A Minecraft server that boots in 5 ms.
Pumpkin is a Minecraft server written in Rust. No Java to install, one file to run, Java and Bedrock players on the same world.
What Pumpkin is today
One native executable. Nothing to install, no flags to tune, no start script. Drop it in a folder and run it.
Memory at idle with a world loaded. Vanilla sits near 1.8 GB before anyone has joined.
Written for parallel work from the first commit, not one main thread with helpers bolted on.
Both editions join the same world. Built in, no proxy in front, no plugin to install.
Write plugins in Rust, Kotlin, Python, Go, C#, C, D, Zig or TypeScript. One API underneath, pick the language you already know.
The whole server, not a core with a paid tier. Read it, fork it, ship it.
Pumpkin is not finished. Not every vanilla mechanic is in yet, worlds can break between versions, and config keys still move. Run it on a test server first, keep backups, and report what breaks. The docs say what works today.
Feature checklist
Pumpkin next to Vanilla, Paper and Folia, as they ship today. Marks with a dot have a note.
| Feature | Pumpkin | Vanilla | Spigot/Paper | Folia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starts in under a secondReady before a JVM has finished warming up. | ✓ | Vanilla waits on JVM start-up and world loading. | ✕ | Often slower than Paper, there is more to initialize. |
| Low CPU at idleSits near zero when nobody is online. | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Low memoryAbout 100 MB with a world loaded. | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Uses every coreParallel by design, not one main thread. | Game logic and background tasks run across threads, not only chunk loading. | ✕ | ✕ | Only ticking is parallel. |
| Bukkit and Paper pluginsEarly, through PatchBukkit. Expect gaps. | Pumpkin has its own API. Bukkit and Paper plugins can run through PatchBukkit, which is early. | ✕ | Native. | Varies. Many plugins need updates for Folia's threading. |
| Java and Bedrock playersBoth editions on one world, no proxy. | Built in. | ✕ | Through an external plugin such as Geyser. | Through external plugins, and Folia's threading makes setup harder. |
| Plugin API in 9 languagesRust, Kotlin, Python, Go, C#, C, D, Zig, TypeScript. | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Fine-grained configurationEvery subsystem has its own config file. | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
| Open sourceGPL-3.0, the whole server. | ✓ | ✕ | Only the patches are open source. | Only the patches are open source. |
| Multiple world formatsAnvil and more efficient alternatives. | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | Anvil only. |
| Single executable, no JavaDownload, run, done. | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
- Starts in under a secondReady before a JVM has finished warming up.Pumpkin✓VanillaSpigot/Paper✕Folia
- Low CPU at idleSits near zero when nobody is online.Pumpkin✓Vanilla✕Spigot/Paper✕Folia✕
- Low memoryAbout 100 MB with a world loaded.Pumpkin✓Vanilla✕Spigot/Paper✕Folia✕
- Uses every coreParallel by design, not one main thread.PumpkinVanilla✕Spigot/Paper✕Folia
- Bukkit and Paper pluginsEarly, through PatchBukkit. Expect gaps.PumpkinVanilla✕Spigot/PaperFolia
- Java and Bedrock playersBoth editions on one world, no proxy.PumpkinVanilla✕Spigot/PaperFolia
- Plugin API in 9 languagesRust, Kotlin, Python, Go, C#, C, D, Zig, TypeScript.Pumpkin✓Vanilla✕Spigot/Paper✕Folia✕
- Fine-grained configurationEvery subsystem has its own config file.Pumpkin✓Vanilla✕Spigot/Paper✕Folia✕
- Open sourceGPL-3.0, the whole server.Pumpkin✓Vanilla✕Spigot/PaperFolia
- Multiple world formatsAnvil and more efficient alternatives.Pumpkin✓Vanilla✕Spigot/Paper✕Folia
- Single executable, no JavaDownload, run, done.Pumpkin✓Vanilla✕Spigot/Paper✕Folia✕
Write plugins in
Or install one from the MarketTry it on a spare machine.
It's one file. Run it next to your current server, point a client at it, and see what works for your world before you commit.