What is a Minecraft bot? How builder bots place blocks for you
Minecraft bots are programs that join a server like a player and do jobs automatically. Learn what they are, how builder bots work and what they are used for.
By CraftMy · · 1 min read
A Minecraft bot is a program that connects to a server like a normal player, then follows instructions instead of a keyboard. Bots can walk, mine, place blocks and talk in chat.
How bots connect
Bots log in with an account and appear in the player list. Libraries such as Mineflayer, a JavaScript library for Minecraft bots, give code a way to read the world and send actions like moving or placing a block.
What builder bots do
A builder bot is given a plan, which is a list of blocks and where they go. It then:
- Finds the build site, for example near a sign
- Collects or receives the materials it needs
- Places each block in order
- Reports its progress
Because the plan is just data, the same system can build a house from a schematic or a picture as pixel art.
Many bots at once
Large builds can be split into sections so several bots work at the same time. That is how a big wall can be finished much faster than one bot working alone.
What they are used for
- Pixel art walls and floors from any image
- Copying structures from schematic files
- Repeatable jobs such as clearing a site
See it working
The CraftMy Pixel Art tool uses builder bots to turn an image into a Minecraft build. You can read how the process works in the pixel art guide.
A note on servers
Bots join like players, so they need a server that allows them. Always get permission before using bots on a server you do not run.