BetterController

BetterController is a client-side Fabric mod for premium controller support in Minecraft.

Stack (as of 2026-03-14)

• Minecraft: 1.21.11
• Java: 21
• Fabric Loader: 0.18.4
• Fabric API: 0.141.3+1.21.11

Current V2 Features

• Automatic controller connect/disconnect detection.
• Controller type detection (xbox, playstation, switch, generic) with auto-layout switching.
• Low-latency input pipeline:
  • ControllerPoller -> ControllerSnapshot -> InputTranslator -> GameplayInputFrame -> MinecraftInputApplier
• Full JSON action rebinding for gameplay + hotbar + menu navigation.
• Configurable deadzones, trigger threshold, look sensitivity, response curve, and camera smoothing.
• GUI controller navigation modules:
  • GuiNavigationController
  • GuiFocusElement
  • GuiInputRouter
• Radial quick menu modules:
  • RadialMenu
  • RadialMenuSlot
  • RadialMenuController
  • RadialMenuRenderer
• Bedrock-inspired compact HUD hints near the hotbar (less intrusive).
• In-game settings shortcut (Controller Settings) in:
  • Options -> Controls
  • pause menu
  • options menu
• Settings screen includes:
  • HUD on/off toggle
  • deadzone/sensitivity/trigger sliders
  • look curve + smoothing controls
  • one-click ultra-fluid tuning preset
• Controller inventory/handled-screen navigation:
  • directional slot navigation
  • confirm to pick/place stack
• Debug overlay (toggle with F8).
• Haptics architecture (ControllerHaptics, HapticEvent, HapticProfile) with graceful no-op fallback on unsupported backends.
• Chat binding support with optional Windows OSK launch.

Feature Status (2026-03-14)

Implemented and usable now:

• Controller gameplay input (movement, look, actions, hotbar, remapping).
• Controller GUI navigation for common screens and handled inventories (inventory/chests-style screens).
• JSON config + auto-reload + per-layout overrides.
• In-game controller settings screen.
• Optional HUD hints + debug overlay + radial menu.

Current limitations:

• Haptics/vibration is currently a graceful no-op in the GLFW backend (architecture is ready, runtime rumble is not active yet).
• Virtual keyboard launcher currently targets Windows osk only and can fail on systems requiring elevation.
• GUI navigation works, but edge-case polish across every modded/custom screen is still ongoing.

Config

• Runtime config path: config/bettercontroller.json (auto-created on first launch)
• Bundled template: src/main/resources/bettercontroller.default.json
• Example config: examples/bettercontroller.example.json
• Config reload is automatic when the file is saved.

Important config keys

• activeLayout
• controllerTypeLayouts
• movementDeadzone
• lookDeadzone
• lookSensitivityX
• lookSensitivityY
• lookSpeedMultiplier
• lookResponseCurve (linear, exponential_light, exponential_strong)
• cameraSmoothing
• cameraSmoothingStrength
• triggerThreshold
• menuAxisThreshold
• menuInitialRepeatDelayMs
• menuRepeatIntervalMs
• hudHintsEnabled
• debugOverlayEnabled
• radialMenuEnabled
• radialMenuSlots
• vibrationEnabled
• vibrationIntensity (off, low, medium, strong)
• virtualKeyboardEnabled

Rebinding format

• Global bindings:
  • bindings.<action> supports one or many inputs (["A"], ["RT", "RB"], etc.)
• Per-layout override:
  • layouts.<layout>.bindings.<action>
• Axes:
  • Global: axes.move_x, axes.move_y, axes.look_x, axes.look_y
  • Per-layout: layouts.<layout>.axes.<axis>
• Axis inversion:
  • prefix token with - (example: "-RIGHT_Y").

Quick tuning for smoother feel

• movementDeadzone: start around 0.12 to 0.16
• lookDeadzone: start around 0.04 to 0.08
• lookSensitivityX / lookSensitivityY: increase together for faster camera
• lookSpeedMultiplier: increase for faster turning with stick
• lookResponseCurve: linear for direct aim, exponential_light for softer center control
• triggerThreshold: lower to 0.35 to 0.45 if triggers feel slow to react
• menuInitialRepeatDelayMs / menuRepeatIntervalMs: lower values for faster menu navigation
• Or use the in-game Apply Ultra Fluid Preset button from BetterController settings.

Build and Run

Requires JDK 21 (java -version).

Windows:

• if needed, set Java 21 for the current terminal:
  • $env:JAVA_HOME="C:\Path\To\jdk-21"
  • $env:PATH="$env:JAVA_HOME\bin;$env:PATH"
• .\gradlew.bat build
• .\gradlew.bat runClient

Linux/macOS:

• ./gradlew build
• ./gradlew runClient

Build output:

• build/libs/

Creator Setup (Before Build)

If you are a creator/testing release builds, check these values first:

• gradle.properties -> mod_version: release/version tag shown in the mod metadata
• gradle.properties -> archives_base_name: output jar name
• gradle.properties -> org.gradle.jvmargs: increase memory for heavier local builds (example: -Xmx2G)

Recommended in-game config profile for recording/review sessions (run/config/bettercontroller.json):

• hudHintsEnabled: false (clean HUD footage)
• debugOverlayEnabled: false
• lookSpeedMultiplier: 2.4 to 3.0 (faster camera feel)
• menuInitialRepeatDelayMs: 90 to 120
• menuRepeatIntervalMs: 30 to 45

Quick release check:

1. Update mod_version in gradle.properties.
2. Run .\gradlew.bat build.
3. Verify jar under build/libs/.