When an invalid mod is being loaded by FML it says in the logs that it is skipping the mod because it is malformed (not the exact wording), but it apparently tries to load it anyway, causing an NPE.

 

In my case, I was missing the mcmod.info file in my mod package.

 

It's obviously not a major issue because mods should be well-formed, but if the mod is being logged as "skipped", it being loaded anyway seems incorrect so I thought it'd let you guys know.

 

---- Minecraft Crash Report ----
// I bet Cylons wouldn't have this problem.

Time: 8/16/12 6:39 PM
Description: Failed to start game

java.lang.NullPointerException
at cpw.mods.fml.common.FMLModContainer.getName(FMLModContainer.java:106)
at cpw.mods.fml.common.Loader.sortModList(Loader.java:236)
at cpw.mods.fml.common.Loader.loadMods(Loader.java:416)
at cpw.mods.fml.client.FMLClientHandler.beginMinecraftLoading(FMLClientHandler.java:192)
at net.minecraft.client.Minecraft.a(Minecraft.java:402)
at net.minecraft.client.Minecraft.run(Minecraft.java:734)
at java.lang.Thread.run(Unknown Source)

Relevant Details:
- Minecraft Version: 1.3.2
- Operating System: Windows 7 (amd64) version 6.1
- Java Version: 1.7.0, Oracle Corporation
- Java VM Version: Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (mixed mode), Oracle Corporation
- Memory: 441959816 bytes (421 MB) / 514523136 bytes (490 MB) up to 954466304 bytes (910 MB)
- JVM Flags: 2 total; -Xmx1024M -Xms512M
- LWJGL: 2.4.2
- OpenGL: ATI Radeon HD 5800 Series GL version 4.2.11733 Compatibility Profile Context, ATI Technologies Inc.
- Is Modded: Definitely; 'forge,fml'
- Type: Client
- Texture Pack: DokuCraft.zip
- Profiler Position: N/A (disabled)

Has since been fixed.