diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 86d3b9ffd..7d5b71271 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ stages:
   - build_1_18_2
   - build_1_19_4
   - build_1_20_1
+  - api
   - pages
 
 variables:
@@ -121,6 +122,35 @@ build_1_20_1:
   allow_failure: true
 
 
+api:
+  stage: api
+  script:
+    # this should only run for the API
+    - ./gradlew api:clean --gradle-user-home cache/;
+    # this also runs unit tests
+    - ./gradlew api:build --gradle-user-home cache/;
+    - ./gradlew api:addSourcesToCompiledJar --gradle-user-home cache/;
+  image: eclipse-temurin:17
+  artifacts:
+    name: "Api_NightlyBuild-${CI_COMMIT_SHORT_SHA}-${CI_COMMIT_TIMESTAMP}"
+    paths:
+      - coreSubProjects/api/build/libs/merged/*.jar
+      # can be uncommented if we don't want a jar with the source code
+      # - coreSubProjects/api/build/libs/*.jar
+    exclude:
+      - coreSubProjects/api/build/libs/merged/*-all.jar
+      - coreSubProjects/api/build/libs/merged/*-sources.jar
+    expire_in: 1 day
+    when: always
+  cache:
+    key: "gradleCache"
+    policy: pull-push
+    paths:
+      - .gradle
+      - cache/
+  allow_failure: true
+
+
 # generate and publish API javadocs
 pages:
   stage: pages
diff --git a/coreSubProjects b/coreSubProjects
index 98634e2a0..77bc3bd3c 160000
--- a/coreSubProjects
+++ b/coreSubProjects
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit 98634e2a0b3f965f57b7fc886c38e895554be06d
+Subproject commit 77bc3bd3c2e02cd2f3b89e394551de800d66ce65
diff --git a/gradle.properties b/gradle.properties
index b9a94aac6..b70b1011b 100644
--- a/gradle.properties
+++ b/gradle.properties
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ org.gradle.caching=true
 # Mod Info
 mod_name=DistantHorizons
 mod_version=2.0.0-a-dev
+api_version=1.0.0
 maven_group=com.seibel.distanthorizons
 mod_readable_name=Distant Horizons
 mod_description=This mod generates and renders simplified terrain beyond the normal view distance at a low performance cost. Allowing you to see much farther without turning your game into a slideshow.