Before installing a plugin, use the official website to confirm that the plugin supports your server software and Minecraft version.
What is spark?
Profiler for diagnosing TPS, MSPT, CPU, memory and garbage-collection problems. MSH lists it as a mainstream option in Core & Management , but the official project documentation remains the source of truth for exact builds, dependencies and current compatibility.
| Developer / maintainer | lucko and contributors |
|---|---|
| Category | Core & Management |
| Pricing | Free |
| Typical platform | Paper and many other Java server/mod platforms |
| Primary use | Profiler for diagnosing TPS, MSPT, CPU, memory and garbage-collection problems. |
What it is good at
- CPU profiler with shareable viewer reports
- TPS/MSPT and server-health metrics
- Memory, heap and garbage-collection diagnostics
What types of servers should consider it?
- Any server that needs evidence-based performance troubleshooting
- Paper servers where spark is already bundled in modern releases
Pricing and distribution
The plugin is distributed as a free option. Check the official page for the current download source and license.
What to check before using it
spark is a diagnostic profiler, not a magic lag-fixing switch. It helps distinguish server tick work, CPU use, GC pressure and other bottlenecks under a reproducible player workload.
Common questions
What does spark do?
Profiler for diagnosing TPS, MSPT, CPU, memory and garbage-collection problems.
Is spark a plugin or a mod?
spark is listed here because it is used as a server plugin in its supported plugin environment. Some projects also publish builds for other platforms; use the official download page to choose the correct platform build.
Do players need to install it?
Most server plugins run server-side and do not require players to install the same JAR. Features that rely on resource packs, Bedrock bridges or optional client integrations can still change what the player must download or accept.
How do I install it?
Check whether your Paper distribution already provides spark, otherwise install the correct platform release. Use /spark health upload for a static health snapshot and /spark profiler start, followed by /spark profiler stop, to capture work during a lag event.
How do I know the plugin loaded?
Check that spark produces a valid viewer link and that the sample overlaps with the reported TPS/MSPT problem. Compare identical workloads before and after changing one plugin or configuration value.
What if it does not load?
If spark commands collide with another plugin or run on a proxy, use the documented platform-specific command alias. Do not present one profiler snapshot as proof of a plugin’s fault without reproducing it.
For general plugin installation, read How to Install Plugins on a Minecraft Server. To understand the plugin lifecycle and how plugins differ from mods, read How Minecraft Server Plugins Work. If the plugin refuses to load, use Plugin Failed to Load.
Alternatives
References
Plugin versions, pricing and platform support can change. These project pages were used as the primary references for this overview.
Related MSH pages
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