ArrayList<>(9);
+		for (int xOffset = -1; xOffset <= 1; xOffset++)
+		{
+			for (int zOffset = -1; zOffset <= 1; zOffset++)
+			{
+				if (xOffset == 0 && zOffset == 0)
+				{
+					// center chunk
+					neighborChunkList.add(chunkWrapper);
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					// neighboring chunk 
+					DhChunkPos neighborPos = new DhChunkPos(chunkWrapper.getChunkPos().getX() + xOffset, chunkWrapper.getChunkPos().getZ() + zOffset);
+					IChunkWrapper neighborChunk = CHUNK_UPDATE_QUEUE_MANAGER.tryGetChunk(neighborPos);
+					if (neighborChunk != null)
+					{
+						neighborChunkList.add(neighborChunk);
+					}
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		return neighborChunkList;
 	}
 	
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/api/internal/chunkUpdating/ChunkPosQueue.java

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.chunkUpdating;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.SharedApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhChunkPos;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
 import java.util.Comparator;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
@@ -105,6 +106,7 @@ public class ChunkPosQueue
 		this.furthestQueue.remove(closest);
 		return this.updateDataByChunkPos.remove(closest);
 	}
+	@Nullable
 	public ChunkUpdateData popFurthest()
 	{
 		if (this.furthestQueue.isEmpty())

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/api/internal/chunkUpdating/ChunkUpdateData.java

@@ -9,18 +9,13 @@ import java.util.ArrayList;
 public class ChunkUpdateData
 {
 	public IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper;
-	@Nullable
-	public ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> neighborChunkList;
 	public IDhLevel dhLevel;
-	public boolean canGetNeighboringChunks;
 	
 	
 	
-	public ChunkUpdateData(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, @Nullable ArrayList<IChunkWrapper> neighborChunkList, IDhLevel dhLevel, boolean canGetNeighborChunks)
+	public ChunkUpdateData(IChunkWrapper chunkWrapper, IDhLevel dhLevel)
 	{
 		this.chunkWrapper = chunkWrapper;
-		this.neighborChunkList = neighborChunkList;
 		this.dhLevel = dhLevel;
-		this.canGetNeighboringChunks = canGetNeighborChunks;
 	}
 }

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/api/internal/chunkUpdating/ChunkUpdateQueueManager.java

@@ -1,16 +1,22 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.chunkUpdating;
 
+import com.google.common.cache.CacheBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.ClientApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.SharedApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.MinecraftTextFormat;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhChunkPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.EWorldEnvironment;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.chunk.IChunkWrapper;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
 import java.util.Collections;
 import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentMap;
+import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
 
 public class ChunkUpdateQueueManager
 {
@@ -21,6 +27,12 @@ public class ChunkUpdateQueueManager
 	public final ChunkPosQueue preUpdateQueue;
 	public final Set<DhChunkPos> ignoredChunkPosSet = Collections.newSetFromMap(new ConcurrentHashMap<>());
 	
+	public final ConcurrentMap<DhChunkPos, IChunkWrapper> queuedChunkWrapperByChunkPos = CacheBuilder.newBuilder()
+		.expireAfterWrite(20, TimeUnit.SECONDS)
+		.<DhChunkPos, IChunkWrapper>build()
+		.asMap();
+	
+	/** dynamically changes based on the number of threads currently available */
 	public int maxSize = 500;
 	
 	private static long lastOverloadedLogMessageMsTime = 0;
@@ -68,22 +80,27 @@ public class ChunkUpdateQueueManager
 	 * If there are no more slots, replaces the item furthest from the center in the update queue.
 	 */
 	public void addItemToPreUpdateQueue(DhChunkPos pos, ChunkUpdateData updateData)
+	{ this.addItemToQueue(pos, updateData, this.preUpdateQueue); }
+	
+	public void addItemToUpdateQueue(DhChunkPos pos, ChunkUpdateData updateData)
+	{ this.addItemToQueue(pos, updateData, this.updateQueue); }
+	
+	private void addItemToQueue(DhChunkPos pos, ChunkUpdateData updateData, ChunkPosQueue queue)
 	{
 		int remainingSlots = this.maxSize - this.getQueuedCount();
 		
 		// If no slots are left, get one by removing the item furthest from the center
 		if (remainingSlots <= 0)
 		{
-			if (!this.updateQueue.isEmpty())
+			ChunkUpdateData removedData = queue.popFurthest();
+			if (removedData != null)
 			{
-				this.updateQueue.popFurthest();
-			}
-			else
-			{
-				this.preUpdateQueue.popFurthest();
+				this.queuedChunkWrapperByChunkPos.remove(removedData.chunkWrapper.getChunkPos());
 			}
 		}
-		this.preUpdateQueue.addItem(pos, updateData);
+		
+		queue.addItem(pos,updateData);
+		this.queuedChunkWrapperByChunkPos.putIfAbsent(pos, updateData.chunkWrapper);
 		
 		remainingSlots = this.maxSize - this.getQueuedCount();
 		if (remainingSlots <= 0)
@@ -92,24 +109,6 @@ public class ChunkUpdateQueueManager
 		}
 	}
 	
-	public void addItemToUpdateQueue(DhChunkPos pos, ChunkUpdateData updateData)
-	{
-		int remainingSlots = this.maxSize - this.getQueuedCount();
-		
-		// If no slots are left, get one by removing the item furthest from the center
-		if (remainingSlots <= 0)
-		{
-			this.updateQueue.popFurthest();
-		}
-		
-		this.updateQueue.addItem(pos,updateData);
-		
-		remainingSlots = this.maxSize - this.getQueuedCount();
-		if (remainingSlots <= 0)
-		{
-			this.sendOverloadMessage();
-		}
-	}
 	
 	private void sendOverloadMessage()
 	{
@@ -119,7 +118,7 @@ public class ChunkUpdateQueueManager
 		{
 			lastOverloadedLogMessageMsTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
 			
-			String message = "\u00A76" + "Distant Horizons overloaded, too many chunks queued for LOD processing. " + "\u00A7r" +
+			String message = MinecraftTextFormat.ORANGE + "Distant Horizons overloaded, too many chunks queued for LOD processing. " + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING +
 					"\nThis may result in holes in your LODs. " +
 					"\nFix: move through the world slower, decrease your vanilla render distance, slow down your world pre-generator (IE Chunky), or increase the Distant Horizons' CPU thread counts. " +
 					"\nMax queue count [" + SharedApi.CHUNK_UPDATE_QUEUE_MANAGER.maxSize + "] ([" + SharedApi.MAX_UPDATING_CHUNK_COUNT_PER_THREAD_AND_PLAYER + "] per thread+players).";
@@ -140,6 +139,26 @@ public class ChunkUpdateQueueManager
 		}
 	}
 	
+	/** 
+	 * Tries to return a cloned chunk wrapper from memory.
+	 * Returns null if no chunk is available.
+	 * <br><br>
+	 * This is done instead of accessing the MC level since
+	 * accessing the level often requires running on the render or server
+	 * thread, which causes stuttering.
+	 */
+	@Nullable
+	public IChunkWrapper tryGetChunk(DhChunkPos pos)
+	{
+		IChunkWrapper existingWrapper = this.queuedChunkWrapperByChunkPos.get(pos);
+		if (existingWrapper == null)
+		{
+			return null;
+		}
+	
+		return existingWrapper.copy();
+	}
+	
 	
 	
 	//=========//

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

@@ -118,6 +118,20 @@ public class Config
 		
 		
 		
+		public static ConfigEntry<Boolean> dynamicFadeUseOpaqueMcDepth = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Boolean>()
+			.set(true)
+			.comment(""
+				+ "")
+			.build();
+		
+		public static ConfigEntry<String> dynamicFadeExportPath = new ConfigEntry.Builder<String>()
+			.set("C:/Users/James_Seibel/Desktop/")
+			.comment(""
+				+ "")
+			.build();
+		
+		
+		
 		public static class Advanced
 		{
 			// common config links need to have their destination
@@ -457,6 +471,15 @@ public class Config
 									+ "")
 							.build();
 					
+					public static ConfigEntry<Boolean> expandDistantBeacons = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Boolean>()
+						.set(true) 
+						.comment(""
+							+ "If true LOD beacon beams will be rendered wider at extreme distances, \n"
+							+ "making them easier to see. \n"
+							+ "If false all LOD beacon beams will only ever be 1 block wide. \n"
+							+ "")
+						.build();
+					
 					public static ConfigEntry<Boolean> enableCloudRendering = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Boolean>()
 							.set(true)
 							.comment(""
@@ -505,11 +528,6 @@ public class Config
 									+ "Note: Other mods may conflict with this setting. \n"
 									+ "")
 							.build();
-					@Deprecated
-					public static ConfigEntry<Boolean> disableVanillaFog = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Boolean>()
-							.set(!enableVanillaFog.get())
-							.setAppearance(EConfigEntryAppearance.ONLY_IN_API)
-							.build();
 					
 					
 					
@@ -571,14 +589,6 @@ public class Config
 					
 					
 					
-					static
-					{
-						disableVanillaFog.addListener(
-								new ConfigChangeListener<Boolean>(disableVanillaFog,
-								(disableVanillaFog) -> enableVanillaFog.setApiValue(disableVanillaFog))
-						);
-					}
-					
 					public static class HeightFog
 					{
 						public static ConfigUIComment heightFogHeader = new ConfigUIComment.Builder().setParentConfigClass(HeightFog.class).build();
@@ -846,7 +856,7 @@ public class Config
 					public static ConfigUIComment experimentalHeader = new ConfigUIComment.Builder().setParentConfigClass(Experimental.class).build();
 					
 					public static ConfigEntry<Integer> earthCurveRatio = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Integer>()
-							.setMinDefaultMax(0, 0, 5000)
+							.setMinDefaultMax(-5000, 0, 5000)
 							.comment(""
 									+ "This is the earth size ratio when applying the curvature shader effect. \n"
 									+ "Note: Enabling this feature may cause rendering bugs. \n"
@@ -856,24 +866,26 @@ public class Config
 									+ "100 = 1 to 100 (63,710 blocks) \n"
 									+ "10000 = 1 to 10000 (637.1 blocks) \n"
 									+ "\n"
-									+ "Note: Due to current limitations, the min value is 50 \n"
+									+ "Note: Due to current limitations, the min value is ["+WorldCurvatureConfigEventHandler.MIN_VALID_CURVE_VALUE+"] \n"
 									+ "and the max value is 5000. Any values outside this range \n"
 									+ "will be set to 0 (disabled).")
 							.addListener(WorldCurvatureConfigEventHandler.INSTANCE)
 							.build();
 					
-					// TODO should be replaced with a better long-term solution
-					@Deprecated
-					public static ConfigEntry<Boolean> onlyLoadCenterLods = new ConfigEntry.Builder<Boolean>()
-							.set(false)
-							.comment(""
-									+ "For internal testing:\n"
-									+ "Skips loading adjacent LODs to significantly reduce load times (~5x)\n"
-									+ "but causes lighting on LOD borders to appear as full-bright\n"
-									+ "and other graphical bugs.\n"
-									+ "")
-							.addListener(ReloadLodsConfigEventHandler.DELAYED_INSTANCE)
-							.build();
+					public static ConfigEntry<String> ignoredDimensionCsv = new ConfigEntry.Builder<String>()
+						.set("")
+						.comment(""
+							+ "A comma separated list of dimension resource locations where DH won't render. \n"
+							+ "\n"
+							+ "Example: \"minecraft:the_nether,minecraft:the_end\"\n"
+							+ "\n"
+							+ "Note:\n"
+							+ "Some DH settings will be disabled and/or changed to improve \n"
+							+ "visuals when DH rendering is disabled. \n"
+							+ "")
+						.addListener(IgnoredDimensionCsvHandler.INSTANCE)
+						.build();
+					
 				}
 				
 			}
@@ -1422,7 +1434,7 @@ public class Config
 					.set(false)
 					// enabling this can be quite detrimental to performance,
 					// so hiding it in the config file should reduce people accidentally enabling it
-					.setAppearance(isRunningInDevEnvironment() ? EConfigEntryAppearance.ALL : EConfigEntryAppearance.ONLY_IN_FILE)
+					.setAppearance(EConfigEntryAppearance.ONLY_IN_FILE)
 					.comment(""
 							+ "Enabling this will drastically increase chunk processing time\n"
 							+ "and you may need to increase your CPU load to handle it.\n"
@@ -1603,6 +1615,14 @@ public class Config
 							+ "This can be useful for debugging.")
 					.build();
 			
+			public static ConfigEntry<EDhApiLoggerLevel> logConnectionConfigChangesToFile = new ConfigEntry.Builder<EDhApiLoggerLevel>()
+					.setChatCommandName("logging.logConnectionConfigChanges")
+					.set(EDhApiLoggerLevel.WARN)
+					.comment(""
+							+ "If enabled, config changes sent by the server will be logged. \n"
+							+ "")
+					.build();
+			
 			public static ConfigCategory warning = new ConfigCategory.Builder().set(Warning.class).build();
 			
 			
@@ -1865,6 +1885,8 @@ public class Config
 				ThreadPresetConfigEventHandler.INSTANCE.setUiOnlyConfigValues();
 				RenderQualityPresetConfigEventHandler.INSTANCE.setUiOnlyConfigValues();
 				QuickRenderToggleConfigEventHandler.INSTANCE.setUiOnlyConfigValues();
+				
+				IgnoredDimensionCsvHandler.INSTANCE.onConfigValueSet();
 			}
 			catch (Exception e)
 			{

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/config/api/converters/InvertedBoolConverter.java

@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+/*
+ *    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.config.api.converters;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiRendererMode;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.interfaces.config.IConverter;
+
+/**
+ * Used to support deprecated config options that may be identical
+ * in implementation but with the On/Off values flipped.
+ *
+ * @author James Seibel
+ * @version 2025-12-22
+ */
+public class InvertedBoolConverter implements IConverter<Boolean, Boolean>
+{
+	
+	@Override 
+	public Boolean convertToCoreType(Boolean core)
+	{ return !core; }
+	
+	@Override 
+	public Boolean convertToApiType(Boolean api)
+	{ return !api; }
+	
+}

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

@@ -0,0 +1,125 @@
+/*
+ *    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.config.eventHandlers;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.config.EDhApiMcRenderingFadeMode;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.abstractEvents.DhApiBeforeRenderEvent;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiCancelableEventParam;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiRenderParam;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.listeners.IConfigListener;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.StringUtil;
+
+public class IgnoredDimensionCsvHandler extends DhApiBeforeRenderEvent implements IConfigListener
+{
+	private static final DhLogger LOGGER = new DhLoggerBuilder().build();
+	
+	public static IgnoredDimensionCsvHandler INSTANCE = new IgnoredDimensionCsvHandler();
+	
+	private String[] dimensionNames = null;
+	
+	
+	
+	//=============//
+ 	// constructor //
+	//=============//
+	
+	/** private since we only ever need one handler at a time */
+	private IgnoredDimensionCsvHandler() { }
+	
+	
+	
+	//=================//
+	// config handling //
+	//=================//
+	
+	@Override
+	public void onConfigValueSet()
+	{
+		String ignoredDimensionCsvString = Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Experimental.ignoredDimensionCsv.get();
+		if (ignoredDimensionCsvString == null 
+			|| ignoredDimensionCsvString.isEmpty())
+		{
+			LOGGER.info("Dimension ignoring disabled, DH will render all dimensions.");
+			this.dimensionNames = null;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			try
+			{
+				this.dimensionNames = ignoredDimensionCsvString.split(",");
+				LOGGER.info("DH set to ignore dimensions: ["+ StringUtil.join(", ", this.dimensionNames)+"].");
+			}
+			catch (Exception e)
+			{
+				LOGGER.error("Failed to separate ignored dimensions from CSV string, error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
+				this.dimensionNames = null;
+			}
+		}
+		
+	}
+	
+	
+	
+	//===================//
+	// external handling //
+	//===================//
+	
+	@Override
+	public void beforeRender(DhApiCancelableEventParam<DhApiRenderParam> event)
+	{
+		String dimName = event.value.clientLevelWrapper.getDimensionName();
+		if (IgnoredDimensionCsvHandler.INSTANCE.dimensionNameShouldBeIgnored(dimName))
+		{
+			event.cancelEvent();
+			Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Fog.enableVanillaFog.setApiValue(true);
+			Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Quality.vanillaFadeMode.setApiValue(EDhApiMcRenderingFadeMode.NONE);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Fog.enableVanillaFog.setApiValue(null);
+			Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Quality.vanillaFadeMode.setApiValue(null);
+		}
+	}
+	
+	public boolean dimensionNameShouldBeIgnored(String dimName)
+	{
+		if (this.dimensionNames == null 
+			|| this.dimensionNames.length == 0)
+		{
+			return false;
+		}
+		
+		for (int i = 0; i < this.dimensionNames.length; i++)
+		{
+			String dimNameToIgnore = this.dimensionNames[i];
+			if (dimName.equalsIgnoreCase(dimNameToIgnore))
+			{
+				return true;
+			}
+		}
+		
+		return false;
+	}
+	
+	
+}

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

@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ public class WorldCurvatureConfigEventHandler implements IConfigListener
 {
 	public static WorldCurvatureConfigEventHandler INSTANCE = new WorldCurvatureConfigEventHandler();
 	
-	private static final int MIN_VALID_CURVE_VALUE = 50; 
+	public static final int MIN_VALID_CURVE_VALUE = 50; 
 	
 	
 	/** private since we only ever need one handler at a time */
@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@ public class WorldCurvatureConfigEventHandler implements IConfigListener
 			// shouldn't update the UI, otherwise we may end up fighting the user
 			Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Experimental.earthCurveRatio.set(MIN_VALID_CURVE_VALUE);
 		}
+		else if (curveRatio < 0 && curveRatio > -MIN_VALID_CURVE_VALUE)
+		{
+			// same as above, but in the negative direction
+			Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Experimental.earthCurveRatio.set(-MIN_VALID_CURVE_VALUE);
+		}
 		
 	}
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/dataObjects/fullData/sources/FullDataSourceV2.java

@@ -202,8 +202,9 @@ public class FullDataSourceV2
 	
 	public static FullDataSourceV2 createEmpty(long pos)
 	{
+		FullDataPointIdMap map = new FullDataPointIdMap(pos);
 		return new FullDataSourceV2(
-				pos, new FullDataPointIdMap(pos),
+				pos, map,
 				// data points, genSteps, and columnCompression are all null since
 				// nothing has been generated yet.
 				// Using the default value of all 0's is adequate

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

@@ -295,24 +295,21 @@ public class LodBufferContainer implements AutoCloseable
 	{
 		this.buffersUploaded = false;
 		
-		GLProxy.queueRunningOnRenderThread(() ->
+		for (GLVertexBuffer buffer : this.vbos)
 		{
-			for (GLVertexBuffer buffer : this.vbos)
+			if (buffer != null)
 			{
-				if (buffer != null)
-				{
-					buffer.destroyAsync();
-				}
+				buffer.destroyAsync();
 			}
-			
-			for (GLVertexBuffer buffer : this.vbosTransparent)
+		}
+		
+		for (GLVertexBuffer buffer : this.vbosTransparent)
+		{
+			if (buffer != null)
 			{
-				if (buffer != null)
-				{
-					buffer.destroyAsync();
-				}
+				buffer.destroyAsync();
 			}
-		});
+		}
 	}
 	
 }

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

@@ -372,10 +372,10 @@ public class LodQuadBuilder
 						if (quad.direction.axis.isHorizontal() || quad.direction == EDhDirection.DOWN)
 						{
 							if (this.grassSideRenderingMode == EDhApiGrassSideRendering.AS_DIRT
-									// if we want the color to fade, only apply the dirt color to the bottom vertices
-									|| (this.grassSideRenderingMode == EDhApiGrassSideRendering.FADE_TO_DIRT && quadBase[i][1] == 0)
-									// always render the bottom as dirt
-									|| quad.direction == EDhDirection.DOWN)
+								// if we want the color to fade, only apply the dirt color to the bottom vertices
+								|| (this.grassSideRenderingMode == EDhApiGrassSideRendering.FADE_TO_DIRT && quadBase[i][1] == 0)
+								// always render the bottom as dirt
+								|| quad.direction == EDhDirection.DOWN)
 							{
 								// for horizontal and bottom faces of grass blocks, use the  dirt color to
 								// prevent green cliff walls

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

@@ -1,12 +0,0 @@
-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/enums/MinecraftTextFormat.java

@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums;
+
+/**
+ * might be deprecated in the future? in that case we'll probably want a wrapper 
+ * function to handle colors for new MC versions
+ * <br><br>
+ * source: https://minecraft.wiki/w/Formatting_codes
+ */
+public class MinecraftTextFormat
+{
+	public static final String BLACK = "\u00A70";
+	public static final String DARK_BLUE = "\u00A71";
+	public static final String DARK_GREEN = "\u00A72";
+	public static final String DARK_AQUA = "\u00A73";
+	public static final String DARK_RED = "\u00A74";
+	public static final String DARK_PURPLE = "\u00A75";
+	public static final String ORANGE = "\u00A76";
+	public static final String GRAY = "\u00A77";
+	public static final String DARK_GRAY = "\u00A78";
+	public static final String BLUE = "\u00A79";
+	public static final String GREEN = "\u00A7a";
+	public static final String AQUA = "\u00A7b";
+	public static final String RED = "\u00A7c";
+	public static final String LIGHT_PURPLE = "\u00A7d";
+	public static final String YELLOW = "\u00A7e";
+	public static final String WHITE = "\u00A7f";
+	
+	public static final String OBFUSCATED = "\u00A7k";
+	public static final String BOLD = "\u00A7l";
+	public static final String STRIKETHROUGH = "\u00A7m";
+	public static final String UNDERLINE = "\u00A7n";
+	public static final String ITALIC = "\u00A7o";
+	public static final String CLEAR_FORMATTING = "\u00A7r";
+	
+}

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

@@ -96,7 +96,12 @@ public class DelayedFullDataSourceSaveCache implements AutoCloseable
 				// no data currently in the memory cache for this position
 				memoryDataSource = FullDataSourceV2.createEmpty(inputPos);
 				pair = new DataSourceSavedTimePair(memoryDataSource);
-				this.dataSourceByPosition.put(inputPos, pair);
+				DataSourceSavedTimePair oldPair = this.dataSourceByPosition.put(inputPos, pair);
+				if (oldPair != null)
+				{
+					// shouldn't happen, but just in case
+					this.handleDataSourceRemoval(oldPair.dataSource);
+				}
 			}
 			else
 			{

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

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.structure.ISaveStructure;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.DhLightingEngine;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.DataSourceRetrievalResult;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.ERetrievalResultState;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.PriorityTaskPicker;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.ThreadPoolUtil;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.bytes.ByteArrayList;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.LongArrayList;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
 import java.io.File;
@@ -115,37 +117,43 @@ public class GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider extends FullDataSourceProviderV2 im
 	// events //
 	//========//
 	
-	private void onWorldGenTaskComplete(DataSourceRetrievalResult genTaskResult, Throwable exception)
+	private void onWorldGenTaskComplete(@NotNull Long genPos, @Nullable DataSourceRetrievalResult genTaskResult, @Nullable Throwable exception)
 	{
-		if (exception != null)
+		try
 		{
-			// don't log shutdown exceptions
-			if (!ExceptionUtil.isInterruptOrReject(exception))
+			if (exception != null)
 			{
-				LOGGER.error("Uncaught Gen Task Exception at ["+genTaskResult.pos+"], error: ["+exception.getMessage()+"].", exception);
+				// don't log shutdown exceptions
+				if (!ExceptionUtil.isInterruptOrReject(exception))
+				{
+					LOGGER.error("Uncaught Gen Task Exception at [" + genPos + "], error: [" + exception.getMessage() + "].", exception);
+				}
+				return;
+			}
+			
+			Objects.requireNonNull(genTaskResult);
+			if (genTaskResult.state == ERetrievalResultState.SUCCESS)
+			{
+				LodUtil.assertTrue(genTaskResult.dataSource != null, "Successful retrieval object should have a datasource.");
+				
+				this.dataUpdater.updateDataSource(genTaskResult.dataSource);
+				this.fireOnGenPosSuccessListeners(genTaskResult.pos);
+				genTaskResult.dataSource.close();
+			}
+			else if (genTaskResult.state == ERetrievalResultState.REQUIRES_SPLITTING)
+			{
+				// task was split
+				LodUtil.assertTrue(genTaskResult.dataSource == null, "Split retrieval object should not have a datasource.");
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				// shouldn't happen, but just in case
+				LOGGER.warn("Unexpected gen Task state at: [" + DhSectionPos.toString(genTaskResult.pos) + "], state: [" + genTaskResult.state + "], datasource: NULL, exception: NULL.");
 			}
 		}
-		else if (genTaskResult.generatedDataSource != null)
+		catch (Exception e)
 		{
-			this.dataUpdater.updateDataSource(genTaskResult.generatedDataSource);
-			this.fireOnGenPosSuccessListeners(genTaskResult.pos);
-		}
-		else if (exception == null && !genTaskResult.success) // TODO use enum to check type
-		{
-			// task was split
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			// shouldn't happen, but just in case
-			// TODO is definitely happening
-			LOGGER.warn("Unexpected gen Task state at: [" + DhSectionPos.toString(genTaskResult.pos) + "], success: ["+genTaskResult.success+"], datasource: NULL, exception: NULL.");
-		}
-		
-		
-		// if the generation task was split up into smaller positions, add the on-complete event to them
-		for (CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult> siblingFuture : genTaskResult.childFutures)
-		{
-			siblingFuture.whenComplete((siblingGenTaskResult, siblingEx) -> this.onWorldGenTaskComplete(siblingGenTaskResult, siblingEx));
+			LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue during onWorldGenTaskComplete, error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
 		}
 	}
 	
@@ -268,12 +276,15 @@ public class GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider extends FullDataSourceProviderV2 im
 		
 		
 		int availableTaskSlots = maxWorldGenQueueCount - worldGenQueue.getWaitingTaskCount();
-		if (availableTaskSlots <= 0)
+		if (availableTaskSlots == 0)
+		{
+			return false;
+		}
+		else if (availableTaskSlots < 0)
 		{
-			//if (false)
 			if (pruneWaitingTasksAboveLimit)
 			{
-				AtomicInteger tasksToCancel = new AtomicInteger(-availableTaskSlots + 1);
+				AtomicInteger tasksToCancel = new AtomicInteger(availableTaskSlots * -1);
 				worldGenQueue.removeRetrievalRequestIf(taskPos -> tasksToCancel.getAndDecrement() > 0);
 			}
 			else
@@ -296,7 +307,7 @@ public class GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider extends FullDataSourceProviderV2 im
 		}
 		
 		CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult> worldGenFuture = worldGenQueue.submitRetrievalTask(genPos, (byte) (DhSectionPos.getDetailLevel(genPos) - DhSectionPos.SECTION_MINIMUM_DETAIL_LEVEL));
-		worldGenFuture.whenComplete(this::onWorldGenTaskComplete);
+		worldGenFuture.whenComplete((r, e) -> this.onWorldGenTaskComplete(genPos, r, e));
 		
 		return worldGenFuture;
 	}

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

@@ -23,11 +23,11 @@ import com.google.common.cache.CacheBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.fullData.sources.FullDataSourceV2;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.structure.ISaveStructure;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.DataSourceRetrievalResult;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.LodRequestModule;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.client.ENetRequestState;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.client.NetRequestResult;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.ERetrievalResultState;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.client.SyncOnLoadRequestQueue;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
@@ -105,20 +105,17 @@ public class RemoteFullDataSourceProvider extends GeneratedFullDataSourceProvide
 		if (timestamp != null)
 		{
 			this.syncOnLoadRequestQueue.submitRequest(pos, timestamp)
-				.thenAccept((NetRequestResult netRequestResult) ->
+				.thenAccept((DataSourceRetrievalResult result) ->
 				{
-					if (netRequestResult.state == ENetRequestState.SUCCESS)
+					if (result.state == ERetrievalResultState.SUCCESS
+						&& result.dataSource != null)
 					{
-						FullDataSourceV2 fullDataSource = netRequestResult.receivedDataSource;
-						if (fullDataSource != null)
-						{
-							this.updateDataSourceAsync(fullDataSource)
-								.handle((voidObj, throwable) -> 
-								{
-									fullDataSource.close();
-									return null;
-								});
-						}
+						this.updateDataSourceAsync(result.dataSource)
+							.handle((voidObj, throwable) ->
+							{
+								result.dataSource.close();
+								return null;
+							});
 					}
 				});
 		}

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/file/fullDatafile/V2/FullDataSourceProviderV2.java

@@ -200,9 +200,10 @@ public class FullDataSourceProviderV2 implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 				return FullDataSourceV2.createEmpty(pos);
 			}
 			
+			FullDataSourceV2 dataSource = null;
 			try
 			{
-				FullDataSourceV2 dataSource = this.createDataSourceFromDto(dto);
+				dataSource = this.createDataSourceFromDto(dto);
 				
 				// automatically create and save adjacent data if missing
 				if (dto.dataFormatVersion == FullDataSourceV2DTO.DATA_FORMAT.V1_NO_ADJACENT_DATA)
@@ -221,6 +222,15 @@ public class FullDataSourceProviderV2 implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 				this.tryLogCorruptedDataError(DhSectionPos.toString(pos), e);
 				this.repo.deleteWithKey(pos);
 			}
+			catch (Exception e)
+			{
+				if (dataSource != null)
+				{
+					dataSource.close();
+				}
+				
+				throw e;
+			}
 		}
 		catch (InterruptedException ignore) { }
 		catch (IOException e)
@@ -242,6 +252,11 @@ public class FullDataSourceProviderV2 implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		catch (Exception e)
 		{
 			String message = e.getMessage();
+			if (message == null)
+			{
+				message = "NULL";
+			}
+			
 			if (CORRUPT_DATA_ERRORS_LOGGED.add(message))
 			{
 				LOGGER.warn("Unexpected error getting: [" + DhSectionPos.toString(pos) + "], this error message will only be logged once, error: [" + message + "].", e);

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

@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ public class FullDataUpdatePropagatorV2 implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseab
 								parentLocked = true;
 								this.dataUpdater.lockedPosSet.add(parentUpdatePos);
 								
-								try (FullDataSourceV2 parentDataSource = this.provider.get(parentUpdatePos)) // TODO can we cache anything in memory to speed up the propagation process? Compression/Disk IO is by far the slowest part of this process
+								try (FullDataSourceV2 parentDataSource = this.provider.get(parentUpdatePos))
 								{
 									// will return null if the file handler is shutting down
 									if (parentDataSource != null)

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

@@ -7,7 +7,9 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.SharedApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.fullDatafile.GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.DataSourceRetrievalResult;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.ERetrievalResultState;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos2D;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.FormatUtil;
@@ -154,14 +156,16 @@ public class PregenManager
 					}
 					else
 					{
-						this.fullDataSourceProvider.queuePositionForRetrieval(fullDataSource.getPos()).thenAccept(result -> {
-							if (!result.success)
+						this.fullDataSourceProvider.queuePositionForRetrieval(fullDataSource.getPos())
+							.whenComplete((DataSourceRetrievalResult result, Throwable throwable) ->
 							{
-								LOGGER.warn("Failed to generate section " + DhSectionPos.toString(result.pos));
-							}
-							
-							this.pendingGenerations.invalidate(result.pos);
-						});
+								if (throwable != null)
+								{
+									LOGGER.warn("Failed to generate section " + DhSectionPos.toString(result.pos));
+								}
+								
+								this.pendingGenerations.invalidate(result.pos);
+							});
 					}
 					
 					fullDataSource.close();

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

@@ -1,13 +1,12 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.fullData.sources.FullDataSourceV2;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.DataSourceRetrievalResult;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.ERetrievalResultState;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.DhClientLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.client.AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.client.ClientNetworkState;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.client.NetRequestResult;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos2D;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.IDebugRenderable;
@@ -17,7 +16,6 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.objects.RollingAverage;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.ThreadPoolUtil;
 
-import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.concurrent.*;
 
 public class RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue extends AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDebugRenderable
@@ -59,90 +57,23 @@ public class RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue extends AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQue
 		long generationStartMsTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
 		
 		
-		CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult> returnFuture = new CompletableFuture<>();
-		
-		Executor worldGenExecutor = ThreadPoolUtil.getWorldGenExecutor();
-		if (worldGenExecutor == null)
+		CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult> future = super.submitRequest(sectionPos, /* client timestamp */null);
+		future.thenAccept((DataSourceRetrievalResult result) -> 
 		{
-			return CompletableFuture.completedFuture(DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateFail());
-		}
-		
-		CompletableFuture<NetRequestResult> netFuture = super.submitRequest(sectionPos, /* client timestamp */null);
-		netFuture.handle((NetRequestResult netResult, Throwable throwable) ->
-		{
-			try
+			if (result.state == ERetrievalResultState.SUCCESS)
 			{
-				if (throwable != null)
-				{
-					return DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateFail();
-				}
-				
 				long totalGenTimeInMs = System.currentTimeMillis() - generationStartMsTime;
-				
+
 				int chunkWidth = DhSectionPos.getChunkWidth(sectionPos);
 				int chunkCount = chunkWidth * chunkWidth;
 				double timePerChunk = (double) totalGenTimeInMs / (double) chunkCount;
-				
-				switch (netResult.state)
-				{
-					case SUCCESS:
-						// only add the time on successes
-						// it won't be a perfect estimate but fails will often come back faster, skewing the time faster
-						this.rollingAverageChunkGenTimeInMs.add(timePerChunk);
-						
-						return DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateSuccess(sectionPos, netResult.receivedDataSource);
-					case FAIL:
-						return DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateFail();
-					case REQUIRES_SPLITTING:
-						ArrayList<CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult>> childFutures = new ArrayList<>(4);
-						DhSectionPos.forEachChild(sectionPos, (long childPos) ->
-						{
-							boolean shouldGenerate;
-							try (FullDataSourceV2 fullDataSource = this.level.remoteDataSourceProvider.get(childPos))
-							{
-								if (fullDataSource != null)
-								{
-									shouldGenerate = !this.level.remoteDataSourceProvider.generationStepsAreFullyGenerated(fullDataSource.columnGenerationSteps);
-								}
-								else
-								{
-									shouldGenerate = true;
-								}
-							}
-							
-							if (shouldGenerate)
-							{
-								childFutures.add(this.submitRetrievalTask(childPos, requiredDataDetail));
-							}
-						});
-						return DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateSplit(childFutures);
-				}
-				
-				LodUtil.assertNotReach("Unexpected and unhandled request response result: [" + netResult.state + "]");
-				return DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateFail();
+
+				// only add the time on successes
+				// it won't be a perfect estimate but fails will often come back faster, skewing the time faster
+				this.rollingAverageChunkGenTimeInMs.add(timePerChunk);
 			}
-			catch (Exception e)
-			{
-				LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue in submitRetrievalTask returned future, error: ["+e.getMessage()+"]", e);
-				return DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateFail();
-			}
-		})
-		// convert the net result
-			.handleAsync((DataSourceRetrievalResult retrievalResult, Throwable throwable) ->
-		{
-			if (throwable != null)
-			{
-				returnFuture.completeExceptionally(throwable);
-			}
-			else
-			{
-				returnFuture.complete(retrievalResult);
-			}
-			
-			return null;
-		}, worldGenExecutor);
-		
-		return returnFuture;
+		});
+		return future;
 	}
 	
 	@Override
@@ -176,13 +107,13 @@ public class RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue extends AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQue
 		return DhSectionPos.getChebyshevSignedBlockDistance(sectionPos, targetPos) <= this.networkState.sessionConfig.getMaxGenerationRequestDistance() * 16;
 	}
 	@Override
-	protected boolean onBeforeRequest(long sectionPos, CompletableFuture<NetRequestResult> future)
+	protected boolean onBeforeRequest(long sectionPos, CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult> future)
 	{
 		// split up large requests if N-sized gen isn't enabled
 		if (!Config.Server.Experimental.enableNSizedGeneration.get()
 			&& DhSectionPos.getDetailLevel(sectionPos) > DhSectionPos.SECTION_MINIMUM_DETAIL_LEVEL)
 		{
-			future.complete(NetRequestResult.CreateSplit());
+			future.complete(DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateSplit());
 			return false;
 		}
 		

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

@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 	private int estimatedRemainingChunkCount = 0;
 	
 	private final RollingAverage rollingAverageChunkGenTimeInMs = new RollingAverage(Runtime.getRuntime().availableProcessors() * 500);
-	public RollingAverage getRollingAverageChunkGenTimeInMs() { return this.rollingAverageChunkGenTimeInMs; }
+	@Override public RollingAverage getRollingAverageChunkGenTimeInMs() { return this.rollingAverageChunkGenTimeInMs; }
 	
 	
 	
@@ -128,7 +128,9 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 		// the generator is shutting down, don't add new tasks
 		if (this.generatorClosingFuture != null)
 		{
-			return CompletableFuture.completedFuture(DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateFail());
+			CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult> f = new CompletableFuture<>();
+			f.completeExceptionally(new CancellationException());
+			return f;
 		}
 		
 		// use the existing task if present
@@ -316,22 +318,11 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 			// detail level is too high (if the detail level was too low, the generator would've ignored the request),
 			// split up the task
 			
-			
-			// split up the task and add each to the queue
-			ArrayList<CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult>> childFutures = new ArrayList<>(4);
-			DhSectionPos.forEachChild(closestTask.pos, (childDhSectionPos) ->
-			{
-				DataSourceRetrievalTask newGenTask = new DataSourceRetrievalTask(childDhSectionPos, DhSectionPos.getDetailLevel(childDhSectionPos));
-				childFutures.add(newGenTask.future);
-				this.waitingTasks.put(newGenTask.pos, newGenTask);
-			});
-			
-			// send the child futures to the future recipient, to notify them of the new tasks
-			closestTask.future.complete(DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateSplit(childFutures));
+			closestTask.future.complete(DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateSplit());
 		}
 		
 		
-		// a task has been started or queued
+		// a task has been started or queued,
 		// queue another task
 		return true;
 	}
@@ -360,7 +351,7 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 			this.rollingAverageChunkGenTimeInMs.add(timePerChunk);
 		});
 		
-		generationFuture.handle((fullDataSourceV2, exception) ->
+		generationFuture.handle((FullDataSourceV2 fullDataSource, Throwable exception) ->
 		{
 			try
 			{
@@ -372,13 +363,16 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 						LOGGER.error("Error generating data for pos: " + DhSectionPos.toString(taskPos), exception);
 					}
 					
-					worldGenTask.future.complete(DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateFail());
+					LodUtil.assertTrue(fullDataSource == null);
+					worldGenTask.future.completeExceptionally(exception);
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					boolean taskRemoved = this.inProgressGenTasksByLodPos.remove(taskPos, worldGenTask);
+					LodUtil.assertTrue(taskRemoved, "Unable to find in progress generator task with position ["+DhSectionPos.toString(taskPos)+"]");
+					
+					worldGenTask.future.complete(DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateSuccess(taskPos, fullDataSource));
 				}
-				
-				boolean worked = this.inProgressGenTasksByLodPos.remove(taskPos, worldGenTask);
-				LodUtil.assertTrue(worked, "Unable to find in progress generator task with position ["+DhSectionPos.toString(taskPos)+"]");
-				
-				worldGenTask.future.complete(DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateSuccess(taskPos, fullDataSourceV2));
 			}
 			catch (Exception e)
 			{
@@ -692,9 +686,10 @@ public class WorldGenerationQueue implements IFullDataSourceRetrievalQueue, IDeb
 					LOGGER.error("Error when terminating data generation for pos: ["+DhSectionPos.toString(genTask.pos)+"], error: ["+throwable.getMessage()+"].", throwable);
 				}
 				
-				if (result.generatedDataSource != null)
+				if (result != null 
+					&& result.dataSource != null)
 				{
-					result.generatedDataSource.close();
+					result.dataSource.close();
 				}
 				
 				return null;

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/generation/tasks/DataSourceRetrievalResult.java

@@ -22,23 +22,16 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.fullData.sources.FullDataSourceV2;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
-import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
-
 /**
  * @see DataSourceRetrievalTask
  */
 public class DataSourceRetrievalResult
 {
-	/** true if terrain was generated */
-	public final boolean success; // TODO reponse enum?
+	public final ERetrievalResultState state;
 	/** the position that was generated, will be null if nothing was generated */
 	public final long pos;
 	@Nullable
-	public final FullDataSourceV2 generatedDataSource;
-	
-	/** if a position is too high detail for world generator to handle it, these futures are for its 4 children positions after being split up. */
-	public final ArrayList<CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult>> childFutures = new ArrayList<>(4);
+	public final FullDataSourceV2 dataSource;
 	
 	
 	
@@ -46,19 +39,13 @@ public class DataSourceRetrievalResult
  	// constructors //
 	//==============//
 	
-	public static DataSourceRetrievalResult CreateSplit(ArrayList<CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult>> siblingFutures) { return new DataSourceRetrievalResult(false, 0, null, siblingFutures); }
-	public static DataSourceRetrievalResult CreateFail() { return new DataSourceRetrievalResult(false, 0, null,null); }
-	public static DataSourceRetrievalResult CreateSuccess(long pos, FullDataSourceV2 generatedDataSource) { return new DataSourceRetrievalResult(true, pos, generatedDataSource, null); }
-	private DataSourceRetrievalResult(boolean success, long pos, @Nullable FullDataSourceV2 generatedDataSource, ArrayList<CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult>> childFutures)
+	public static DataSourceRetrievalResult CreateSplit() { return new DataSourceRetrievalResult(ERetrievalResultState.REQUIRES_SPLITTING, 0, null); }
+	public static DataSourceRetrievalResult CreateSuccess(long pos, FullDataSourceV2 generatedDataSource) { return new DataSourceRetrievalResult(ERetrievalResultState.SUCCESS, pos, generatedDataSource); }
+	private DataSourceRetrievalResult(ERetrievalResultState state, long pos, @Nullable FullDataSourceV2 dataSource)
 	{
-		this.success = success;
+		this.state = state;
 		this.pos = pos;
-		this.generatedDataSource = generatedDataSource;
-		
-		if (childFutures != null)
-		{
-			this.childFutures.addAll(childFutures);
-		}
+		this.dataSource = dataSource;
 	}
 	
 	

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/generation/tasks/ERetrievalResultState.java

@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks;
+
+/**
+ * SUCCESS <br>
+ * REQUIRES_SPLITTING <br>
+ * 
+ * @see DataSourceRetrievalResult
+ */
+public enum ERetrievalResultState
+{
+	SUCCESS,
+	REQUIRES_SPLITTING,
+}

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

@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ public class JarUtils
 	 */
 	public static InputStream accessFile(String resource)
 	{
-		final ClassLoader loader = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
+		final ClassLoader loader = JarUtils.class.getClassLoader();
 		// this is the path within the jar file
 		InputStream input = loader.getResourceAsStream(resource);
 		if (input == null)

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

@@ -192,23 +192,30 @@ public abstract class AbstractDhLevel implements IDhLevel
 		return this.updateDataSourcesAsync(fullDataSource)
 			.thenRun(() -> 
 			{
-				HashSet<DhChunkPos> updatedChunkPosSet = this.updatedChunkPosSetBySectionPos.remove(fullDataSource.getPos());
-				if (updatedChunkPosSet != null)
+				try
 				{
-					for (DhChunkPos chunkPos : updatedChunkPosSet)
+					HashSet<DhChunkPos> updatedChunkPosSet = this.updatedChunkPosSetBySectionPos.remove(fullDataSource.getPos());
+					if (updatedChunkPosSet != null)
 					{
-						// save after the data source has been updated to prevent saving the hash without the associated datasource
-						Integer chunkHash = this.updatedChunkHashesByChunkPos.remove(chunkPos);
-						if (this.chunkHashRepo != null && chunkHash != null)
+						for (DhChunkPos chunkPos : updatedChunkPosSet)
 						{
-							this.chunkHashRepo.save(new ChunkHashDTO(chunkPos, chunkHash));
-						}
-						
-						ApiEventInjector.INSTANCE.fireAllEvents(
+							// save after the data source has been updated to prevent saving the hash without the associated datasource
+							Integer chunkHash = this.updatedChunkHashesByChunkPos.remove(chunkPos);
+							if (this.chunkHashRepo != null && chunkHash != null)
+							{
+								this.chunkHashRepo.save(new ChunkHashDTO(chunkPos, chunkHash));
+							}
+							
+							ApiEventInjector.INSTANCE.fireAllEvents(
 								DhApiChunkModifiedEvent.class,
 								new DhApiChunkModifiedEvent.EventParam(this.getLevelWrapper(), chunkPos.getX(), chunkPos.getZ()));
+						}
 					}
 				}
+				catch (Exception e)
+				{
+					LOGGER.error("Unexpected issue after onDataSourceSaveAsync, error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
+				}
 			});
 	}
 	

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

@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.listeners.IConfigListener;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.types.ConfigEntry;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.MinecraftTextFormat;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.ThreadUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
@@ -302,32 +303,32 @@ public class DhLogger implements IConfigListener
 		String prefix = "[" + ModInfo.READABLE_NAME + "] ";
 		if (logLevel == Level.ERROR)
 		{
-			prefix += "\u00A74";
+			prefix += MinecraftTextFormat.DARK_RED;
 		}
 		else if (logLevel == Level.WARN)
 		{
-			prefix += "\u00A76";
+			prefix += MinecraftTextFormat.ORANGE;
 		}
 		else if (logLevel == Level.INFO)
 		{
-			prefix += "\u00A7f";
+			prefix += MinecraftTextFormat.AQUA;
 		}
 		else if (logLevel == Level.DEBUG)
 		{
-			prefix += "\u00A77";
+			prefix += MinecraftTextFormat.GREEN;
 		}
 		else if (logLevel == Level.TRACE)
 		{
-			prefix += "\u00A78";
+			prefix += MinecraftTextFormat.DARK_GRAY;
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			prefix += "\u00A7f";
+			prefix += MinecraftTextFormat.WHITE;
 		}
 		
-		prefix += "\u00A7l\u00A7u";
+		prefix += MinecraftTextFormat.BOLD + "" + MinecraftTextFormat.WHITE;
 		prefix += logLevel.name();
-		prefix += ":\u00A7r ";
+		prefix += MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING + " ";
 		
 		mc_client.sendChatMessage(prefix + message);
 	}

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

@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.types.ConfigEntry;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.fullData.sources.FullDataSourceV2;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.DataSourceRetrievalResult;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.DhClientLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
@@ -23,6 +24,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.IDebugRenderable;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.sql.dto.FullDataSourceV2DTO;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.ratelimiting.SupplierBasedRateLimiter;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.ThreadPoolUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world.DhApiWorldProxy;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 
@@ -71,16 +73,6 @@ public abstract class AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue implements IDebugRende
 	
 	private final SupplierBasedRateLimiter<Void> rateLimiter = new SupplierBasedRateLimiter<>(this::getRequestRateLimit);
 	
-	private final Set<Long> succeededPositions = Collections.newSetFromMap(CacheBuilder.newBuilder()
-			.expireAfterWrite(20, TimeUnit.MINUTES)
-			.<Long, Boolean>build()
-			.asMap());
-	
-	private final Set<Long> requiresSplittingPositions = Collections.newSetFromMap(CacheBuilder.newBuilder()
-			.expireAfterWrite(20, TimeUnit.MINUTES)
-			.<Long, Boolean>build()
-			.asMap());
-	
 	
 	
 	//=============//
@@ -106,7 +98,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue implements IDebugRende
 	
 	protected abstract int getRequestRateLimit();
 	protected abstract boolean sectionInAllowedGenerationRadius(long sectionPos, DhBlockPos2D targetPos);
-	protected abstract boolean onBeforeRequest(long sectionPos, CompletableFuture<NetRequestResult> future);
+	protected abstract boolean onBeforeRequest(long sectionPos, CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult> future);
 	
 	protected abstract String getQueueName();
 	
@@ -116,19 +108,9 @@ public abstract class AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue implements IDebugRende
 	// request submitting //
 	//====================//
 	
-	public CompletableFuture<NetRequestResult> submitRequest(long sectionPos, @Nullable Long clientTimestamp)
+	public CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult> submitRequest(long sectionPos, @Nullable Long clientTimestamp)
 	{
-		if (this.succeededPositions.contains(sectionPos))
-		{
-			return CompletableFuture.completedFuture(NetRequestResult.CreateFail());
-		}
-		
-		if (this.requiresSplittingPositions.contains(sectionPos))
-		{
-			return CompletableFuture.completedFuture(NetRequestResult.CreateSplit());
-		}
-		
-		NetRequestTask requestEntry = this.waitingTasksBySectionPos.compute(sectionPos, (pos, existingNetTask) ->
+		NetRequestTask requestEntry = this.waitingTasksBySectionPos.compute(sectionPos, (Long pos, NetRequestTask existingNetTask) ->
 		{
 			// ignore already queued tasks
 			if (existingNetTask != null)
@@ -138,27 +120,25 @@ public abstract class AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue implements IDebugRende
 			
 			
 			NetRequestTask newRequestEntry = new NetRequestTask(pos, clientTimestamp);
-			newRequestEntry.future.whenComplete((requestResult, throwable) ->
+			newRequestEntry.future.whenComplete((DataSourceRetrievalResult requestResult, Throwable throwable) ->
 			{
 				this.waitingTasksBySectionPos.remove(pos);
 				
+				if (throwable != null)
+				{
+					if (!(throwable instanceof CancellationException))
+					{
+						this.failedRequests.incrementAndGet();
+					}
+					return;
+				}
+				
 				switch (requestResult.state)
 				{
 					case SUCCESS:
 						this.finishedRequests.incrementAndGet();
-						this.succeededPositions.add(pos);
 						break;
 					case REQUIRES_SPLITTING:
-						this.requiresSplittingPositions.add(pos);
-						break;
-					case FAIL:
-						this.failedRequests.incrementAndGet();
-						break;
-					default:
-						if (throwable != null && !(throwable instanceof CancellationException))
-						{
-							this.failedRequests.incrementAndGet();
-						}
 						break;
 				}
 			});
@@ -238,11 +218,18 @@ public abstract class AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue implements IDebugRende
 				FullDataSourceResponseMessage.class
 		);
 		requestTask.networkDataSourceFuture = dataSourceNetworkFuture;
-		dataSourceNetworkFuture.handle((FullDataSourceResponseMessage response, Throwable throwable) ->
+		
+		Executor networkCompressionExecutor = ThreadPoolUtil.getNetworkCompressionExecutor();
+		if (networkCompressionExecutor == null)
+		{
+			return;
+		}
+		
+		dataSourceNetworkFuture.handleAsync((FullDataSourceResponseMessage response, Throwable throwable) ->
 		{
 			this.handleNetResponse(requestTask, response, throwable);
 			return null;
-		});
+		}, networkCompressionExecutor);
 	}
 	private void handleNetResponse(NetRequestTask requestTask, FullDataSourceResponseMessage response, Throwable throwable)
 	{
@@ -273,12 +260,12 @@ public abstract class AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue implements IDebugRende
 				this.level.updateBeaconBeamsForSectionPos(dataSourceDto.pos, response.payload.beaconBeams);
 				
 				FullDataSourceV2 fullDataSource = dataSourceDto.createDataSource(this.level.getLevelWrapper(), null);
-				requestTask.future.complete(NetRequestResult.CreateSuccess(fullDataSource));
+				requestTask.future.complete(DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateSuccess(dataSourceDto.pos, fullDataSource));
 			}
 		}
 		catch (SectionRequiresSplittingException ignored)
 		{
-			requestTask.future.complete(NetRequestResult.CreateSplit());
+			requestTask.future.complete(DataSourceRetrievalResult.CreateSplit());
 		}
 		catch (SessionClosedException | CancellationException ignored)
 		{
@@ -287,7 +274,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue implements IDebugRende
 		catch (RequestRejectedException e)
 		{
 			LOGGER.info("Request rejected by the server, message: [" + e.getMessage() + "].");
-			requestTask.future.complete(NetRequestResult.CreateFail());
+			requestTask.future.completeExceptionally(e);
 		}
 		catch (RateLimitedException e)
 		{
@@ -316,7 +303,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue implements IDebugRende
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				requestTask.future.complete(NetRequestResult.CreateFail());
+				requestTask.future.completeExceptionally(e);
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -457,7 +444,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue implements IDebugRende
 		public final long pos;
 		
 		/** encapsulates the entire request, including client side queuing and the actual server request */
-		public final CompletableFuture<NetRequestResult> future = new CompletableFuture<>();
+		public final CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult> future = new CompletableFuture<>();
 		/** will be null if we want to retrieve the LOD regardless of when it was last updated */
 		@Nullable
 		public final Long updateTimestamp;

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

@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.client;
 
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.ClientApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.listeners.ConfigChangeListener;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.MinecraftTextFormat;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.config.SessionConfig;
@@ -18,6 +20,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.messages.fullData.FullDataPartial
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.session.NetworkSession;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
+import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
 import java.io.Closeable;
@@ -29,6 +32,10 @@ public class ClientNetworkState implements Closeable
 			.fileLevelConfig(Config.Common.Logging.logNetworkEventToFile)
 			.build();
 	
+	protected static final DhLogger CONFIG_CHANGE_LOGGER = new DhLoggerBuilder()
+			.fileLevelConfig(Config.Common.Logging.logConnectionConfigChangesToFile)
+			.build();
+	
 	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC_CLIENT = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
 	
 	
@@ -44,6 +51,7 @@ public class ClientNetworkState implements Closeable
 	 */
 	public NetworkSession getSession() { return this.networkSession; }
 	
+	@NotNull
 	public SessionConfig sessionConfig = new SessionConfig();
 	
 	private volatile boolean configReceived = false;
@@ -89,6 +97,15 @@ public class ClientNetworkState implements Closeable
 				|| Math.abs(event.protocolVersion - ModInfo.PROTOCOL_VERSION) < this.closestProtocolVersion)
 			{
 				this.closestProtocolVersion = event.protocolVersion;
+				
+				if (ModInfo.PROTOCOL_VERSION < event.protocolVersion)
+				{
+					ClientApi.INSTANCE.showChatMessageNextFrame(MinecraftTextFormat.ORANGE + "Distant Horizons: Your mod is outdated. Update to receive LODs on this server.");
+				}
+				else
+				{
+					ClientApi.INSTANCE.showChatMessageNextFrame(MinecraftTextFormat.ORANGE + "Distant Horizons: The server's mod is outdated. Ask the server's owner to update.");
+				}
 			}
 		});
 		
@@ -129,8 +146,9 @@ public class ClientNetworkState implements Closeable
 			{
 				this.serverSupportStatus = EServerSupportStatus.FULL;
 				
-				// TODO only log changes
-				LOGGER.info("Connection config has been changed: [" + message.config + "].");
+				String configChanges = this.sessionConfig.getDifferencesAsString(message.config);
+				CONFIG_CHANGE_LOGGER.info("Connection config has been changed: [" + configChanges + "].");
+				
 				this.sessionConfig = message.config;
 				this.configReceived = true;
 			});

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

@@ -1,15 +0,0 @@
-package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.client;
-
-/**
- * SUCCESS <br>
- * REQUIRES_SPLITTING <br>
- * FAIL <br>
- * 
- * @see NetRequestResult
- */
-public enum ENetRequestState
-{
-	SUCCESS,
-	REQUIRES_SPLITTING,
-	FAIL,
-}

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

@@ -1,47 +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.multiplayer.client;
-
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.fullData.sources.FullDataSourceV2;
-import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
-
-public class NetRequestResult
-{
-	public final ENetRequestState state;
-	@Nullable
-	public final FullDataSourceV2 receivedDataSource;
-	
-	
-	
-	//==============//
-	// constructors //
-	//==============//
-	
-	public static NetRequestResult CreateFail() { return new NetRequestResult(ENetRequestState.FAIL, null); }
-	public static NetRequestResult CreateSuccess(FullDataSourceV2 receivedDataSource) { return new NetRequestResult(ENetRequestState.SUCCESS, receivedDataSource); }
-	public static NetRequestResult CreateSplit() { return new NetRequestResult(ENetRequestState.REQUIRES_SPLITTING, null); }
-	private NetRequestResult(ENetRequestState state, @Nullable FullDataSourceV2 receivedDataSource)
-	{
-		this.state = state;
-		this.receivedDataSource = receivedDataSource;
-	}
-	
-	
-}

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

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.multiplayer.client;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.RemoteWorldRetrievalQueue;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.DataSourceRetrievalResult;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.DhClientLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.DhSectionPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos2D;
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ public class SyncOnLoadRequestQueue extends AbstractFullDataNetworkRequestQueue
 		return DhSectionPos.getChebyshevSignedBlockDistance(sectionPos, targetPos) <= this.networkState.sessionConfig.getMaxSyncOnLoadDistance() * 16;
 	}
 	@Override
-	protected boolean onBeforeRequest(long sectionPos, CompletableFuture<NetRequestResult> future) { return true; }
+	protected boolean onBeforeRequest(long sectionPos, CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult> future) { return true; }
 	
 	@Override
 	protected String getQueueName() { return "Sync On Login Queue"; }

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

@@ -162,6 +162,34 @@ public class SessionConfig implements INetworkObject
 	
 	
 	
+	//=========//
+ 	// logging //
+ 	//=========//
+	
+	/** 
+	 * example: "common.playerBandwidthLimit:[497], " <br>
+	 * Useful to see what was changed when receiving a new config from the server.
+	 */
+	public String getDifferencesAsString(SessionConfig that)
+	{
+		StringBuilder stringBuilder = new StringBuilder();
+		
+		for (String key : this.values.keySet())
+		{
+			String thisFieldString = this.values.get(key) + "";
+			String thatFieldString = that.values.get(key) + "";
+			
+			if (!thisFieldString.equals(thatFieldString))
+			{
+				stringBuilder.append(key+":["+thisFieldString+"], ");
+			}
+		}
+		
+		return stringBuilder.toString();
+	}
+	
+	
+	
 	//================//
 	// base overrides //
 	//================//

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

@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.network.messages.fullData.FullDataSplitMe
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.sql.dto.FullDataSourceV2DTO;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
 import io.netty.buffer.CompositeByteBuf;
-import io.netty.buffer.UnpooledByteBufAllocator;
+import io.netty.buffer.Unpooled;
 
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentMap;
 import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public class FullDataPayloadReceiver implements AutoCloseable
 		{
 			if (message.isFirst)
 			{
-				composite = UnpooledByteBufAllocator.DEFAULT.compositeBuffer();
+				composite = Unpooled.compositeBuffer();
 				LOGGER.debug("Created new full data buffer [" + message.bufferId + "]: [" + composite + "]");
 			}
 			else if (composite == null)
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ public class FullDataPayloadReceiver implements AutoCloseable
 				return null;
 			}
 			
+			message.buffer.readerIndex(0);
 			composite.addComponent(message.buffer);
 			composite.writerIndex(composite.writerIndex() + message.buffer.writerIndex());
 			LOGGER.debug("Updated full data buffer [" + message.bufferId + "]: [" + composite + "].");

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

@@ -174,12 +174,21 @@ public class FullDataSourceRequestHandler implements AutoCloseable
 			DataSourceRequestGroup requestGroup = this.requestGroupsByPos.computeIfAbsent(requestData.sectionPos(), pos ->
 			{
 				DataSourceRequestGroup newGroup = new DataSourceRequestGroup(pos);
-				newGroup.tryAddRequest(requestData);
-				createdNewGroup.set(true);
+				try
+				{
+					newGroup.tryAddRequest(requestData);
+					createdNewGroup.set(true);
+					
+					this.tryFulfillDataSourceRequestGroup(newGroup, pos);
+					
+					LOGGER.debug("[" + this.getLevelIdentifier() + "] Created request group for pos [" + DhSectionPos.toString(pos) + "].");
+					return newGroup;
+				}
+				catch (Exception e)
+				{
+					LOGGER.error("Unable to queue request for pos: ["+DhSectionPos.toString(requestData.sectionPos())+"], error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
+				}
 				
-				this.tryFulfillDataSourceRequestGroup(newGroup, pos);
-				
-				LOGGER.debug("[" + this.getLevelIdentifier() + "] Created request group for pos [" + DhSectionPos.toString(pos) + "].");
 				return newGroup;
 			});
 			
@@ -229,10 +238,14 @@ public class FullDataSourceRequestHandler implements AutoCloseable
 	
 	private void tryFulfillDataSourceRequestGroup(DataSourceRequestGroup requestGroup, long pos)
 	{
-		this.fullDataSourceProvider().getAsync(pos).thenAccept(fullDataSource ->
+		final GeneratedFullDataSourceProvider provider = this.fullDataSourceProvider();
+		
+		provider.getAsync(pos)
+			.thenAccept((FullDataSourceV2 fullDataSource) ->
 		{
-			if (this.fullDataSourceProvider().generationStepsAreFullyGenerated(fullDataSource.columnGenerationSteps))
+			if (provider.generationStepsAreFullyGenerated(fullDataSource.columnGenerationSteps))
 			{
+				//LOGGER.info("sending - complete [" + DhSectionPos.toString(pos) + "]");
 				requestGroup.fullDataSource = fullDataSource;
 				return;
 			}
@@ -247,11 +260,14 @@ public class FullDataSourceRequestHandler implements AutoCloseable
 				this.requestGroupsByPos.remove(pos);
 				if (!requestGroup.tryClose())
 				{
+					//LOGGER.info("closing [" + DhSectionPos.toString(pos) + "]");
 					return;
 				}
 				
 				for (DataSourceRequestGroup.RequestData requestData : requestGroup.requestMessages.values())
 				{
+					//LOGGER.info("sending [" + DhSectionPos.toString(pos) + "] - ["+DhSectionPos.toString(requestData.sectionPos())+"]");
+					
 					this.requestGroupsByFutureId.remove(requestData.futureId());
 					requestData.rateLimiterSet.generationRequestRateLimiter.release();
 					requestData.message.sendResponse(new SectionRequiresSplittingException());
@@ -264,7 +280,7 @@ public class FullDataSourceRequestHandler implements AutoCloseable
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				//LOGGER.info("sending - queueing [" + DhSectionPos.toString(pos) + "]");
+				//LOGGER.info("queueing incomplete world gen [" + DhSectionPos.toString(pos) + "]");
 				this.fullDataSourceProvider().queuePositionForRetrieval(pos);
 			}
 		});

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/pooling/PhantomArrayListCheckout.java

@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
 import java.lang.ref.SoftReference;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.Arrays;
 
 /**
  * This keeps track of all the poolable
@@ -33,7 +34,7 @@ public class PhantomArrayListCheckout implements AutoCloseable
 	
 	/** Will be null if the parent pool doesn't want leak stack tracing */
 	@Nullable
-	public final String allocationStackTrace;
+	public String allocationStackTrace = null;
 	
 	private final ArrayList<ByteArrayList> byteArrayLists = new ArrayList<>();
 	private final ArrayList<ShortArrayList> shortArrayLists = new ArrayList<>();
@@ -47,21 +48,20 @@ public class PhantomArrayListCheckout implements AutoCloseable
 	
 	public PhantomArrayListCheckout(@NotNull PhantomArrayListPool owningPool)
 	{
-		if (owningPool.logGarbageCollectedStacks)
-		{
-			// TODO remove the top 4 or so lines since those will always be the same (relating to the phantom allocations)
-			//  and aren't helpful when debugging
-			this.allocationStackTrace = StringUtil.join("\n", Thread.currentThread().getStackTrace());
-		}
-		else
-		{
-			this.allocationStackTrace = null;
-		}
-		
 		this.owningPool = owningPool;
 		this.ownerSoftReference = new SoftReference<>(this);
 	}
 	
+	public void onCheckout()
+	{
+		if (this.owningPool.logGarbageCollectedStacks)
+		{
+			StackTraceElement[] stackTraceElements = Thread.currentThread().getStackTrace();
+			StackTraceElement[] trimmedElements = Arrays.copyOfRange(stackTraceElements, 4, stackTraceElements.length);
+			this.allocationStackTrace = StringUtil.join("\n", trimmedElements).intern();
+		}
+	}
+	
 	
 	
 	//=========//

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

@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pooling;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.ClientApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.MinecraftTextFormat;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.f3.F3Screen;
@@ -12,7 +13,6 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.StringUtil;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.bytes.ByteArrayList;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.LongArrayList;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.shorts.ShortArrayList;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ public class PhantomArrayListPool
 			{
 				// pool is empty, create new checkout
 				checkout = new PhantomArrayListCheckout(this);
+				checkout.onCheckout();
 			}
 			else
 			{
@@ -166,6 +167,7 @@ public class PhantomArrayListPool
 				if (checkout != null)
 				{
 					// use pooled checkout
+					checkout.onCheckout();
 				}
 				else
 				{
@@ -176,8 +178,7 @@ public class PhantomArrayListPool
 					{
 						lowMemoryWarningLogged = true;
 						
-						// orange text
-						String message = "\u00A76" + "Distant Horizons: Insufficient memory detected." + "\u00A7r \n" +
+						String message = MinecraftTextFormat.ORANGE + "Distant Horizons: Insufficient memory detected." + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING + "\n" +
 								"This may cause stuttering or crashing. \n" +
 								"Potential causes: \n" +
 								"1. your allocated memory isn't high enough \n" +

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/pos/Pos2D.java

@@ -23,7 +23,9 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.MathUtil;
 
 import java.util.Objects;
 
+
 /** immutable */
+@Deprecated // TODO why does this exist vs blockpos2d?
 public class Pos2D
 {
 	public static final Pos2D ZERO = new Pos2D(0, 0);

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

@@ -20,10 +20,12 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.listeners.IConfigListener;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.render.bufferBuilding.LodBufferContainer;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.EDhDirection;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.fullDatafile.V2.FullDataSourceProviderV2;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.DataSourceRetrievalResult;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.generation.tasks.ERetrievalResultState;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhClientLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
@@ -42,15 +44,16 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.threading.ThreadPoolUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.MathUtil;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.LongArrayList;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.LongIterator;
-import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.LongOpenHashSet;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
 import javax.annotation.WillNotClose;
 import java.awt.*;
 import java.util.*;
 import java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture;
+import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentHashMap;
 import java.util.concurrent.ConcurrentLinkedQueue;
 import java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicBoolean;
 import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicInteger;
 import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock;
 
@@ -58,7 +61,7 @@ import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock;
  * This quadTree structure is our core data structure and holds
  * all rendering data.
  */
-public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
+public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRenderable, IConfigListener, AutoCloseable
 {
 	private static final DhLogger LOGGER = new DhLoggerBuilder().build();
 	/** there should only ever be one {@link LodQuadTree} so having the thread static should be fine */
@@ -75,7 +78,12 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 	 */
 	private final ConcurrentLinkedQueue<Long> sectionsToReload = new ConcurrentLinkedQueue<>();
 	private final IDhClientLevel level;
-	private final ReentrantLock treeReadWriteLock = new ReentrantLock();
+	/** 
+	 * Note: this doesn't lock all operations as some other threads/operations
+	 * that may traverse the tree while it's being modified.
+	 * IE {@link RenderBufferHandler} will walk through the tree each frame.
+	 */
+	private final ReentrantLock treeLock = new ReentrantLock();
 	
 	private ArrayList<LodRenderSection> debugRenderSections = new ArrayList<>();
 	private ArrayList<LodRenderSection> altDebugRenderSections = new ArrayList<>();
@@ -88,7 +96,9 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 	 * as further sections are loaded before closer ones.
 	 * Only queuing a few of the sections at a time solves this problem.
 	 */
-	public final AtomicInteger uploadTaskCountRef = new AtomicInteger(0);
+	private final AtomicInteger uploadTaskCountRef = new AtomicInteger(0);
+	private final AtomicBoolean requeueAllRetrievalTasksRef = new AtomicBoolean(false);
+	private final AtomicBoolean queueThreadRunningRef = new AtomicBoolean(false);
 	
 	
 	@Nullable
@@ -105,8 +115,10 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 	private double detailDropOffLogBase;
 	
 	/** the {@link DhSectionPos} that need to be retrieved/generated */
-	public final LongOpenHashSet missingGenerationPosSet = new LongOpenHashSet();
-	public final LongOpenHashSet queuedGenerationPosSet = new LongOpenHashSet();
+	private final Set<Long> missingGenerationPosSet = Collections.newSetFromMap(new ConcurrentHashMap<>()); // concurrency is annoying but required due to needing to add/remove items in the world gen future
+	private final Set<Long> queuedGenerationPosSet = Collections.newSetFromMap(new ConcurrentHashMap<>());
+	/** cached array to prevent having to re-allocate it each tick */
+	private final ArrayList<Long> sortedMissingPosList = new ArrayList<>();
 	
 	
 	
@@ -131,6 +143,8 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 		GenericObjectRenderer genericObjectRenderer = this.level.getGenericRenderer();
 		this.beaconRenderHandler = (genericObjectRenderer != null) ? new BeaconRenderHandler(genericObjectRenderer) : null;
 		
+		Config.Common.WorldGenerator.enableDistantGeneration.addListener(this);
+		
 	}
 	
 	//endregion constructor
@@ -157,8 +171,9 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 		
 		
 		
-		// don't traverse the tree if it is being modified
-		if (this.treeReadWriteLock.tryLock())
+		// don't tick the tree if a modification is still going
+		// TODO is this lock necessary for anything beyond this tick method?
+		if (this.treeLock.tryLock())
 		{
 			// this shouldn't be updated while the tree is being iterated through
 			this.updateDetailLevelVariables();
@@ -186,7 +201,7 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 			}
 			finally
 			{
-				this.treeReadWriteLock.unlock();
+				this.treeLock.unlock();
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -231,18 +246,56 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 		}
 		
 		
-		// queue full data retrieval (world gen) requests if needed
-		if (this.missingGenerationPosSet.size() != 0
-			&& this.fullDataSourceProvider.canQueueRetrievalNow())
+		// requeue everything if needed
+		if (this.requeueAllRetrievalTasksRef.get()
+			&& !this.queueThreadRunningRef.get())
 		{
-			try
+			this.queueThreadRunningRef.set(true);
+			this.requeueAllRetrievalTasksRef.set(false);
+			
+			// running on a separate thread allows for faster loading
+			// of finished LODs
+			FULL_DATA_RETRIEVAL_QUEUE_THREAD.execute(() -> 
 			{
-				this.queueFullDataRetrievalTasks(playerPos);
-			}
-			catch (Exception e)
+				try
+				{
+					this.checkAllNodesForRetrievalRequests();
+				}
+				catch (Exception e)
+				{
+					LOGGER.error("Unexpected error getting new queued retrieval tasks, error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
+				}
+				finally
+				{
+					this.queueThreadRunningRef.set(false);
+				}
+			});
+		}
+		
+		// queue full data retrieval (world gen) requests if needed
+		if (this.missingGenerationPosSet.size() != 0 //
+			&& this.fullDataSourceProvider.canQueueRetrievalNow()
+			&& !this.queueThreadRunningRef.get())
+		{
+			this.queueThreadRunningRef.set(true);
+			
+			// running on a separate thread allows for faster loading
+			// of finished LODs
+			FULL_DATA_RETRIEVAL_QUEUE_THREAD.execute(() -> 
 			{
-				LOGGER.error("Unexpected error queuing retrieval tasks, error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
-			}
+				try
+				{
+					this.startQueuedRetrievalTasks(playerPos);
+				}
+				catch (Exception e)
+				{
+					LOGGER.error("Unexpected error starting queued retrieval tasks, error: [" + e.getMessage() + "].", e);
+				}
+				finally
+				{
+					this.queueThreadRunningRef.set(false);
+				}
+			});
 		}
 		
 		
@@ -438,19 +491,7 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 					
 					// since this section wants to render
 					// check if it needs any generation to do so
-					LongArrayList missingPosList = this.fullDataSourceProvider.getPositionsToRetrieve(renderSection.pos);
-					if (missingPosList != null)
-					{
-						for (int i = 0; i < missingPosList.size(); i++)
-						{
-							long missingPos = missingPosList.getLong(i);
-							if (!this.queuedGenerationPosSet.contains(missingPos))
-							{
-								this.missingGenerationPosSet.add(missingPos);
-							}
-						}
-					}
-					
+					this.tryQueuePosForRetrieval(renderSection.pos);
 				}
 			}
 			
@@ -473,28 +514,23 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 				continue;
 			}
 			
-			try
+			// the section only needs to be updated if a buffer is currently present 
+			LodRenderSection renderSection = this.tryGetValue(pos);
+			if (renderSection != null)
 			{
-				// the section only needs to be updated if a buffer is currently present 
-				LodRenderSection renderSection = this.getValue(pos);
-				if (renderSection != null)
+				if (renderSection.canRender())
 				{
-					if (renderSection.canRender())
+					if (renderSection.gpuUploadInProgress()
+						|| !renderSection.uploadRenderDataToGpuAsync())
 					{
-						if (renderSection.gpuUploadInProgress()
-							|| !renderSection.uploadRenderDataToGpuAsync())
-						{
-							// if a section is already loading or failed to start upload
-							// we need to wait to trigger it again
-							// if we don't trigger it again the LOD will be out of date
-							// and may be invisible/missing
-							positionsToRequeue.add(pos);
-						}
+						// if a section is already loading or failed to start upload
+						// we need to wait to trigger it again
+						// if we don't trigger it again the LOD will be out of date
+						// and may be invisible/missing
+						positionsToRequeue.add(pos);
 					}
 				}
 			}
-			catch (IndexOutOfBoundsException e)
-			{ /* the section is now out of bounds, it doesn't need to be reloaded */ }
 		}
 		this.sectionsToReload.addAll(positionsToRequeue);
 	}
@@ -523,6 +559,172 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 	
 	
 	
+	//=================================//
+	// full data retrieval (world gen) //
+	//=================================//
+	//region world gen
+	
+	private void startQueuedRetrievalTasks(DhBlockPos2D playerPos)
+	{
+		// sort the nodes from nearest to farthest
+		this.sortedMissingPosList.clear();
+		this.sortedMissingPosList.addAll(this.missingGenerationPosSet);
+		this.sortedMissingPosList.sort((posA, posB) ->
+		{
+			int aDist = DhSectionPos.getManhattanBlockDistance(posA, playerPos);
+			int bDist = DhSectionPos.getManhattanBlockDistance(posB, playerPos);
+			return Integer.compare(aDist, bDist);
+		});
+		
+		
+		
+		//==================================//
+		// add retrieval tasks to the queue //
+		//==================================//
+		
+		for (int i = 0; i < this.sortedMissingPosList.size(); i++)
+		{
+			if (!this.fullDataSourceProvider.canQueueRetrievalNow())
+			{
+				break;
+			}
+			
+			long missingPos = this.sortedMissingPosList.get(i);
+			
+			// is this position within acceptable generator range?
+			boolean posInRange = WorldGenUtil.isPosInWorldGenRange(
+				missingPos,
+				Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkX.get(), Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkZ.get(),
+				Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationMaxChunkRadius.get()
+			);
+			if (!posInRange)
+			{
+				continue;
+			}
+			
+			CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult> genFuture = this.fullDataSourceProvider.queuePositionForRetrieval(missingPos);
+			boolean positionQueued = (genFuture != null && !genFuture.isCompletedExceptionally());
+			if (positionQueued)
+			{
+				this.queuedGenerationPosSet.add(missingPos);
+				this.missingGenerationPosSet.remove(missingPos);
+				
+				genFuture.exceptionally((Throwable throwable) ->
+				{
+					// gen task failed,
+					// requeue so we can try again in the future
+					
+					this.queuedGenerationPosSet.remove(missingPos);
+					this.missingGenerationPosSet.add(missingPos);
+					return null;
+				});
+				genFuture.thenAccept((DataSourceRetrievalResult result) ->
+				{
+					// task finished
+					this.queuedGenerationPosSet.remove(missingPos);
+					
+					if (result.state == ERetrievalResultState.REQUIRES_SPLITTING)
+					{
+						DhSectionPos.forEachChild(missingPos, (long childPos) ->
+						{
+							this.tryQueuePosForRetrieval(childPos);
+						});
+					}
+				});
+			}
+		}
+		
+		
+		
+		//==========================//
+		// calc task count estimate //
+		//==========================//
+		
+		// calculate an estimate for the max number of chunks for the queue
+		int totalWorldGenChunkCount = 0;
+		int totalWorldGenTaskCount = 0;
+		for (int i = 0; i < this.sortedMissingPosList.size(); i++)
+		{
+			long missingPos = this.sortedMissingPosList.get(i);
+			
+			// chunk count
+			int sectionWidthInChunks = DhSectionPos.getChunkWidth(missingPos);
+			totalWorldGenChunkCount += sectionWidthInChunks * sectionWidthInChunks;
+			
+			// task count
+			totalWorldGenTaskCount++;
+		}
+		
+		this.fullDataSourceProvider.setEstimatedRemainingRetrievalChunkCount(totalWorldGenChunkCount);
+		this.fullDataSourceProvider.setTotalRetrievalPositionCount(totalWorldGenTaskCount);
+	}
+	
+	@Override
+	public void onConfigValueSet()
+	{
+		boolean generatorEnabled = Config.Common.WorldGenerator.enableDistantGeneration.get();
+		if (generatorEnabled)
+		{
+			// world gen tasks will need to be re-queued
+			// since all the render sections will already have been loaded
+			this.requeueAllRetrievalTasksRef.set(true);
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			// generation is disabled, clear the queues
+			this.missingGenerationPosSet.clear();
+			this.queuedGenerationPosSet.clear();
+			
+			this.requeueAllRetrievalTasksRef.set(false);
+		}
+	}
+	
+	/** 
+	 * Needed to get all necessary retrieval requests
+	 * after the quad tree has already been loaded.
+	 */
+	private void checkAllNodesForRetrievalRequests()
+	{
+		Iterator<QuadNode<LodRenderSection>> nodeIterator = this.nodeIterator();
+		while (nodeIterator.hasNext())
+		{
+			QuadNode<LodRenderSection> node = nodeIterator.next();
+			if (node != null)
+			{
+				LodRenderSection renderSection = node.value;
+				if (renderSection != null
+					&& renderSection.getRenderingEnabled())
+				{
+					this.tryQueuePosForRetrieval(renderSection.pos);
+					
+				}
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	
+	/** Does nothing if the missing positions are already queued. */
+	private void tryQueuePosForRetrieval(long pos)
+	{
+		LongArrayList missingPosList = this.fullDataSourceProvider.getPositionsToRetrieve(pos);
+		if (missingPosList == null)
+		{
+			return;
+		}
+		
+		for (int i = 0; i < missingPosList.size(); i++)
+		{
+			long missingPos = missingPosList.getLong(i);
+			if (!this.queuedGenerationPosSet.contains(missingPos))
+			{
+				this.missingGenerationPosSet.add(missingPos);
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	
+	//endregion world gen
+	
+	
+	
 	//====================//
 	// detail level logic //
 	//====================//
@@ -597,7 +799,7 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 	{
 		try
 		{
-			this.treeReadWriteLock.lock();
+			this.treeLock.lock();
 			LOGGER.info("Disposing render data...");
 			
 			// clear the tree
@@ -620,7 +822,7 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 		}
 		finally
 		{
-			this.treeReadWriteLock.unlock();
+			this.treeLock.unlock();
 		}
 	}
 	
@@ -652,107 +854,6 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 	
 	
 	
-	//=================================//
-	// full data retrieval (world gen) //
-	//=================================//
-	//region world gen
-	
-	private void queueFullDataRetrievalTasks(DhBlockPos2D playerPos)
-	{
-		// sort the nodes from nearest to farthest
-		LongArrayList sortedMissingPosList = new LongArrayList(this.missingGenerationPosSet);
-		sortedMissingPosList.sort((posA, posB) ->
-		{
-			int aDist = DhSectionPos.getManhattanBlockDistance(posA, playerPos);
-			int bDist = DhSectionPos.getManhattanBlockDistance(posB, playerPos);
-			return Integer.compare(aDist, bDist);
-		});
-		
-		
-		
-		//==================================//
-		// add retrieval tasks to the queue //
-		//==================================//
-		
-		for (int i = 0; i < sortedMissingPosList.size(); i++)
-		{
-			if (!this.fullDataSourceProvider.canQueueRetrievalNow())
-			{
-				break;
-			}
-			
-			long missingPos = sortedMissingPosList.getLong(i);
-			
-			// is this position within acceptable generator range?
-			boolean posInRange = WorldGenUtil.isPosInWorldGenRange(
-				missingPos,
-				Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkX.get(), Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationCenterChunkZ.get(),
-				Config.Common.WorldGenerator.generationMaxChunkRadius.get()
-			);
-			if (!posInRange)
-			{
-				continue;
-			}
-			
-			CompletableFuture<DataSourceRetrievalResult> genFuture = this.fullDataSourceProvider.queuePositionForRetrieval(missingPos);
-			boolean positionQueued = (genFuture != null && !genFuture.isCompletedExceptionally());
-			if (positionQueued)
-			{
-				this.queuedGenerationPosSet.add(missingPos);
-				this.missingGenerationPosSet.remove(missingPos);
-				
-				genFuture.exceptionally((Throwable throwable) ->
-				{
-					// gen task failed,
-					// requeue so we can try again in the future
-					
-					this.queuedGenerationPosSet.remove(missingPos);
-					this.missingGenerationPosSet.add(missingPos);
-					return null;
-				});
-				genFuture.thenAccept((DataSourceRetrievalResult result) -> 
-				{
-					// task finished
-					this.queuedGenerationPosSet.remove(missingPos);
-					
-					// if the task failed re-queue so we can try again
-					if (!result.success)
-					{
-						this.missingGenerationPosSet.add(missingPos);
-					}
-				});
-			}
-		}
-		
-		
-		
-		//==========================//
-		// calc task count estimate //
-		//==========================//
-		
-		// calculate an estimate for the max number of chunks for the queue
-		int totalWorldGenChunkCount = 0;
-		int totalWorldGenTaskCount = 0;
-		for (int i = 0; i < sortedMissingPosList.size(); i++)
-		{
-			long missingPos = sortedMissingPosList.getLong(i);
-			
-			// chunk count
-			int sectionWidthInChunks = DhSectionPos.getChunkWidth(missingPos);
-			totalWorldGenChunkCount += sectionWidthInChunks * sectionWidthInChunks;
-			
-			// task count
-			totalWorldGenTaskCount++;
-		}
-		
-		this.fullDataSourceProvider.setEstimatedRemainingRetrievalChunkCount(totalWorldGenChunkCount);
-		this.fullDataSourceProvider.setTotalRetrievalPositionCount(totalWorldGenTaskCount);
-	}
-	
-	//endregion world gen
-	
-	
-	
 	//===========//
 	// debugging //
 	//===========//
@@ -818,13 +919,15 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 		LOGGER.info("Shutting down LodQuadTree...");
 		
 		DebugRenderer.unregister(this, Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.DebugWireframe.showQuadTreeRenderStatus);
+		Config.Common.WorldGenerator.enableDistantGeneration.removeListener(this);
+		
 		
 		ThreadPoolExecutor mainCleanupExecutor = ThreadPoolUtil.getCleanupExecutor();
 		// closing every node may take a few moments
 		// so this is run on a separate thread to prevent lagging the render thread
 		mainCleanupExecutor.execute(() -> 
 		{
-			this.treeReadWriteLock.lock();
+			this.treeLock.lock();
 			try
 			{
 				// walk through each node
@@ -842,7 +945,7 @@ public class LodQuadTree extends QuadTree<LodRenderSection> implements IDebugRen
 			}
 			finally
 			{
-				this.treeReadWriteLock.unlock();
+				this.treeLock.unlock();
 			}
 		});
 		

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

@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 	 * contains the list of beacons currently being rendered in this section 
 	 * if this list is modified the {@link LodRenderSection#beaconRenderHandler} should be updated to match.
 	 */
-	private final List<BeaconBeamDTO> activeBeaconList = new ArrayList<>();
+	private final ArrayList<BeaconBeamDTO> activeBeaconList = new ArrayList<>();
 	@Nullable
 	public final BeaconRenderHandler beaconRenderHandler;
 	@Nullable
@@ -241,24 +241,10 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 					// get the adjacent positions
 					// needs to be done async to prevent threads waiting on the same positions to be processed
 					final CompletableFuture<ColumnRenderSource>[] adjacentLoadFutures = new CompletableFuture[4];
-					
-					if (Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Experimental.onlyLoadCenterLods.get())
-					{
-						// TODO temporary test, long term something else should be done to so we can get adjacent lighting data
-						//  probably a change to the LOD data format
-						adjacentLoadFutures[0] = CompletableFuture.completedFuture(null);
-						adjacentLoadFutures[1] = CompletableFuture.completedFuture(null);
-						adjacentLoadFutures[2] = CompletableFuture.completedFuture(null);
-						adjacentLoadFutures[3] = CompletableFuture.completedFuture(null);
-					}
-					else
-					{
-						adjacentLoadFutures[0] = this.getRenderSourceForPosAsync(this.pos, EDhDirection.NORTH);
-						adjacentLoadFutures[1] = this.getRenderSourceForPosAsync(this.pos, EDhDirection.SOUTH);
-						adjacentLoadFutures[2] = this.getRenderSourceForPosAsync(this.pos, EDhDirection.EAST);
-						adjacentLoadFutures[3] = this.getRenderSourceForPosAsync(this.pos, EDhDirection.WEST);
-					}
-					
+					adjacentLoadFutures[0] = this.getRenderSourceForPosAsync(this.pos, EDhDirection.NORTH);
+					adjacentLoadFutures[1] = this.getRenderSourceForPosAsync(this.pos, EDhDirection.SOUTH);
+					adjacentLoadFutures[2] = this.getRenderSourceForPosAsync(this.pos, EDhDirection.EAST);
+					adjacentLoadFutures[3] = this.getRenderSourceForPosAsync(this.pos, EDhDirection.WEST);
 					return CompletableFuture.allOf(adjacentLoadFutures).thenRun(() ->
 					{
 						try (ColumnRenderSource northRenderSource = adjacentLoadFutures[0].get();
@@ -460,20 +446,15 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 			
 			
 			// stop rendering current beacons
-			for (BeaconBeamDTO beam : this.activeBeaconList)
-			{
-				this.beaconRenderHandler.stopRenderingBeaconAtPos(beam.blockPos);
-			}
+			this.beaconRenderHandler.stopRenderingBeacons(this.activeBeaconList);
 			
 			// swap old and new active beacon list
 			this.activeBeaconList.clear();
 			this.activeBeaconList.addAll(activeBeacons);
 			
 			// start rendering new beacon list
-			for (BeaconBeamDTO beam : this.activeBeaconList)
-			{
-				this.beaconRenderHandler.startRenderingBeacon(beam);
-			}
+			byte absoluteDetailLevel = (byte)(DhSectionPos.getDetailLevel(this.pos) - DhSectionPos.SECTION_MINIMUM_DETAIL_LEVEL);
+			this.beaconRenderHandler.startRenderingBeacons(this.activeBeaconList, absoluteDetailLevel);
 		}
 	}
 	
@@ -488,10 +469,7 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		
 		synchronized (this.activeBeaconList)
 		{
-			for (BeaconBeamDTO beam : this.activeBeaconList)
-			{
-				this.beaconRenderHandler.stopRenderingBeaconAtPos(beam.blockPos);
-			}
+			this.beaconRenderHandler.stopRenderingBeacons(this.activeBeaconList);
 		}
 	}
 	
@@ -506,10 +484,8 @@ public class LodRenderSection implements IDebugRenderable, AutoCloseable
 		
 		synchronized (this.activeBeaconList)
 		{
-			for (BeaconBeamDTO beam : this.activeBeaconList)
-			{
-				this.beaconRenderHandler.startRenderingBeacon(beam);
-			}
+			byte absoluteDetailLevel = (byte)(DhSectionPos.getDetailLevel(this.pos) - DhSectionPos.SECTION_MINIMUM_DETAIL_LEVEL);
+			this.beaconRenderHandler.startRenderingBeacons(this.activeBeaconList, absoluteDetailLevel);
 		}
 	}
 	

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

@@ -0,0 +1,444 @@
+package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer;
+
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.enums.rendering.EDhApiRenderPass;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.ClientApi;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLoggerBuilder;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Mat4f;
+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 org.joml.Matrix4f;
+import org.joml.Vector4f;
+import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL32;
+import org.lwjgl.opengl.GL46;
+
+import javax.imageio.ImageIO;
+import java.awt.*;
+import java.awt.image.BufferedImage;
+import java.io.File;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.text.NumberFormat;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+import java.util.function.Function;
+
+public class DepthCalculator
+{
+	
+	public static DepthCalculator INSTANCE = new DepthCalculator();
+	private static final DhLogger LOGGER = new DhLoggerBuilder().build();
+	
+	private static final IMinecraftClientWrapper MC_CLIENT = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftClientWrapper.class);
+	private static final IMinecraftRenderWrapper MC_RENDER = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftRenderWrapper.class);
+	private static final IMinecraftGLWrapper GLMC = SingletonInjector.INSTANCE.get(IMinecraftGLWrapper.class);
+	
+	
+	private float[] mcOpaqueDepthTextureValues = new float[1];
+	private float[] mcTransparentDepthTextureValues = new float[1];
+	private float[] dhDepthTextureValues = new float[1];
+	private float[] outDepthTextureValues = new float[1];
+	private float lastClosestDhDepth = 1.0f;
+	
+	public float actualMcBlockDistance = 8 * 16; // needs to be non-zero to start DH rendering
+	@Deprecated // Replace with thread pool and an AtomicBool for running state
+	public Thread thread = null;
+	public boolean pause = false;
+	
+	private boolean gotDhDepthThisFrame = false;
+	private boolean gotMcDepthThisFrame = false;
+	
+	
+	//=============//
+	// constructor //
+	//=============//
+	
+	private DepthCalculator() { }
+	
+	
+	//======//
+	// test //
+	//======//
+	
+	public void getMcOpaqueDepthTexture() { this.gotMcDepthThisFrame = this.trySetDepthTexture(MC_RENDER.getDepthTextureId(), this.mcOpaqueDepthTextureValues); }
+	public void getMcTransparentDepthTexture() { this.gotMcDepthThisFrame = this.trySetDepthTexture(MC_RENDER.getDepthTextureId(), this.mcTransparentDepthTextureValues); }
+	public void trySetDhDepthTexture() { this.gotDhDepthThisFrame = this.trySetDepthTexture(LodRenderer.INSTANCE.getActiveDepthTextureId(), this.dhDepthTextureValues); }
+	private boolean trySetDepthTexture(int id, float[] outputRef)
+	{
+		// don't change the texture if a process is already running
+		if (this.thread != null)
+		{
+			return false;
+		}
+		
+		this.resizeTexturesIfNeeded();
+		if (id == -1)
+		{
+			return false;
+		}
+		
+		// FIXME this is slow and causes frame stuttering
+		GL46.glGetTextureImage(id, 0, GL32.GL_DEPTH_COMPONENT, GL32.GL_FLOAT, outputRef);
+		return true;
+	}
+	private void resizeTexturesIfNeeded()
+	{
+		int width = MC_RENDER.getTargetFramebufferViewportWidth();
+		int height = MC_RENDER.getTargetFramebufferViewportHeight();
+		int elementCount = width * height;
+		if (this.dhDepthTextureValues.length != elementCount)
+		{
+			this.mcOpaqueDepthTextureValues = new float[width * height];
+			this.mcTransparentDepthTextureValues = new float[width * height];
+			
+			this.dhDepthTextureValues = new float[width * height];
+			this.outDepthTextureValues = new float[width * height];
+		}
+	}
+	
+	
+	
+	public void tryCalculateAsync()
+	{
+		if (this.thread != null)
+		{
+			return;
+		}
+		
+		//if (!this.gotDhDepthThisFrame
+		//	|| !this.gotMcDepthThisFrame)
+		//{
+		//	return;
+		//}
+		
+		if (this.pause)
+		{
+			int k = 0;
+		}
+		
+		
+		this.thread = new Thread(() ->
+		{
+			try
+			{
+				this.calculateDepth();
+			}
+			catch (Exception e)
+			{
+				LOGGER.error("async test: " + e.getMessage(), e);
+			}
+			finally
+			{
+				this.thread = null;
+				this.pause = false;
+			}
+		});
+		this.thread.start();
+	}
+	public void calculateDepth()
+	{
+		int width = MC_RENDER.getTargetFramebufferViewportWidth();
+		int height = MC_RENDER.getTargetFramebufferViewportHeight();
+		int elementCount = width * height;
+		
+		
+		// used to calculate the DH render matrices
+		RenderParams renderParams =
+			new RenderParams(
+				EDhApiRenderPass.OPAQUE,
+				ClientApi.RENDER_STATE.frameTime,
+				ClientApi.RENDER_STATE.mcProjectionMatrix, ClientApi.RENDER_STATE.mcModelViewMatrix,
+				ClientApi.RENDER_STATE.clientLevelWrapper
+			);
+		
+		Mat4f dhInvProj = new Mat4f(renderParams.dhProjectionMatrix);
+		dhInvProj.invert();
+		Matrix4f dhInvProjJoml = dhInvProj.createJomlMatrix();
+		
+		Mat4f dhInvMvm = new Mat4f(renderParams.dhModelViewMatrix);
+		dhInvMvm.invert();
+		Matrix4f dhInvMvmJoml = dhInvMvm.createJomlMatrix(); // TODO can we use JOML for MC 1.16?
+		
+		
+		float[] sampledDistances = new float[9];
+		
+		// find the closest depth value MC hasn't drawn to
+		float closestDhDepth = 1.0f; float closestDhDistance = Float.MAX_VALUE;
+		int closeUIndex = 0; int closeVIndex = 0;
+		for (int u = 0; u < width; u++) // x
+		{
+			for (int v = 0; v < height; v++) // y
+			{
+				int invertedV = height - 1 - v;
+				int i = (invertedV * width) + u;
+				
+				
+				this.outDepthTextureValues[i] = 0.0f;
+				
+				float mcDepth = Config.Client.dynamicFadeUseOpaqueMcDepth.get()
+					? this.mcOpaqueDepthTextureValues[i]
+					: this.mcTransparentDepthTextureValues[i];
+				if (mcDepth < 1.0f) // ignore positions MC has drawn to
+				{
+					continue;
+				}
+				
+				float dhDepth = this.dhDepthTextureValues[i];
+				if (dhDepth == 1.0f) // ignore positions DH has NOT drawn to
+				{
+					continue;
+				}
+				this.outDepthTextureValues[i] = dhDepth;
+				
+				
+				// calculate this point's distance from the camera
+				float ndcU = u / (float)width;
+				float ndcV = invertedV / (float)height;
+				float dist = convertDepthToBlockDistance(ndcU, ndcV, dhInvProjJoml, dhInvMvmJoml, dhDepth);
+				
+				//// sample the 9 surrounding pixels to account for off-by-one errors between the MC and DH depth textures
+				//int sampleIndex = 0;
+				//for (int relU = -1; relU < 1; relU++)
+				//{
+				//	for (int relV = -1; relV < 1; relV++)
+				//	{
+				//		invertedV = height - 1 - v + relV;
+				//		i = (invertedV * width) + u + relU;
+				//		dhDepth = this.dhDepthTextureValues[i];
+				//		
+				//		if (v + relV < 0 || v + relV > height
+				//			|| u + relU < 0 || u + relU > width)
+				//		{
+				//			sampledDistances[sampleIndex] = 0.0f;
+				//			sampleIndex++;
+				//		}
+				//		
+				//		// calculate this point's distance from the camera
+				//		float ndcU = u / (float)width;
+				//		float ndcV = invertedV / (float)height;
+				//		float dist = convertDepthToBlockDistance(ndcU, ndcV, dhInvProjJoml, dhInvMvmJoml, dhDepth);
+				//		
+				//		sampledDistances[sampleIndex] = dist;
+				//		sampleIndex++;
+				//	}
+				//}
+				//
+				//
+				//Arrays.sort(sampledDistances);
+				//// return the median element
+				//float dist = sampledDistances[sampledDistances.length / 2];
+				//if (dist == 0.0f)
+				//{
+				//	// the median was 0, return the smallest non-zero element
+				//	for (sampleIndex = 0; sampleIndex < sampledDistances.length; sampleIndex++)
+				//	{
+				//		if (sampledDistances[sampleIndex] != 0.0f)
+				//		{
+				//			dist = sampledDistances[sampleIndex];
+				//			break;
+				//		}
+				//	}
+				//}
+				
+				if (dist < closestDhDistance)
+				{
+					closestDhDepth = dhDepth;
+					closestDhDistance = dist;
+					
+					closeUIndex = u;
+					closeVIndex = invertedV;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+		
+		
+		
+		
+		if (this.lastClosestDhDepth != closestDhDepth)
+		{
+			NumberFormat numForm = NumberFormat.getNumberInstance();
+			ClientApi.INSTANCE.showChatMessageNextFrame(
+				"closest: ["+numForm.format(closestDhDepth)+"]-b["+numForm.format(closestDhDistance)+"]c["+numForm.format(closestDhDistance/16)+"] ("+(closeUIndex)+","+(closeVIndex)+")" +
+					"");
+			
+			this.actualMcBlockDistance = closestDhDistance;
+		}
+		this.lastClosestDhDepth = closestDhDepth;
+		
+		
+		if (this.pause)
+		{
+			// find the range of depth values used by both textures for clearer exporting
+			float closestMcDepth = 1.0f; float furthestMcDepth = 0.0f;
+			float minDhDepth = 1.0f; float maxDhDepth = 0.0f;
+			for (int i = 0; i < elementCount; i++)
+			{
+				float mcDepth = this.mcOpaqueDepthTextureValues[i];
+				if (mcDepth != 0.0f && mcDepth != 1.0f)
+				{
+					if (mcDepth < closestMcDepth)
+					{
+						closestMcDepth = mcDepth;
+					}
+					
+					if (mcDepth > furthestMcDepth)
+					{
+						furthestMcDepth = mcDepth;
+					}
+				}
+				
+				float dhDepth = this.dhDepthTextureValues[i];
+				if (dhDepth != 0.0f && dhDepth != 1.0f)
+				{
+					if (dhDepth < minDhDepth)
+					{
+						minDhDepth = dhDepth;
+					}
+					
+					if (dhDepth > maxDhDepth)
+					{
+						maxDhDepth = dhDepth;
+					}
+				}
+				
+			}
+			
+			
+			String exportPath = Config.Client.dynamicFadeExportPath.get();
+			
+			ClientApi.INSTANCE.showChatMessageNextFrame("exporting debug textures to: ["+exportPath+"]...");
+			
+			// mc opaque
+			createImg(
+				this.mcOpaqueDepthTextureValues,
+				closeUIndex, closeVIndex,
+				(Float depth) -> { return null; },
+				width, height, closestMcDepth, furthestMcDepth,
+				exportPath+"mc-opaque_depth.png");
+			
+			// mc transparent
+			createImg(
+				this.mcTransparentDepthTextureValues,
+				closeUIndex, closeVIndex,
+				(Float depth) -> { return null; },
+				width, height, closestMcDepth, furthestMcDepth,
+				exportPath+"mc-tran_depth.png");
+			
+			// dh
+			Function<Float, Color> customColorFunc = (Float depth) ->
+			{
+				if (depth == this.lastClosestDhDepth)
+				{
+					return Color.RED;
+				}
+				//else if (depth <= (lastClosestDhDepth + 0.01f))
+				//{
+				//	return Color.ORANGE;
+				//}
+				
+				return null;
+			};
+			createImg(
+				this.dhDepthTextureValues,
+				closeUIndex, closeVIndex,
+				customColorFunc,
+				width, height, minDhDepth, maxDhDepth,
+				exportPath+"dh_depth.png");
+			
+			// temp
+			
+			createImg(
+				this.outDepthTextureValues,
+				closeUIndex, closeVIndex,
+				(Float depth) -> { return null; },
+				width, height, minDhDepth, maxDhDepth,
+				exportPath+"temp_depth.png");
+			
+			int breakPoint = 0;
+		}
+	}
+	/** NDC (Normalized Device Coordinates) must be between 0.0 and 1.0 (inclusive) */
+	private static float convertDepthToBlockDistance(float ndcU, float ndcV, Matrix4f invProj, Matrix4f invMvm, float depth)
+	{
+		// This assumes depth is scaled to [0, 1]
+		// Transform depth to clip space Z value
+		float z = depth * 2.0f - 1.0f;
+		
+		// Create a vector in clip space
+		Vector4f clipSpacePosition = new Vector4f(ndcU, ndcV, z, 1.0f);
+		
+		// Transform to world space
+		Vector4f worldSpacePosition = clipSpacePosition.mul(invProj);
+		worldSpacePosition.div(worldSpacePosition.w); // Perform perspective divide
+		
+		// Finally apply the inverse model-view matrix to get world space coordinates
+		worldSpacePosition = worldSpacePosition.mul(invMvm);
+		
+		// calculate distance from the camera
+		float distance = worldSpacePosition.distance(0, 0, 0, 0);
+		return distance;
+	}
+	private static void createImg(
+		float[] tex,
+		int nearestU, int nearestV,
+		Function<Float, Color> customColorFunc,
+		int width, int height,
+		float minDepth, float maxDepth,
+		String filePath)
+	{
+		// Create a BufferedImage
+		BufferedImage image = new BufferedImage(width, height, BufferedImage.TYPE_INT_RGB);
+		
+		for (int u = 0; u < width; u++)
+		{
+			for (int v = 0; v < height; v++)
+			{
+				int invertedY = height - 1 - v;
+				
+				// Normalize the depth value to a grayscale pixel
+				float depthValue = tex[(invertedY * width) + u];
+				Color color = customColorFunc.apply(depthValue);
+				if (color == null)
+				{
+					float normalizedDepth = (depthValue - minDepth) / (maxDepth - minDepth); // Normalize to 0.0 to 1.0
+					normalizedDepth = Math.max(0.0f, Math.min(1.0f, normalizedDepth)); // Clamp to valid range
+					
+					int gray = (int) (normalizedDepth * 255); // Map to 0-255
+					gray = Math.max(0, Math.min(255, gray)); // Clamp to valid range
+					color = new Color(gray, gray, gray);
+				}
+				
+				if (depthValue == 1.0f)
+				{
+					color = new Color(0,0,0,0);
+				}
+				
+				if (u == nearestU)
+				{
+					color = Color.MAGENTA;
+				}
+				else if (invertedY == nearestV)
+				{
+					color = Color.ORANGE;
+				}
+				
+				image.setRGB(u, v, color.getRGB());
+			}
+		}
+		
+		// Write the image to a file
+		try
+		{
+			ImageIO.write(image, "png", new File(filePath));
+		}
+		catch (IOException e)
+		{
+			LOGGER.error("Unable to write texture to file, error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
+		}
+	}
+	
+	
+	
+	
+}

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

@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.interfaces.override.rendering.IDhApiShader
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.methods.events.sharedParameterObjects.DhApiRenderParam;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.math.DhApiVec3f;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dataObjects.render.bufferBuilding.LodQuadBuilder;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.glObject.GLProxy;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.glObject.shader.Shader;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.glObject.shader.ShaderProgram;
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.math.Vec3f;
 
 /**
  * Handles rendering the normal LOD terrain.
+ * @see LodQuadBuilder 
  */
 public class DhTerrainShaderProgram extends ShaderProgram implements IDhApiShaderProgram
 {
@@ -46,16 +48,14 @@ public class DhTerrainShaderProgram extends ShaderProgram implements IDhApiShade
 	public int uCombinedMatrix = -1;
 	public int uModelOffset = -1;
 	public int uWorldYOffset = -1;
-	public int uDitherDhRendering = -1;
 	
 	public int uMircoOffset = -1;
-	
 	public int uEarthRadius = -1;
-	
 	public int uLightMap = -1;
 	
-	// Fog/Clip Uniforms
+	// fragment shader uniforms
 	public int uClipDistance = -1;
+	public int uDitherDhRendering = -1;
 	
 	// Noise Uniforms
 	public int uNoiseEnabled = -1;
@@ -76,19 +76,16 @@ public class DhTerrainShaderProgram extends ShaderProgram implements IDhApiShade
 	public DhTerrainShaderProgram()
 	{
 		super(
-				() -> Shader.loadFile(Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Experimental.earthCurveRatio.get() != 0 
-								? "shaders/curve.vert"
-								: "shaders/standard.vert",
-						false, new StringBuilder()).toString(),
-				() -> Shader.loadFile("shaders/flat_shaded.frag", false, new StringBuilder()).toString(),
-				"fragColor", new String[]{"vPosition", "color"});
+			() -> Shader.loadFile("shaders/standard.vert", false, new StringBuilder()).toString(),
+			() -> Shader.loadFile("shaders/flat_shaded.frag", false, new StringBuilder()).toString(),
+			"fragColor", new String[]{"vPosition", "color"});
 		
 		this.uCombinedMatrix = this.getUniformLocation("uCombinedMatrix");
 		this.uModelOffset = this.getUniformLocation("uModelOffset");
-		this.uWorldYOffset = this.tryGetUniformLocation("uWorldYOffset");
-		this.uDitherDhRendering = this.tryGetUniformLocation("uDitherDhRendering");
+		this.uWorldYOffset = this.getUniformLocation("uWorldYOffset");
+		this.uDitherDhRendering = this.getUniformLocation("uDitherDhRendering");
 		this.uMircoOffset = this.getUniformLocation("uMircoOffset");
-		this.uEarthRadius = this.tryGetUniformLocation("uEarthRadius");
+		this.uEarthRadius = this.getUniformLocation("uEarthRadius");
 		
 		this.uLightMap = this.getUniformLocation("uLightMap");
 		
@@ -117,10 +114,13 @@ public class DhTerrainShaderProgram extends ShaderProgram implements IDhApiShade
 		}
 		this.vao.bind();
 		
-		// TODO comment what each attribute represents
-		this.vao.setVertexAttribute(0, 0, VertexPointer.addUnsignedShortsPointer(4, false, true)); // 2+2+2+2 // TODO probably color, blockpos
-		this.vao.setVertexAttribute(0, 1, VertexPointer.addUnsignedBytesPointer(4, true, false)); // +4 // TODO ?
-		this.vao.setVertexAttribute(0, 2, VertexPointer.addUnsignedBytesPointer(4, true, true)); // +4 // TODO probably normal index and Iris block ID
+		// short: x, y, z, meta
+		//      meta: byte skylight, byte blocklight, byte microOffset
+		this.vao.setVertexAttribute(0, 0, VertexPointer.addUnsignedShortsPointer(4, false, true));
+		// byte: r, g, b, a
+		this.vao.setVertexAttribute(0, 1, VertexPointer.addUnsignedBytesPointer(4, true, false));
+		// byte: iris material ID, normal index, 2 spacers
+		this.vao.setVertexAttribute(0, 2, VertexPointer.addUnsignedBytesPointer(4, true, true));
 		
 		try
 		{
@@ -178,12 +178,21 @@ public class DhTerrainShaderProgram extends ShaderProgram implements IDhApiShade
 		// setUniform(skyLightUniform, skyLight);
 		this.setUniform(this.uLightMap, 0); // TODO this should probably be passed in
 		
-		if (this.uWorldYOffset != -1) this.setUniform(this.uWorldYOffset, (float) renderParameters.worldYOffset);
+		this.setUniform(this.uWorldYOffset, (float) renderParameters.worldYOffset);
 		
-		if (this.uDitherDhRendering != -1) this.setUniform(this.uDitherDhRendering, Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Quality.ditherDhFade.get());
+		this.setUniform(this.uDitherDhRendering, Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Quality.ditherDhFade.get());
 		
-		if (this.uEarthRadius != -1) this.setUniform(this.uEarthRadius,
-				/*6371KM*/ 6371000.0f / Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Experimental.earthCurveRatio.get());
+		float curveRatio = Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.Experimental.earthCurveRatio.get();
+		if (curveRatio < -1.0f || curveRatio > 1.0f)
+		{
+			curveRatio = /*6371KM*/ 6371000.0f / curveRatio;
+		}
+		else
+		{
+			// disable curvature if the config value is between -1 and 1
+			curveRatio = 0.0f;
+		}
+		this.setUniform(this.uEarthRadius, curveRatio);
 		
 		// Noise Uniforms
 		this.setUniform(this.uNoiseEnabled, Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.NoiseTexture.enableNoiseTexture.get());
@@ -195,17 +204,17 @@ public class DhTerrainShaderProgram extends ShaderProgram implements IDhApiShade
 		this.setUniform(this.uIsWhiteWorld, Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.enableWhiteWorld.get());
 		
 		// Clip Uniform
-		float dhNearClipDistance = RenderUtil.getNearClipPlaneInBlocksForFading(renderParameters.partialTicks);
-		if (!Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.lodOnlyMode.get())
-		{
-			// this added value prevents the near clip plane and discard circle from touching, which looks bad
-			dhNearClipDistance += 16f;
-		}
+		float dhNearClipDistance = 0.1f;//RenderUtil.getNearClipPlaneInBlocksForFading(renderParameters.partialTicks);
+		//if (!Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.lodOnlyMode.get())
+		//{
+		//	// this added value prevents the near clip plane and discard circle from touching, which looks bad
+		//	dhNearClipDistance += 16f;
+		//}
 		// if the player is very high up and the near clip plane has been modified, disable the distance clipping
 		// we're high enough that nothing will render on top of the player and this can cause issues otherwise
 		if (RenderUtil.getHeightBasedNearClipOverride() != -1)
 		{
-			dhNearClipDistance = 1.0f;
+			dhNearClipDistance = 1.0f; // TODO does this actually disable anything?
 		}
 		this.setUniform(this.uClipDistance, dhNearClipDistance);
 	}

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

@@ -222,6 +222,8 @@ public class LodRenderer
 			profiler.popPush("LOD Opaque");
 			this.renderLodPass(lodShaderProgram, renderBufferHandler, renderParams, /*opaquePass*/ true);
 			
+			DepthCalculator.INSTANCE.trySetDhDepthTexture();
+			
 			// custom objects with SSAO
 			if (Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.GenericRendering.enableGenericRendering.get())
 			{
@@ -434,7 +436,7 @@ public class LodRenderer
 		
 		// resize the textures if needed
 		if (MC_RENDER.getTargetFramebufferViewportWidth() != this.textureWidth
-				|| MC_RENDER.getTargetFramebufferViewportHeight() != this.textureHeight)
+			|| MC_RENDER.getTargetFramebufferViewportHeight() != this.textureHeight)
 		{
 			// just resizing the textures doesn't work when Optifine is present,
 			// so recreate the textures with the new size instead
@@ -536,7 +538,7 @@ public class LodRenderer
 		return true;
 	}
 	
-	@SuppressWarnings( "deprecation" )
+	@SuppressWarnings( "deprecation" ) // done to ignore DhApiColorDepthTextureCreatedEvent
 	private void createAndBindTextures()
 	{
 		int oldWidth = this.textureWidth;

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

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ public class RenderParams extends DhApiRenderParam
 	
 	public IDhClientWorld dhClientWorld;
 	public IDhClientLevel dhClientLevel;
+	/** more specific override of the API value {@link DhApiRenderParam#clientLevelWrapper} */
 	public IClientLevelWrapper clientLevelWrapper;
 	public ILightMapWrapper lightmap;
 	public RenderBufferHandler renderBufferHandler;
@@ -56,7 +57,8 @@ public class RenderParams extends DhApiRenderParam
 			RenderUtil.getNearClipPlaneDistanceInBlocks(newPartialTicks), RenderUtil.getFarClipPlaneDistanceInBlocks(),
 			newMcProjectionMatrix, newMcModelViewMatrix,
 			RenderUtil.createLodProjectionMatrix(newMcProjectionMatrix, newPartialTicks), RenderUtil.createLodModelViewMatrix(newMcModelViewMatrix),
-			clientLevelWrapper.getMinHeight());
+			clientLevelWrapper.getMinHeight(),
+			clientLevelWrapper);
 		
 		
 		this.dhClientWorld = SharedApi.tryGetDhClientWorld();

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

@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.api.objects.render.DhApiRenderableBoxGroupShad
 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.pos.DhSectionPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.pos.blockPos.DhBlockPos;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.sql.dto.BeaconBeamDTO;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
@@ -39,8 +40,7 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.ModInfo;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.NotNull;
 
-import java.util.ArrayList;
-import java.util.HashSet;
+import java.util.*;
 import java.util.concurrent.RejectedExecutionException;
 import java.util.concurrent.ThreadPoolExecutor;
 import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock;
@@ -54,6 +54,8 @@ public class BeaconRenderHandler
 	/** how often should we check if a beacon should be culled? */
 	private static final int MAX_CULLING_FREQUENCY_IN_MS = 1_000;
 	
+	private static final Comparator<BeaconBeamDTO> NEGATIVE_BLOCKPOS_COMPARATOR = new NegativeInfiniteBlockPosComparator();
+	
 	
 	
 	private final ReentrantLock updateLock = new ReentrantLock();
@@ -89,20 +91,74 @@ public class BeaconRenderHandler
 	// render handling //
 	//=================//
 	
-	public void startRenderingBeacon(BeaconBeamDTO beacon)
+	public void startRenderingBeacons(ArrayList<BeaconBeamDTO> beaconList, byte detailLevel)
 	{
 		try
 		{
 			this.updateLock.lock();
 			
-			if (this.beaconBlockPosSet.add(beacon.blockPos))
+			
+			// how wide should each beacon be?
+			int beaconBlockWidth = 1;
+			if (Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.GenericRendering.expandDistantBeacons.get())
 			{
+				beaconBlockWidth = DhSectionPos.getBlockWidth(detailLevel);
+			}
+			
+			
+			ArrayList<BeaconBeamDTO> sortedBeaconList = new ArrayList<>(beaconList);
+			
+			// merge distant beams if requested
+			if (Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.GenericRendering.expandDistantBeacons.get())
+			{
+				// sort beacons from neg inf -> pos inf
+				// so we can consistently merge adjacent beacons
+				sortedBeaconList.sort(NEGATIVE_BLOCKPOS_COMPARATOR);
+				
+				// go through each beacon...
+				for (int outerIndex = 0; outerIndex < sortedBeaconList.size(); outerIndex++)
+				{
+					BeaconBeamDTO outerBeacon = sortedBeaconList.get(outerIndex);
+					DhBlockPos outerBlockPos = outerBeacon.blockPos;
+					
+					// ...and remove any beacons that are within the block width to prevent overlaps
+					for (int mergeIndex = outerIndex + 1; mergeIndex < sortedBeaconList.size(); mergeIndex++)
+					{
+						BeaconBeamDTO beaconToMerge = sortedBeaconList.get(mergeIndex);
+						DhBlockPos mergeBlockPos = beaconToMerge.blockPos;
+						
+						int xDiff = mergeBlockPos.getX() - outerBlockPos.getX();
+						int zDiff = mergeBlockPos.getZ() - outerBlockPos.getZ();
+						
+						// merge (remove) this beacon if
+						// it's close to the outer beacon
+						if (xDiff < beaconBlockWidth
+							&& zDiff < beaconBlockWidth)
+						{
+							sortedBeaconList.remove(mergeIndex);
+							mergeIndex--; // minus 1 so we don't go past the end of the array when incrementing in the for loop up top
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			
+			
+			// add each beacon to the renderer
+			for (int i = 0; i < sortedBeaconList.size(); i++)
+			{
+				BeaconBeamDTO beacon = sortedBeaconList.get(i);
+				if (!this.beaconBlockPosSet.add(beacon.blockPos))
+				{
+					continue;
+				}
+				
+				
 				int maxBeaconBeamHeight = Config.Client.Advanced.Graphics.GenericRendering.beaconRenderHeight.get();
 				DhApiRenderableBox beaconBox = new DhApiRenderableBox(
-						new DhApiVec3d(beacon.blockPos.getX(), beacon.blockPos.getY() + 1, beacon.blockPos.getZ()),
-						new DhApiVec3d(beacon.blockPos.getX() + 1, maxBeaconBeamHeight, beacon.blockPos.getZ() + 1),
-						beacon.color,
-						EDhApiBlockMaterial.ILLUMINATED
+					new DhApiVec3d(beacon.blockPos.getX(), beacon.blockPos.getY() + 1, beacon.blockPos.getZ()),
+					new DhApiVec3d(beacon.blockPos.getX() + beaconBlockWidth, maxBeaconBeamHeight, beacon.blockPos.getZ() + beaconBlockWidth),
+					beacon.color,
+					EDhApiBlockMaterial.ILLUMINATED
 				);
 				
 				this.beaconBoxGroup.add(beaconBox);
@@ -116,19 +172,26 @@ public class BeaconRenderHandler
 		}
 	}
 	
-	public void stopRenderingBeaconAtPos(DhBlockPos beaconPos)
+	public void stopRenderingBeacons(ArrayList<BeaconBeamDTO> beaconList)
 	{
 		try
 		{
 			this.updateLock.lock();
 			
-			if (this.beaconBlockPosSet.remove(beaconPos))
+			for (int i = 0; i < beaconList.size(); i++)
 			{
+				BeaconBeamDTO beacon = beaconList.get(i);
+				DhBlockPos beaconPos = beacon.blockPos;
+				if (!this.beaconBlockPosSet.remove(beaconPos))
+				{
+					continue;
+				}
+				
 				Predicate<DhApiRenderableBox> removePredicate = (DhApiRenderableBox box) ->
 				{
 					return box.minPos.x == beaconPos.getX()
-							&& box.minPos.y == beaconPos.getY() + 1 // plus 1 because the beam starts above the beacon
-							&& box.minPos.z == beaconPos.getZ();
+						&& box.minPos.y == beaconPos.getY() + 1 // plus 1 because the beam starts above the beacon
+						&& box.minPos.z == beaconPos.getZ();
 				};
 				this.beaconBoxGroup.removeIf(removePredicate);
 				this.fullBeaconBoxList.removeIf(removePredicate);
@@ -255,4 +318,28 @@ public class BeaconRenderHandler
 	}
 	
 	
+	
+	//================//
+ 	// helper classes //
+ 	//================//
+	
+	private static class NegativeInfiniteBlockPosComparator implements Comparator<BeaconBeamDTO>
+	{
+		@Override
+		public int compare(BeaconBeamDTO beacon1, BeaconBeamDTO beacon2)
+		{
+			DhBlockPos blockPos1 = beacon1.blockPos;
+			DhBlockPos blockPos2 = beacon2.blockPos;
+			
+			// sort by X, then by Z
+			if (blockPos1.getX() != blockPos2.getX())
+			{
+				return Integer.compare(blockPos1.getX(), blockPos2.getX());
+			}
+			return Integer.compare(blockPos1.getZ(), blockPos2.getZ());
+		}
+	}
+	
+	
+	
 }

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

@@ -493,7 +493,7 @@ public class CloudRenderHandler
 	
 	private static boolean[][] getCloudsFromTexture() throws FileNotFoundException, IOException
 	{
-		final ClassLoader loader = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
+		final ClassLoader loader = CloudRenderHandler.class.getClassLoader();
 		
 		boolean[][] whitePixels = null;
 		try(InputStream imageInputStream = loader.getResourceAsStream(CLOUD_RESOURCE_TEXTURE_PATH))

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

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
 
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.shaders;
 
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.ClientApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.glObject.shader.ShaderProgram;
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ public class VanillaFadeShader extends AbstractShaderRenderer
 		
 		float dhNearClipDistance = RenderUtil.getNearClipPlaneInBlocksForFading(partialTicks);
 		// this added value prevents the near clip plane and discard circle from touching, which looks bad
-		dhNearClipDistance += 16f;
+		//dhNearClipDistance += 16f;
 		
 		// measured in blocks
 		// these multipliers in James' tests should provide a fairly smooth transition

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/sql/DatabaseUpdater.java

@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ public class DatabaseUpdater
 	/** @throws NullPointerException if any of the script files failed to be read. */
 	private static ArrayList<SqlScript> getAutoUpdateScripts() throws NullPointerException, IOException
 	{
-		final ClassLoader loader = Thread.currentThread().getContextClassLoader();
+		final ClassLoader loader = DatabaseUpdater.class.getClassLoader();
 		
 		
 		// get the script list

core/src/main/java/com/seibel/distanthorizons/core/sql/dto/BeaconBeamDTO.java

@@ -76,6 +76,9 @@ public class BeaconBeamDTO implements IBaseDTO<DhBlockPos>, INetworkObject
 	public void close()
 	{ /* no closing needed */ }
 	
+	@Override 
+	public String toString() { return this.blockPos + " " + this.color; }
+	
 	
 	
 }

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

@@ -19,8 +19,10 @@
 
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util;
 
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.ClientApi;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.config.Config;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.dependencyInjection.SingletonInjector;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.render.renderer.DepthCalculator;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftClientWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.minecraft.IMinecraftRenderWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IClientLevelWrapper;
@@ -127,13 +129,16 @@ public class RenderUtil
 	}
 	public static float getNearClipPlaneInBlocksForFading(float partialTicks)
 	{
-		float overdraw = getAutoOverdrawPrevention();
-		return getNearClipPlaneDistanceInBlocks(partialTicks, overdraw);
+		//float overdraw = getAutoOverdrawPrevention();
+		//return getNearClipPlaneDistanceInBlocks(partialTicks, overdraw);
+		
+		return DepthCalculator.INSTANCE.actualMcBlockDistance;
 	}
 	private static float getNearClipPlaneDistanceInBlocks(float partialTicks, float overdrawPreventionPercent)
 	{
 		int chunkRenderDistance = MC_RENDER.getRenderDistance();
-		int vanillaBlockRenderedDistance = chunkRenderDistance * LodUtil.CHUNK_WIDTH;
+		//float chunkRenderDistance = ClientApi.actualMcBlockDistance / 16.0f;
+		float vanillaBlockRenderedDistance = chunkRenderDistance * LodUtil.CHUNK_WIDTH;
 		
 		float nearClipPlane;
 		if (Config.Client.Advanced.Debugging.lodOnlyMode.get())

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

@@ -31,12 +31,10 @@ import com.seibel.distanthorizons.coreapi.util.MathUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.gridList.MovableGridRingList;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.LongArrayFIFOQueue;
 import it.unimi.dsi.fastutil.longs.LongIterator;
-import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.logging.DhLogger;
 import org.jetbrains.annotations.Nullable;
 
 import java.util.*;
 import java.util.function.Consumer;
-import java.util.function.Function;
 import java.util.function.LongConsumer;
 
 /**
@@ -98,9 +96,27 @@ public class QuadTree<T>
 	// getters and setters //
 	//=====================//
 	
+	/** @return the value at the given section position. Null will be returned if the value is missing or the position is out of bounds. */
+	@Nullable
+	public final T tryGetValue(long pos)
+	{
+		QuadNode<T> node = this.tryGetNode(pos);
+		if (node != null)
+		{
+			return node.value;
+		}
+		return null;
+	}
+	
+	/** @return the node at the given section position, null if out of bounds */
+	@Nullable
+	public final QuadNode<T> tryGetNode(long pos) { return this.getOrSetNode(pos, false, null, false); }
+	
+	
 	/** @return the node at the given section position */
 	@Nullable
 	public final QuadNode<T> getNode(long pos) throws IndexOutOfBoundsException { return this.getOrSetNode(pos, false, null, true); }
+	
 	/** @return the value at the given section position */
 	@Nullable
 	public final T getValue(long pos) throws IndexOutOfBoundsException
@@ -122,16 +138,24 @@ public class QuadTree<T>
 		return previousValue;
 	}
 	
-	/** @param runBoundaryChecks should only ever be set to true internally for removing out of bound nodes */
+	/** @param throwIfOutOfBounds if false returns null */
 	@Nullable
-	protected final QuadNode<T> getOrSetNode(long pos, boolean setNewValue, T newValue, boolean runBoundaryChecks) throws IndexOutOfBoundsException
+	protected final QuadNode<T> getOrSetNode(long pos, boolean setNewValue, T newValue, boolean throwIfOutOfBounds) throws IndexOutOfBoundsException
 	{
-		if (runBoundaryChecks && !this.isSectionPosInBounds(pos))
+		if (!this.isSectionPosInBounds(pos))
 		{
-			int radius = this.diameterInBlocks() / 2;
-			DhBlockPos2D minPos = this.getCenterBlockPos().add(new DhBlockPos2D(-radius, -radius));
-			DhBlockPos2D maxPos = this.getCenterBlockPos().add(new DhBlockPos2D(radius, radius));
-			throw new IndexOutOfBoundsException("QuadTree GetOrSet failed. Position out of bounds, min pos: " + minPos + ", max pos: " + maxPos + ", min detail level: " + this.treeLeafDetailLevel + ", max detail level: " + this.treeRootDetailLevel + ". Given Position: [" + DhSectionPos.toString(pos) + "] = block pos: " + DhSectionPos.convertToDetailLevel(pos, LodUtil.BLOCK_DETAIL_LEVEL));
+			// how should out-of-bounds positions be handled?
+			if (throwIfOutOfBounds)
+			{
+				int radius = this.diameterInBlocks() / 2;
+				DhBlockPos2D minBlockPos = this.getCenterBlockPos().add(new DhBlockPos2D(-radius, -radius));
+				DhBlockPos2D maxBlockPos = this.getCenterBlockPos().add(new DhBlockPos2D(radius, radius));
+				throw new IndexOutOfBoundsException("QuadTree GetOrSet failed. Position out of bounds, min block pos: [" + minBlockPos + "], max block pos: [" + maxBlockPos + "], leaf detail level: [" + this.treeLeafDetailLevel + "], root detail level: [" + this.treeRootDetailLevel + "]. Requested section pos: [" + DhSectionPos.toString(pos) + "].");
+			}
+			else
+			{
+				return null;
+			}
 		}
 		
 		
@@ -278,46 +302,6 @@ public class QuadTree<T>
 				removedItemConsumer.accept(quadNode.value);
 			}
 		});
-
-
-//		// remove out of bound nodes and clean up empty nodes
-//		// Note: this will iterate over a lot of unnecessary nodes, hopefully speed won't be an issue
-//		Iterator<DhSectionPos> rootNodePosIterator = this.rootNodePosIterator();
-//		while (rootNodePosIterator.hasNext())
-//		{
-//			// get the root node (regular nodeIterators won't return them if they are out of bounds)
-//			DhSectionPos rootPos = rootNodePosIterator.next();
-//			QuadNode<T> rootNode = this.getOrSetNode(rootPos, false, null, false);
-//			if (rootNode == null)
-//			{
-//				continue;
-//			}
-//			
-//			// remove any child nodes that are out of bounds
-//			Iterator<QuadNode<T>> nodeIterator = this.nodeIterator();
-//			while (nodeIterator.hasNext())
-//			{
-//				QuadNode<T> node = nodeIterator.next();
-//				if(!this.isSectionPosInBounds(node.sectionPos))
-//				{
-//					// node is out of bounds
-//					
-//					// FIXME(?) this appears to potentially return large nodes that are partially or entirely in bounds
-//					
-//					if (node.getNonNullChildCount() == 0)
-//					{
-//						// no child nodes, can be safely removed
-//						nodeIterator.remove();
-//					}
-//					else
-//					{
-//						// node can't be removed, but its value can be set to null
-//						node.value = null;
-//					}
-//				}
-//			}
-//		}
-		
 	}
 	
 	public final DhBlockPos2D getCenterBlockPos() { return this.centerBlockPos; }
@@ -544,7 +528,9 @@ public class QuadTree<T>
 					&& this.rootNodeIterator.hasNext())
 			{
 				long sectionPos = this.rootNodeIterator.nextLong();
-				QuadNode<T> rootNode = QuadTree.this.getNode(sectionPos);
+				
+				// try-get to prevent concurrency errors if the tree is being moved while we walk through it
+				QuadNode<T> rootNode = QuadTree.this.tryGetNode(sectionPos);
 				if (rootNode != null)
 				{
 					nodeIterator = this.onlyReturnLeaves ? rootNode.getLeafNodeIterator() : rootNode.getNodeIterator(this.stopIteratingFunc);

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

@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ import java.util.function.Consumer;
 public class QuadTreeNodeIterator<T> implements Iterator<QuadNode<T>>
 {
 	/** lowest numerical value, inclusive */
-	private final byte highestDetailLevel;
+	private final byte leafDetailLevel;
 	
 	
 	private final Queue<QuadNode<T>> validNodesForDetailLevel = new ArrayDeque<>();
@@ -48,8 +48,7 @@ public class QuadTreeNodeIterator<T> implements Iterator<QuadNode<T>>
 	{
 		this.onlyReturnLeafValues = onlyReturnLeafValues;
 		this.stopIteratingFunc = stopIteratingFunc;
-		// TODO the naming conversion for these are flipped in a lot of places
-		this.highestDetailLevel = rootNode.parentTreeLeafDetailLevel;
+		this.leafDetailLevel = rootNode.parentTreeLeafDetailLevel;
 		this.iteratorDetailLevel = DhSectionPos.getDetailLevel(rootNode.sectionPos);
 		
 		
@@ -110,9 +109,9 @@ public class QuadTreeNodeIterator<T> implements Iterator<QuadNode<T>>
 	@Override
 	public QuadNode<T> next()
 	{
-		if (this.iteratorDetailLevel < this.highestDetailLevel)
+		if (this.iteratorDetailLevel < this.leafDetailLevel)
 		{
-			throw new NoSuchElementException("Highest detail level reached [" + this.highestDetailLevel + "].");
+			throw new NoSuchElementException("Leaf detail level reached [" + this.leafDetailLevel + "].");
 		}
 		if (this.iteratorNodeQueue.size() == 0)
 		{
@@ -133,7 +132,7 @@ public class QuadTreeNodeIterator<T> implements Iterator<QuadNode<T>>
 			
 			this.iteratorDetailLevel--;
 			// only continue if we can go down farther
-			if (this.iteratorDetailLevel >= this.highestDetailLevel)
+			if (this.iteratorDetailLevel >= this.leafDetailLevel)
 			{
 				Queue<QuadNode<T>> parentNodes = new LinkedList<>(this.validNodesForDetailLevel);
 				this.validNodesForDetailLevel.clear();

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

@@ -69,10 +69,14 @@ public class ThreadPoolUtil
 	@Nullable
 	public static ThreadPoolExecutor getBeaconCullingExecutor() { return beaconCullingThreadPool; }
 	
+	// The main distinction between these thread pools is that one for compression has multiple threads and client handler is single-threaded
 	private static PriorityTaskPicker.Executor networkCompressionThreadPool;
 	@Nullable
 	public static PriorityTaskPicker.Executor getNetworkCompressionExecutor() { return networkCompressionThreadPool; }
 	
+	private static ThreadPoolExecutor networkClientHandlerThreadPool;
+	@Nullable
+	public static ThreadPoolExecutor networkClientHandlerExecutor() { return networkClientHandlerThreadPool; }
 	
 	
 	public static final String FULL_DATA_MIGRATION_THREAD_NAME = "Full Data Migration";
@@ -103,7 +107,8 @@ public class ThreadPoolUtil
 		}
 		taskPicker = new PriorityTaskPicker();
 		
-		networkCompressionThreadPool = taskPicker.createExecutor("Network");
+		networkCompressionThreadPool = taskPicker.createExecutor("Network Compression");
+		networkClientHandlerThreadPool = ThreadUtil.makeSingleThreadPool("Network Client Handler");
 		fileHandlerThreadPool = taskPicker.createExecutor("IO");
 		renderSectionLoadThreadPool = taskPicker.createExecutor("Render Loader");
 		chunkToLodBuilderThreadPool = taskPicker.createExecutor("LOD Builder");
@@ -133,6 +138,7 @@ public class ThreadPoolUtil
 	public static void shutdownThreadPools()
 	{
 		// standalone threads
+		networkClientHandlerThreadPool.shutdownNow();
 		taskPicker.shutdownNow();
 		beaconCullingThreadPool.shutdown();
 		fullDataMigrationThreadPool.shutdown();

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

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.ClientApi;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.MinecraftTextFormat;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.DhClientServerLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.TimerUtil;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.util.LodUtil;
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ public class DhClientServerWorld extends AbstractDhServerWorld<DhClientServerLev
 					LOGGER.fatal("Failed to load client-server level, error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
 					
 					ClientApi.INSTANCE.showChatMessageNextFrame(// red text		
-						"\u00A7c" + "Distant Horizons: ClientServer level loading failed." + "\u00A7r \n" +
+						MinecraftTextFormat.RED + "Distant Horizons: ClientServer level loading failed." + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING + "\n" +
 						"Unable to load level ["+levelWrapper.getDhIdentifier()+"], LODs may not appear. See log for more information.");
 					
 					return null;

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

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.ClientApi;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.MinecraftTextFormat;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.file.structure.ClientOnlySaveStructure;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.DhClientLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.IDhLevel;
@@ -94,9 +95,9 @@ public class DhClientWorld extends AbstractDhWorld implements IDhClientWorld
 				{
 					LOGGER.fatal("Failed to load client level, error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
 					
-					ClientApi.INSTANCE.showChatMessageNextFrame(// red text		
-						"\u00A7c" + "Distant Horizons: Client level loading failed." + "\u00A7r \n" +
-							"Unable to load level ["+clientLevelWrapper.getDhIdentifier()+"], LODs may not appear. See log for more information.");
+					ClientApi.INSTANCE.showChatMessageNextFrame(
+						MinecraftTextFormat.RED + "Distant Horizons: Client level loading failed." + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING + "\n" +
+						"Unable to load level ["+clientLevelWrapper.getDhIdentifier()+"], LODs may not appear. See log for more information.");
 					
 					return null;
 				}

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

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 package com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.world;
 
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.api.internal.ClientApi;
+import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.enums.MinecraftTextFormat;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.level.DhServerLevel;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.ILevelWrapper;
 import com.seibel.distanthorizons.core.wrapperInterfaces.world.IServerLevelWrapper;
@@ -62,9 +63,9 @@ public class DhServerWorld extends AbstractDhServerWorld<DhServerLevel>
 				{
 					LOGGER.fatal("Failed to load server level, error: ["+e.getMessage()+"].", e);
 					
-					ClientApi.INSTANCE.showChatMessageNextFrame(// red text		
-						"\u00A7c" + "Distant Horizons: Server level loading failed." + "\u00A7r \n" +
-							"Unable to load level ["+serverLevelWrapper.getDhIdentifier()+"], LODs may not appear. See log for more information.");
+					ClientApi.INSTANCE.showChatMessageNextFrame(
+						MinecraftTextFormat.RED + "Distant Horizons: Server level loading failed." + MinecraftTextFormat.CLEAR_FORMATTING + "\n" +
+						"Unable to load level ["+serverLevelWrapper.getDhIdentifier()+"], LODs may not appear. See log for more information.");
 					
 					return null;
 				}

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

@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ public interface IChunkWrapper extends IBindable
 	 */
 	int getMaxNonEmptyHeight();
 	
+	void createDhHeightMaps();
+	
 	/** @return The highest y position of a solid block at the given relative chunk position. */
 	int getSolidHeightMapValue(int xRel, int zRel);
 	/**
@@ -404,5 +406,8 @@ public interface IChunkWrapper extends IBindable
 		return beaconTintBlockFound ? new Color(red, green, blue) : Color.WHITE;
 	}
 	
+	IChunkWrapper copy();
+	
+	
 	
 }

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

@@ -63,7 +63,9 @@ public interface IMinecraftRenderWrapper extends IBindable
 	/** @return -1 if no valid framebuffer is available yet */
 	int getTargetFramebuffer(); // Note: Iris is now hooking onto this for DH + Iris compat, try not to change (unless we wanna deal with some annoyances)
 								//          Iris commit: https://github.com/IrisShaders/Iris/commit/a76a240527e93780bbcba57c09bef377419d47a7#diff-7b9ded0c79bbcdb130010373387756a28ee8d3640d522c0a5b7acd0abbfc20aeR16
+	/** @return -1 if there was an issue or no texture exists */
 	int getDepthTextureId();
+	/** @return -1 if there was an issue or no texture exists */
 	int getColorTextureId();
 	int getTargetFramebufferViewportWidth();
 	int getTargetFramebufferViewportHeight();

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

@@ -85,8 +85,6 @@ public interface ILevelWrapper extends IDhApiLevelWrapper, IBindable
 	@Override
 	int getMinHeight();
 	
-	default IChunkWrapper tryGetChunk(DhChunkPos pos) { return null; }
-	
 	/** Fired when the level is being unloaded. Doesn't unload the level. */
 	void onUnload();
 	

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

@@ -84,7 +84,13 @@
     "Show The Options Button",
   "distanthorizons.config.client.optionsButton.@tooltip":
     "Show the config button to the left of the fov button",
-    
+
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.dynamicFadeUseOpaqueMcDepth":
+    "Dynamic Fade Use MC Opaque Depth",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.dynamicFadeExportPath":
+    "Dynamic Fade Export Path",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.dynamicFadeExportPath.@tooltip":
+    "Press 'p' to export the depth textures for troubleshooting",
     
     
   "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced":
@@ -227,6 +233,10 @@
     "Beacon render height",
   "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.genericRendering.beaconRenderHeight.@tooltip":
     "Sets the maximum height at which beacons will render. \nThis will only affect new beacons coming into LOD render distance. \nBeacons currently visible in LOD chunks will not be affected.",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.genericRendering.expandDistantBeacons": 
+    "Expand Distant Beacons",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.genericRendering.expandDistantBeacons.@tooltip":
+    "If true LOD beacon beams will be rendered wider at extreme distances, \nmaking them easier to see. \nIf false all LOD beacon beams will only ever be 1 block wide.",
   "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.genericRendering.enableBeaconRendering.@tooltip":
     "If true LOD beacon beams will be rendered.",
   "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.genericRendering.enableCloudRendering":
@@ -400,14 +410,13 @@
     "Experimental",
 
   "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.experimental.earthCurveRatio":
-    "Earth Curve Ratio §6(EXPERIMENTAL)§r",
+    "Earth Curve Ratio",
   "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.experimental.earthCurveRatio.@tooltip":
     "A value of 1 is equivalent to the curvature of Earth in real life. \nThe minimum accepted value is 50 and the maximum value is 5000. \nEverything between 1 and 49 will be rounded up to 50.",
-
-  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.experimental.onlyLoadCenterLods":
-    "Only load center LODs",
-  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.experimental.onlyLoadCenterLods.@tooltip":
-    "Skips loading adjacent LODs to significantly reduce load times (~5x)\nbut causes lighting on LOD borders to appear as full-bright\nand other graphical bugs.\n",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.experimental.ignoredDimensionCsv":
+    "Ignored Dimension CSV",
+  "distanthorizons.config.client.advanced.graphics.experimental.ignoredDimensionCsv.@tooltip":
+    "A comma separated list of dimension resource locations where DH won't render. Example: \"minecraft:the_nether,minecraft:the_end\" \n\nNote: \nSome DH settings will be disabled and/or changed to improve \nvisuals when DH rendering is disabled.",
 
 
 
@@ -718,6 +727,8 @@
     "OpenGL Events - Chat",
   "distanthorizons.config.common.logging.logNetworkEventToFile":
     "Network Events - File",
+  "distanthorizons.config.common.logging.logConnectionConfigChangesToFile":
+    "Network Connection Config Changes - File",
 
   "distanthorizons.config.common.logging.warning":
     "Warnings",

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

@@ -1,79 +0,0 @@
-#version 150 core
-
-in uvec4 vPosition;
-out vec4 vPos;
-in vec4 color;
-
-out vec4 vertexColor;
-out vec3 vertexWorldPos;
-out float vertexYPos;
-
-uniform bool uWhiteWorld;
-
-uniform mat4 uCombinedMatrix;
-uniform vec3 uModelOffset;
-uniform float uWorldYOffset;
-
-uniform int uWorldSkyLight;
-uniform sampler2D uLightMap;
-uniform float uMircoOffset;
-
-uniform float uEarthRadius;
-
-/** 
- * TODO in the future this and standard.vert should be merged together to prevent inconsistencies between the two
- *
- * Vertex Shader
- * 
- * author: James Seibel
- * author: TomTheFurry
- * author: stduhpf
- * updated: coolGi
- * version: 24-1-2023
- */
-void main()
-{
-    vPos = vPosition; // This is so it can be passed to the fragment shader
-
-    vertexWorldPos = vPosition.xyz + uModelOffset;
-
-    vertexYPos = vPosition.y + uWorldYOffset;
-
-    uint meta = vPosition.a;
-
-    uint mirco = (meta & 0xFF00u) >> 8u; // mirco offset which is a xyz 2bit value
-    // 0b00 = no offset
-    // 0b01 = positive offset
-    // 0b11 = negative offset
-    // format is: 0b00zzyyxx
-    float mx = (mirco & 1u) != 0u ? uMircoOffset : 0.0;
-    mx = (mirco & 2u) != 0u ? -mx : mx;
-    float my = (mirco & 4u) != 0u ? uMircoOffset : 0.0;
-    my = (mirco & 8u) != 0u ? -my : my;
-    float mz = (mirco & 16u) != 0u ? uMircoOffset : 0.0;
-    mz = (mirco & 32u) != 0u ? -mz : mz;
-    vertexWorldPos.x += mx;
-    vertexWorldPos.y += my;
-    vertexWorldPos.z += mz;
-    
-    
-    // vertex transformation logic - stduhpf
-    float localRadius = uEarthRadius + vertexYPos;
-    float phi = length(vertexWorldPos.xz) / localRadius;
-    vertexWorldPos.y += (cos(phi) - 1.0) * localRadius;
-    vertexWorldPos.xz = vertexWorldPos.xz * sin(phi) / phi;
-    
-    
-    uint lights = meta & 0xFFu;
-
-    float light2 = (mod(float(lights), 16.0) + 0.5) / 16.0;
-    float light = (float(lights / 16u) + 0.5) / 16.0;
-    vertexColor = vec4(texture(uLightMap, vec2(light, light2)).xyz, 1.0);
-    
-    if (!uWhiteWorld)
-    {
-        vertexColor *= color;
-    }
-    
-    gl_Position = uCombinedMatrix * vec4(vertexWorldPos, 1.0);
-}

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

@@ -17,27 +17,28 @@ uniform float uWorldYOffset;
 uniform sampler2D uLightMap;
 uniform float uMircoOffset;
 
+uniform float uEarthRadius;
 
 /** 
- * TODO in the future this and curve.vert should be merged together to prevent inconsistencies between the two
- *
  * Vertex Shader
  * 
  * author: James Seibel
- * updated: TomTheFurry
+ * author: TomTheFurry
+ * author: stduhpf
  * updated: coolGi
- * version: 2023-6-25
+ *
+ * version: 2025-12-22
  */
 void main()
 {
     vPos = vPosition; // This is so it can be passed to the fragment shader
-
+    
     vertexWorldPos = vPosition.xyz + uModelOffset;
-
+    
     vertexYPos = vPosition.y + uWorldYOffset;
-
+    
     uint meta = vPosition.a;
-
+    
     uint mirco = (meta & 0xFF00u) >> 8u; // mirco offset which is a xyz 2bit value
     // 0b00 = no offset
     // 0b01 = positive offset
@@ -45,21 +46,34 @@ void main()
     // format is: 0b00zzyyxx
     float mx = (mirco & 1u)!=0u ? uMircoOffset : 0.0;
     mx = (mirco & 2u)!=0u ? -mx : mx;
-    float my = (mirco & 4u)!=0u ? uMircoOffset : 0.0;
-    my = (mirco & 8u)!=0u ? -my : my;
+    //float my = (mirco & 4u)!=0u ? uMircoOffset : 0.0;
+    //my = (mirco & 8u)!=0u ? -my : my;
     float mz = (mirco & 16u)!=0u ? uMircoOffset : 0.0;
     mz = (mirco & 32u)!=0u ? -mz : mz;
-
+    
+    vertexWorldPos.x += mx;
+    //vertexWorldPos.y += my;
+    vertexWorldPos.z += mz;
+    
+    // apply the earth curvature if needed
+    if (uEarthRadius < -1.0f || uEarthRadius > 1.0f)
+    {
+        // vertex transformation logic - stduhpf
+        float localRadius = uEarthRadius + vertexYPos;
+        float phi = length(vertexWorldPos.xz) / localRadius;
+        vertexWorldPos.y += (cos(phi) - 1.0) * localRadius;
+        vertexWorldPos.xz = vertexWorldPos.xz * sin(phi) / phi;
+    }
+    
     uint lights = meta & 0xFFu;
-
-	float light2 = (mod(float(lights), 16.0)+0.5) / 16.0;
-	float light = (float(lights/16u)+0.5) / 16.0;
-	vertexColor = vec4(texture(uLightMap, vec2(light, light2)).xyz, 1.0);
+    float skyLight = (float(lights/16u)+0.5) / 16.0;
+    float blockLight = (mod(float(lights), 16.0)+0.5) / 16.0;
+    vertexColor = vec4(texture(uLightMap, vec2(skyLight, blockLight)).xyz, 1.0);
     
     if (!uIsWhiteWorld)
     {
         vertexColor *= color;
     }
-
-    gl_Position = uCombinedMatrix * vec4(vertexWorldPos + vec3(mx, 0, mz), 1.0);
+    
+    gl_Position = uCombinedMatrix * vec4(vertexWorldPos, 1.0);
 }