Woot! Thanks @DarkArcana - I will be sure to keep this topic in good shape!
3 Likes
Okay so this is going to be a lengthy post, hopefully these links work like I hope they do!
Table of Contents:
Amendments of the above post:
EDIT: This is broken. Please mods, tell me how to make this work!
What is Sponge?
That sounds just like Bukkit. Why can’t i just use Bukkit?
Where can I get sponge?
How long is it going to take?
Will I have to use a forge server?
What Minecraft Version is Sponge being made for?
Will Sponge work with my Bukkit Plugins that I already Have?
Amendments
What is Sponge?: Amendment I
Change to:
Sponge is an API (Application Programming Interface) created to enhance the basic minecraft server. With the Sponge API, developers gain the ability to write “plugins” that do a variety of tasks such as: teleportation, setting warps, virtual money, and much more!
That Sounds just like Bukkit: Amendment I
[quote="tmad40blue, post:1, topic:4345"]
That sounds just like Bukkit. Why can't I just use Bukkit?
As of 3 September 2014, CraftBukkit (the server version of Bukkit - another API similar to Sponge) is no longer available for download due to legal issues. It is no longer possible to download and start a server using Bukkit.
If you want more information on the Bukkit situation, have a look here: Reddit - Dive into anything
[/quote]
Change to:
CraftBukkit, the server that contained the Bukkit API, Is no longer being updated past versions 1.6.4. The official links for the jar files have been taken down due to a legal issue. For any more information, please refer to bukkit.org and reddit.
~This is because I don’t like linking stuff like that, creates issues. 
Where do I get Sponge?: Amendment I
Change to:
The Sponge project is currently in active development. While in development you can check out This GitHub Repository to check it’s progress. You can also check out This Link to check out the latest announcements!
How long is it going to take?: Amendment I
The Sponge API is still in development, but is scheduled to be released to developers in November! However, that is just the API part of things. This signals a large step towards completion, but the path is still quite a long one. There has been no official expected release date, however, once the team gets their hands on the forge base we can expect a timely progress. Go get a nice hot cup of coffee and read a good book or two! (
You can add that last part (about your fave author if you wish 
Do I Have to Use Forge?: Amendment I
[quote="tmad40blue, post:1, topic:4345"]
I've seen "Forge" being thrown around. I run a server without Forge. Do I have to use Forge now?
Yes. You do have to use Forge on your server to use Sponge. The assumption is that you will need to successfully start up a Minecraft server using Forge, and THEN go and install Sponge. However, since Sponge is not out yet, I do not know the particulars. I will update this post once I figure this out.
You can find info on installing Forge here: http://www.minecraftforge.net/wiki/Installation/Universal
[/quote]
Change to:
I’ve seen "Forge being thrown around. I run a server without Forge. Do I have to use Forge now?
Yes you do have to use forge. However, sponge will come with the forge server prepackaged and ready to go!. All you will need to do is download Sponge and run it! After it runs the first time, you will see everything that comes with a forge server as well as a few new files and folders. (more details as we receive them.)
I Thought Forge was a mod, Do my server's players need to mod their game now?: Amendment I
Change to:
The short answer is no. Your players will not need to install or modify their client to be able to connect to your server(s).
Now for the long answer! Forge (with no mods IE: BuildCraft, IC2, etc) can accept all clients. What does this mean? That means that the server will run like a normal minecraft server (just like bukkit)! So what does Sponge do? Sponge is an API base built on top of Forge (more later IE: Glowstone). The API just allows developers to create many things such as: commands, virtual money, etc. Now the reason why players don’t need to modify their clients is simple: plugins only modify existing data within the server and client by default. This means nothing about the core game is changed, Where as “Mods” modify the core game. This would include the following: Adding new blocks, Adding new entities, and much more!
What Minecraft version is Sponge being made for?: Amendment I
Change to:
Sponge is being created for Mincraft 1.8 initially. However, the main developers have expressed they want to also incorporate version 1.7.10 as well. Minecraft 1.8 is the primary focus for now and 1.7.10 will come after 1.8. And of course all future versions of Minecraft will be supported as long as permitted by the EULA.
Will Sponge work with my Bukkit plugins that I already have?: Amendment I
Change to:
It is up to the community to make this happen. Sponge API will differ from the Bukkit API which makes porting difficult, but still achievable. There have been a few unofficial posts such as The PoreProject which aims to help bukkit plugins to be easily ported. The there is This Unofficial List Of Plugins to be Ported. This list contains 470+ plugins and it’s growing!
Welp that’s all I could find for now. If I think of anymore, I’ll let you know!
Maybe add some clarification that while an implementation is being built on forge, others will exist in the future that won’t require the use of forge.
Where abouts? I thought it’d be a good ammendment to the ‘Do I Have to Use Forge?’ section.
However, I wouldn’t mind seeing something like:
Do I have to use Forge?
The Sponge API is being built upon the Forge base for starters. This means you will have to use the Forge base. So what does that mean? Well, from a server owner standpoint nothing. The Forge base is just another minecraft server. You could add “mods” such as: BuildCraft, IC2, etc. but that is optional.
From a developer standpoint, this means a lot! you can interact with mods, and have the excellent flexibility that you could have like you were making a mod!
Summarized: Yes for now.
EDIT: @tmad40blue Please read that wall of text and give me some feedback, much appreciated!
Thanks! I’m going through right now and checking stuff.
I implemented the changes you proposed and revised some of the links to things. I’ll continue to proofread what I’ve written and improve it. Thanks again for your input!
Just to let you know, we finally got the wiki up and running today. Will need a few things sorted out first, but information like this should be shifted to the wiki where it can be maintained better.
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It’s about time! Is there a link you can give?
EDIT: @tmad40blue you should also add a disclaimer like:
All information is subject to change. All information in this post is current as of 11/6/14.
Then again, when this is moved to the wiki, shouldn’t matter
EDIT#2: Found the wiki, can’t access it tho 
Nah, no access or link just yet. Need to do some ground work. I’ve been trying to push this for months now. It may take a few days to get up to speed.
@DarkArcana Few days? That’s not bad! Maybe we can clean up the pinned topics this way 
(and yeah i know you can un-pin them, but some don’t)
Maybe its an idea to put a link to cauldron and spigot in here? For those who need a server now?
Also I dont see my question in here: will sponge be optimised like spigot/cauldron?
There is no point in putting links to Cauldron and Spigot, as they have both been DCMA’d, as a direct consequence of the Craftbukkit DMCA. You can’t DL them (at least, not legally)
Also, I doubt the optimisations of Spigot will be in Sponge, at least initially. That’s a later stage thing, and may depend on the implementation rather than the API.
Not true. Cauldron can be legally downloaded using Maeyanie’s Cauldron. She split out all code referencing CraftBukkit (wolv’s commits). It was put into a separate “CauldronBukkit” jar and it’s all hosted elsewhere. To get updates, Cauldron is releasing binary patches and you can use several patching programs to apply them. It’s legal, it’s just not user friendly.
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Spigot isn’t dead because of DMCA, they’ve been distributing patches to one of their jars that servers already have.
And are working on a new concept with 1.8
That’s kinda disingenuous. No-one can legally DL the Spigot jar that needs to be patched, leaving new users very much in the dark, and at risk of dodgy downloads.
Thanks for the update @DarkArcana, I hadn’t realised Cauldron had managed to squirm out from under the DMCA.
2 Likes
But anyone who has previously acquired Spigot (myself) can legally patch it just fine. And even then, they’ve been providing md5 sums so you can check if an off site jar matches. Not saying that getting it from off site is legal, but they’re providing the tools necessary to patch, to the best of their ability, and not breaking any sort of law.
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They just shift the “breaking law” to another site where the user has to look for. I don’t know if the user that downloads the jar breaks the law.
(In Belgium downloading illegal content was legal, … WAIT WAIT WTF. Changed 7 days ago ).