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Advanced Technical Diagnostics: Spark

Identifying the root cause of performance degradation on a complex Minecraft server can be mathematically challenging without the correct telemetry. Spark is a premier, high-performance CPU and memory profiler designed to provide granular visibility into your server’s “heartbeat” (TPS). By capturing and visualizing technical stack traces, Spark enables administrators to pinpoint exactly which plugin, entity type, or world event is consuming excessive hardware resources. This guide ensuring you can move beyond guesswork and resolve lag through data-driven analysis.

Difficulty

Advanced

Time

8 Minutes

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Technical Data Collection Workflow

To generate a meaningful performance report, you must capture data while the server is experiencing its highest load.
1

Initialize the Profiler

Ensure the Spark plugin is active (Note: Spark is built-in to the Purpur modloader). Execute the following command in-game or via the console:
/spark profiler start
2

The Observation Window

Allow the server to operate for 10 to 15 minutes while participants are actively playing. Profiling an empty server will not yield actionable diagnostic data.
3

Execute Data Export

Conclude the capture by running:
/spark profiler stop
4

Access the Visualizer

The plugin will generate a unique, secure URL (e.g., spark.lucko.me/XXXXXX). Open this link in a modern web browser to access the hierarchical diagnostic dashboard.

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Interpreting the Flame Graph

The Flame Graph is a visual representation of your CPU’s time allocation. Understanding its geometry is essential for successful optimization.
  • Horizontal Width = CPU Time: The wider a specific bar or “node,” the higher the percentage of your total tick time it consumed. Focus your optimization efforts on the widest nodes.
  • EntityTick Hierarchies: If this section is disproportionately wide, your community likely has too many active mobs, unoptimized entity farms, or a large volume of dropped items.
  • Plugin Callstacks: Individual plugin names will appear in the graph. If a single plugin (e.g., EssentialsX) accounts for more than 15% of the total tick time, it indicates a significant configuration issue or a technical conflict.

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Strategic Memory Analysis

If your server experiences “Out of Memory” (OOM) crashes, use the /spark heapsummary command. This generates a report of every object currently residing in your server’s RAM, allowing you to identify buggy modifications that are failing to release unused memory.
Use /spark health for a rapid overview of your current TPS, CPU usage percentages, and memory heap allocation. This is the fastest method for verifying if a recent technical change had an immediate impact on stability.

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Seeking Expert Review

If you are unable to identify the source of your lag within the Flame Graph, we recommend sharing your Spark URL within our official community Discord. Our technical staff and experienced community members can help you parse complex stack traces to find the bottleneck.

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Need Extra Help?

If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:

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Last Updated: January 2026 | Minecraft: Diagnostics active.