The Challenge
I created a Wi-Fi-like system within Minecraft, facing severe technical challenges due to the game's mechanics.
Technical Constraints
The system operates at 5Hz clock at best with 200ms intervals, yielding only 5bps (bits per second).
To address this bottleneck, I added 16 data cables simultaneously, increasing throughput to 80bps or 8 bytes per second.
The Wi-Fi system in action
The Packet Model
I designed a custom packet structure significantly simpler than TCP/IP to minimize overhead. The header takes 1.6 seconds to send and the payload takes 3.2 seconds to send.
Custom packet structure optimized for Minecraft's constraints
The packet includes:
- Reserved space for future expansion
- Designated flags for specific applications
- Minimal overhead for the constrained bandwidth
Network Architecture
The network operates primarily peer-to-peer, with acknowledged trade-offs compared to centralized systems. This design choice was made to work within Minecraft's unique limitations.
Lessons Learned
Building networking systems within Minecraft's constraints teaches valuable lessons about:
- Protocol design under extreme limitations
- Trade-offs between features and efficiency
- Creative problem-solving with limited resources
This project demonstrates that even with severe constraints, creative engineering can achieve impressive results.