Minecraft URL Launcher

McURL, the Minecraft URL Launcher, is a unique tool that allows you to jump onto Minecraft SMP servers straight from your favorite browser. Like Minecraft itself, McURL requires Java. Currently, only the Windows edition definitely works. Setups for Linux distributions using KDE and Gnome are available as well, but there might be bugs. The Mac OS version is experimental and may or may not run on your computer (I'd appreciate feedback).

The actual operation of McURL is very simple. When you click an McURL link (minecraft:// links), your browser launches McURL, which prompts you for a username and password. If you haven't disabled it in the settings, McURL will automatically fill these out from your Minecraft data if it is able to. Once you click "Log In", the McURL launcher closes and the standard Minecraft launcher opens up and logs you in, sending you to the server of your choice. Rest assured I will never steal your username or password - take a look at the forum threads below for server admins using McURL and developers attesting to its safety.

Want to contact me about McURL, be it a problem, comment, or suggestion? Take a visit the Minecraft Forums or on the Bukkit Forums and leave me a message. If you want to use McURL to link to your own server, check out the For Server Owners section at the bottom of the page. You can access the settings menu by visiting minecraft://settings/.

Changelog

29 May 2011: All platforms: release of McURL v1.1, adding a settings menu.
8 Apr 2011: Windows: updated batch file to run regedit only on install.
6 Apr 2011: All platforms: initial release of McURL v1.0.

Download and Install

Windows

Download the Windows zip package: Jar and Installer (.zip, 93.6 KB, MD5: 3929881c448968b9eeed399d5a67df8c).
Extract it somewhere, preferably a path with no spaces.
Run mcurl.bat as admin - simply accepting any warnings seems to not always work.
A command prompt window should open briefly and then close.
Follow the instructions for your browser below.

Mac OS X

Please note that Mac OS X support is experimental; there are still some kinks being worked out and it may not work for you.

Download the OSX package: Application (.app.zip, 154 KB, MD5: 7afd128ccc421984c2cdb73ebc8cceb8).
Extract the app somewhere.
Run the app once. It will probably appear to do nothing.
Follow the instructions for your browser below.

Linux/Gnome

Download the Linux package: Jar and Installer (.tar.gz, 92.4 KB, MD5: 0bef7d49925e0206678d7d8c57dc86ec).
Extract it somewhere.
Right-click mcurl.gnome.sh and select Properties.
Set the file as executable.
Double-click mcurl.gnome.sh. It will open briefly then close.
Follow the instructions for your browser below.

Linux/KDE

Download the Linux package: Jar and Installer (.tar.gz, 92.4 KB, MD5: 0bef7d49925e0206678d7d8c57dc86ec).
Extract it somewhere.
Right-click mcurl.kde.sh and select Properties.
Set the file as executable.
Double-click mcurl.kde.sh. It will open briefly then close.
Follow the instructions for your browser below.

Linux/Other

Currently, only Firefox (3.5 and up) instructions are available.

Download the Linux package: Jar and Installer (.tar.gz, 92.4 KB, MD5: 0bef7d49925e0206678d7d8c57dc86ec).
Extract it somewhere. Delete the .sh files if you wish.
Type 'about:config' into the address bar and hit Enter.
Right click and pick New -> Boolean.
Enter the name "network.protocol-handler.expose.minecraft" and value "false".
Click the following link: minecraft://example.com/.
Select "Choose program" and navigate to where you saved the jarfile.
Select the jarfile, check "Remember my choice for minecraft links," and click OK.

Test in Browser

Internet Explorer

Click the following link: minecraft://example.com/.
There may be some lag the first time - be patient. It should go faster after that.
The launcher should open - close it, as example.com is not a Minecraft server.
Try opening your favorite Minecraft server using the address bar, for example copy and paste minecraft://chserver.net/.

Mozilla Firefox

Click the following link: minecraft://example.com/.
Select the first entry, check "Remember my choice for minecraft links," and click OK.
There may be some lag the first time - be patient. It should go faster after that.
The launcher should open - close it, as example.com is not a Minecraft server.
Try opening your favorite Minecraft server using the address bar, for example copy and paste minecraft://chserver.net/.

Google Chrome

Click the following link: minecraft://example.com/.
Check "Remember my choice for all links of this type" and click "Launch Application".
There may be some lag the first time - be patient. It should go faster after that.
The launcher should open - close it, as example.com is not a Minecraft server.
Try opening your favorite Minecraft server using the address bar, for example copy and paste minecraft://chserver.net/.

For Developers

Source code, not including the org.jdesktop (an external package), can be found here (.zip, 14.8 KB), and also on GitHub (SpaceManiac/McURL). Full source including JDesktop is available on request. McURL and its source are licenced under the MIT license. URLs follow the form minecraft://[username[:password]@]server[:port][/]. Username and password, if specified, are used to fill the username and password fields on the launcher.

If you can contact me (SpaceManiac in #bukkit on irc.esper.net) with information about setting up McURL on other browsers or operating systems, I'd much appreciate it. I'm especially looking for help with Mac OS X - there is an application available, but it seems to crash on certain systems for reasons unknown.

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