Any Suggestions For The Future?

[Fariel]

I'm looking to get in to modding Minecraft again but I'm not too sure about the scene. I modded about 3-4 years ago before I knew Forge was a thing. Actually, thinking back, I'm not even sure if Forge was a thing back then. Anyways, I've been playing some FTB modpacks and whatnot -- I'm sure this is all a story you've heard before -- and it made me want to get back in to it now that there are new tools and resources available. But I'm honestly a little apprehensive. Here's why:

 

MC 1.8 released over a year ago, and the current version is 1.8.8. The most recent Forge version is 1.8. This has me worried.

Most mods and packs I've seen have stayed at 1.7.2. I don't know why and that also has me worried.

Rumor has it that 1.9 is coming within a month. I don't want to get started on a mod and have to make a large overhaul to update to a new major release.

I'm having trouble finding reliable resources that don't tell me how to do four things: "Get started", "Create a mod", "add a block", and "add an item/recipe." This also has me worried because Forge is an entirely foreign environment to me and Minecraft has changed a lot since I last looked at it. I'm basically starting over - and I can't find reliable tools.

I'm also noticing the forums here seem to be kind of slow-going. This implies to me that there isn't very much activity in the modding community -- unless everyone hangs out somewhere else.  Again, somewhat worrisome.

 

So... does anybody have any information regarding these concerns?  Should I just get started or would it be better to wait a month or so?

[LexManos]

The 1.9 update should be nothing like the 1.8 update. It should be a lot simpler of a jump.

We're getting close to doing a 1.8.8 release, we've fixed 99.99% of all fernflower issues and it now decompiles the new minecraft code like a champ {There is still one known variance that I need to fix but that'll be done soon}

As for people updating to 1.8, its slow going mainly because of the inital nay-sayers who went on evangelical rampages about how bad 1.8 was without actually looking at it or applying some logical thought. Sadly, what influential people say on the internet has a large impact on things.

 

But now people are moving forward, and hopefully when people see the new sexy code that 1.8.8 produces with all our fixes to fernflower and changes mojang has done to help us. They will be enticed to go for it.

 

So, what I would say to you about starting a new mod. Start on 1.8, the 1.8.8 bump will be a big shift but not a BAD shift. The fundamental things will stay the same, but you may need to change a few function names and add generic arguments to your code. For any competent programmer this should be a breeze.

 

As for 1.9, yes there are changes, however most of them are isolated to one feature here and there. And from a modders point of view rather small. So I don't see it being a issue.