SideGate

Hybrid Login Bridge for Online-Mode Servers
Keep online-mode security, allow selected non-premium usernames to join as guests with configurable restrictions.

What is SideGate?

SideGate is a Bukkit-compatible plugin (Spigot/Paper/Purpur) for servers that want to keep online-mode=true while still allowing selected non-premium players.

Premium players continue normal Mojang authentication, while approved guest players are handled by SideGate guest flow.

When Floodgate or Geyser-Spigot is installed, detected Bedrock players remain on the Bedrock authentication path and are not treated as SideGate guests.

Why use it?

• Keep premium security path for normal players.
• Avoid switching the entire server to offline mode.
• Control exactly who can join as guest.
• Apply clear guest restrictions and visual labels.

Core Features (Current)

• Hybrid Login Flow: Premium users go through standard server authentication; guest candidates use SideGate injection flow.
• Manual Premium Override: premium-usernames always stay in premium path.
• Premium Session Failure Policy: Compare the login UUID with Mojang before encryption, then show a custom name-conflict message or continue as Guest.
• Guest Admission Policy: Use allow-all-guests or allowed-guests.
• Optional Auto-Detect: Mojang API lookup with internal cache (auto-detect-premium).
• Floodgate/Geyser Support: Automatically bypass guest classification for detected Bedrock players when either Bukkit plugin is installed.
• Fail-Closed Authentication: Mojang API failures leave players on normal online-mode authentication instead of granting guest access.
• Guest Handling: Add guest tag, set gamemode, send title/subtitle/messages.
• Guest Chat Prefix: Prefix applies to players with guest tag only.
• Runtime Reload: /sidegate reload.
• Public API: Addon plugins can integrate via SideGate API service.

Installation

Required dependency: ProtocolLib (SpigotMC)
https://www.spigotmc.org/resources/protocollib.1997/

1. Install ProtocolLib (5.x+).
2. Optionally install Floodgate and/or Geyser-Spigot for automatic Bedrock detection.
3. Put the SideGate .jar file in your /plugins folder.
4. Set online-mode=true in server.properties.
5. Start or restart the server.

Configuration Example

# SideGate Configuration

enable-guest-mode: true
auto-detect-premium: true

allow-all-guests: false

premium-usernames:
  - "TamKungZ"

premium-session-failure:
  action: "KICK_WITH_MESSAGE" # or FALLBACK_TO_GUEST
  message: "&cThis username belongs to a Premium account.\n&eChange your username and try again."

allowed-guests:
  - "FriendName1"
  - "FriendName2"

guest-settings:
  default-gamemode: "SURVIVAL"
  chat-prefix: "&7[Guest] &r"

messages:
  join-title: "&cACCESS RESTRICTED"
  join-subtitle: "&7Guest Mode"
  join-message:
    - "&c=================================="
    - "&6 Welcome to SideGate Protocol"
    - "&7 Account Status: &cGuest (Non-License)"
    - "&7 You have restricted gameplay access."
    - "&c=================================="

Requirements

• Java: 17+
• Server: Spigot / Paper / Purpur (Bukkit-compatible)
• Dependency: ProtocolLib 5.x+ (SpigotMC)
• Optional integrations: Floodgate, Geyser-Spigot

Bug Reports

Submit issues at:
https://github.com/TamKungZ/SideGate/issues

Please include:

• Server software + exact version
• Java version
• ProtocolLib version
• SideGate version
• Relevant startup/login logs

Project Status & License

Closed Source

• Normal server usage is allowed.
• Separate addon plugins using SideGate public API are allowed.
• Modification/redistribution/repackaging of SideGate is not allowed without permission.
• Commercial use or monetization requires prior permission by email: [email protected]

Public reference snapshot:
https://github.com/TamKungZ/SideGate (sidegate-1.0.0-rc.1)

Security Notice

Guest/offline access has impersonation risk. For production servers, use an authentication plugin and strict permission setup.

If Mojang profile lookup is unavailable, SideGate does not assume the player is a guest. The server's normal online-mode authentication remains responsible for the login.

FALLBACK_TO_GUEST is a high-risk server-wide policy. It allows cracked clients to use Premium-registered usernames with Guest/offline UUIDs. Use an authentication plugin and UUID-based permissions.

The Premium session failure policy requires auto-detect-premium: true.

A client that deliberately spoofs the exact official UUID remains on normal online-mode authentication and cannot bypass Mojang session verification.