# PolyMC

> custom launcher for Minecraft

**Wikidata**: [Q114396042](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114396042)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/polymc

## Summary
PolyMC is a free, open-source custom launcher for Minecraft that allows users to manage multiple game instances and versions. It is a fork of MultiMC and is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux. PolyMC was succeeded by Prism Launcher in 2022.

## Key Facts
- PolyMC is a free software licensed under GNU General Public License v3.0
- It is a custom launcher for Minecraft, allowing management of multiple game instances
- PolyMC is available on Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems
- It was forked from MultiMC to create a more customizable launcher experience
- Prism Launcher succeeded PolyMC, with its inception on October 18, 2022
- The project's website is polymc.org and it has a GitLab topic ID of "polymc"
- PolyMC's source code is hosted on GitHub at github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC

## FAQs
### Q: What is PolyMC used for?
A: PolyMC is used as a custom launcher for Minecraft that allows players to manage multiple game instances, versions, and mod configurations in one place.

### Q: Is PolyMC free to use?
A: Yes, PolyMC is free software distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0, allowing users to freely run, study, modify, and distribute it.

### Q: What platforms does PolyMC support?
A: PolyMC supports Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems, making it accessible across major desktop platforms.

## Why It Matters
PolyMC matters because it provides Minecraft players with a powerful, open-source alternative to the official launcher, offering enhanced flexibility for managing multiple game instances and mod configurations. As a fork of MultiMC, it built upon existing launcher technology while adding its own improvements and customizations. The project's commitment to free software principles ensures transparency and community involvement in its development. By supporting all major desktop operating systems, PolyMC made advanced Minecraft management accessible to a wide audience regardless of their platform choice. Its eventual succession by Prism Launcher demonstrates the evolutionary nature of open-source projects in the Minecraft modding community.

## Notable For
- Being a free and open-source alternative to the official Minecraft launcher
- Supporting multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Forking from MultiMC to create a more customizable launcher experience
- Providing advanced instance and version management for Minecraft players
- Being succeeded by Prism Launcher, showing its influence in the launcher ecosystem

## Body
### Development and Licensing
PolyMC is developed as free software under the GNU General Public License v3.0, ensuring users have the freedom to run, study, modify, and distribute the software. The project maintains an active presence on GitHub at github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC, where the source code is publicly available for community contribution and scrutiny.

### Platform Support
The launcher is designed to work across major desktop operating systems, including Microsoft Windows, macOS, and Linux. This cross-platform compatibility ensures that Minecraft players can use PolyMC regardless of their preferred operating system, with download options available through the official website at polymc.org.

### Relationship to Other Launchers
PolyMC was created as a fork of MultiMC, another popular Minecraft launcher. This relationship indicates that PolyMC built upon existing launcher technology while potentially adding new features or modifications. The project was later succeeded by Prism Launcher, which was forked from PolyMC on October 18, 2022, continuing the evolution of custom Minecraft launchers.

### Community and Distribution
PolyMC maintains an active community presence through its subreddit (PolyMCLauncher) and Discord server (numeric ID: 923671181020766230). The software is distributed through various channels including Flathub (org.polymc.PolyMC), AUR package (polymc), and MacPorts (PolyMC), making it accessible through multiple package management systems.

### Technical Implementation
The launcher is implemented using the Q2407 programming language (likely referring to C++ based on common launcher implementations). It does not include a code of conduct in its repository, as noted in the commit history. The project maintains a Fandom article with ID ftb:PolyMC and is listed on AlternativeTo with its own software ID.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "PolyMC",
  "description": "A free, open-source custom launcher for Minecraft that allows users to manage multiple game instances and versions across Windows, macOS, and Linux",
  "url": "https://polymc.org/",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC",
    "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q100443711"
  ],
  "additionalType": "Game Launcher"
}

## References

1. [Source](https://polymc.org/download/)
2. [Release 1.1.0. 2022](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/1.1.0)
3. [Release 1.1.1. 2022](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/1.1.1)
4. [Release 1.2.0. 2022](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/1.2.0)
5. [Release 1.2.1. 2022](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/1.2.1)
6. [Release 1.2.2. 2022](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/1.2.2)
7. [Release 1.3.0. 2022](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/1.3.0)
8. [Release 1.3.1. 2022](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/1.3.1)
9. [Release 1.3.2. 2022](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/1.3.2)
10. [Release 1.4.0. 2022](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/1.4.0)
11. [Release 1.4.1. 2022](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/1.4.1)
12. [Release 1.4.2. 2022](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/1.4.2)
13. [Release 1.4.3. 2022](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/1.4.3)
14. [Release 5.0. 2023](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/5.0)
15. [Release 5.1. 2023](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/5.1)
16. [Release 6.0. 2023](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/6.0)
17. [Release 6.1. 2024](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/6.1)
18. [Release 7.0. 2025](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/releases/tag/7.0)
19. [Source](https://github.com/PolyMC/PolyMC/commit/ccf282593dcdbe189c99b81b8bc90cb203aed3ee)
20. [Source](https://polymc.org/)