Version Compatibility

Version Compatibility & Lifecycle Policy

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🗺️ Minecraft Version Compatibility Matrix

Vanilla Outsider: Better Dogs follows the 1 Jar 1 Version architecture law. Dedicated binaries are compiled and tagged specifically per Minecraft release version:

Minecraft Version	Mod Release Tag	DasikLibrary Bounds	JDK	Support Status	Target Guide
MC 26.3	v5.0.16+26.3	>=1.8.8	JDK 25	🟢 Active (Snapshot)	[[MC 26.3 Guide
MC 26.2	v4.24.1+26.2	>=1.8.3	JDK 25	🟢 Primary Target	[[MC 26.2 Guide
MC 26.1.2	v4.24.1+26.1.2	>=1.8.2	JDK 25	🟡 Maintenance	[[MC 26.1 Guide
MC 1.21.11	Legacy 1.x Series	Legacy	Java 21	🔴 Deprecated	Legacy Archive Only

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📜 Version History & 26.x Migration

Origins (MC 1.21.11)

Better Dogs originally launched during the Minecraft 1.21.x era. Initial builds established the core concept: giving vanilla wolves unique personality traits (Aggressive, Pacifist, Normal) and physical scale variation without introducing non-vanilla items or entity types.

The 26.x Modernization Era

Following the transition to modern Minecraft 26.x:

1. Zero-Dependency Guard: ModVersionGuard was integrated via DasikLibrary to protect servers against classloader mismatch crashes.
2. Modern Identifier Syntax: All resource identifiers migrated from Identifier.of() to Identifier.fromNamespaceAndPath("vanilla-outsider-better-dogs", path).
3. Open-Ended Dependency Bounds: fabric.mod.json uses open-ended lower bounds (e.g. "minecraft": ">=26.2-") to prevent strict launcher version locks while enforcing exact compatibility thresholds.

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⏳ Version Support & Deprecation Lifecycle Policy

1. Primary Target (MC 26.2): Receives all new gameplay features, AI optimizations, performance updates, and instant bug fixes.
2. Snapshot Tracking (MC 26.3): Tracks upcoming Mojang snapshot API changes to ensure zero-day readiness upon major game updates.
3. Maintenance Builds (MC 26.1.2): Receives critical bug fixes and security patches backported from the primary release line.
4. Legacy Deprecation: Pre-26.x releases (such as 1.21.11) are officially retired. Users on legacy versions are encouraged to upgrade to MC 26.2 for improved AI performance, non-blocking pathing safety, and bug fixes.

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🌍 Existing World Compatibility & Retrofitting

Vanilla Outsider: Better Dogs is 100% backwards-compatible and completely safe to add to existing Minecraft save files mid-playthrough.

What Happens to Existing Tamed Wolves?

• Zero Data Loss: Existing wolves remain tamed to their respective owners. Their custom names, current health, collar dyes, and equipment are preserved.
• Automatic Attachment Initialization: As soon as pre-existing wolves load in the world, the Fabric Data Attachment API initializes default persistence records without entity resets or health loss.
• Default Trait Assignment: Existing wolves default to standard NORMAL personality behavior and base physical scales.
• Immediate Feature Unlock: Pre-existing wolves immediately gain full access to all mod features:
  • Guard Mode: Shift + Right-Click with a Bone to assign sentinel guard positions.
  • Favorite Treats: Feeding favorite treats fully heals and grants regeneration buffs.
  • Tactical Horn Commands: Respond to Goat Horn tactical orders (Call, Attack, Guard, Follow).
  • Adoption System: Shift + Right-Click with Paper to enable ownership transfer to other players.
  • Dismounting: Shift + Right-Click with Stick to dismount from seats/boats/minecarts.
• Genetics & Breeding: Offspring bred from pre-existing wolves will fully utilize the new genetics, litter size calculations (1-4 pups), personality inheritance, and stat variance systems.

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