# Bedrock panorama capture feasibility

Investigated on 12 October 2026 using Microsoft's current Creator documentation,
Context7, and MineGeo's Fabric source.

## Result

A self-contained, supported Bedrock add-on cannot currently reproduce MineGeo's
Java capture mod. Camera control is available, but the documented Script APIs
do not expose the client framebuffer, a screenshot-to-PNG operation, or the
square render target that the Java implementation uses. This is a conclusion
from the exposed API surface, rather than an explicit promise by Microsoft that
these capabilities will never exist.

No `.mcaddon` release was built or added to the downloads page: a pack that only
turns the camera would not deliver the requested working panorama exporter.

## How Bedrock add-ons differ

Resource packs supply assets and presentation; behavior packs supply world
behavior and can contain JavaScript modules. Pack manifests identify the packs,
modules, versions, and dependencies. Imported packs are activated for a world.
See [Getting started with add-ons](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/minecraft/creator/documents/gettingstarted?view=minecraft-bedrock-stable).

Bedrock gameplay scripts execute on the world/server side. Installing a local
resource pack does not give a player a client-side scripting hook into arbitrary
multiplayer servers. A scripted camera helper would need the host to activate
its behavior pack. See [Multiplayer script architecture](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/minecraft/creator/documents/scripting/multiplayer-scripts?view=minecraft-bedrock-stable).

## Comparison with MineGeo's Java implementation

| Required capability | Existing Java implementation | Supported Bedrock add-on surface |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aim six views from one position | `Capture.java` overrides render-camera yaw/pitch | Camera position, rotation and FOV controls exist |
| Produce six 1024 x 1024 faces | Dedicated square framebuffer with six PNG writes | No documented framebuffer/image capture API |
| Save a surface map and capture manifest | `SurfaceDataset.java` writes PNG and JSON files | World data can be inspected, but no documented equivalent PNG/file exporter |
| Upload from an ordinary player's game | Java client performs upload | `server-net` HTTP is Dedicated Server only; not game clients or Realms |

Sources: [Camera API](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/minecraft/creator/scriptapi/minecraft/server/camera?view=minecraft-bedrock-stable),
[Graphics API](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/minecraft/creator/scriptapi/minecraft/server-graphics/minecraft-server-graphics?view=minecraft-bedrock-experimental),
[Dimension API](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/minecraft/creator/scriptapi/minecraft/server/dimension?view=minecraft-bedrock-stable),
and [HTTP module restrictions](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/minecraft/creator/scriptapi/minecraft/server-net/minecraft-server-net).

The graphics module exposes lighting, atmospheric, water and color-grading
controls; it does not expose screenshot capture. Built-in screenshots or
resource-pack screenshot buttons should not be confused with a script API that
returns six image files and metadata to an exporter.

## Plausible alternative requiring a separate implementation

A Windows companion could capture the game window while a host-installed
behavior pack guides the camera through six views. The companion would own
image processing, local files, checksums and upload. Manual screenshots are
another possible input. Neither approach is a portable, automatic add-on with
the Java mod's existing behavior.

Before releasing such a companion, an in-game prototype must establish:

1. Consistent square capture geometry and matching 90-degree cube-face projection.
2. Matching face orientation, stable camera position, hidden HUD/hand and loaded terrain.
3. A reliable link between coordinates and the captured images, plus camera restoration on cancellation.
4. Surface-map export and explicit Bedrock support in MineGeo's dataset validation and upload processing.

These alternatives have not been implemented or tested in Bedrock. Existing
Fabric sources, published Java artifacts, and the production deployment are
unchanged by this investigation.