Mapgen

Mapgen is an algorithm which is used to generate the map. This task is usually split into more aspects.

Terrain Generation
This is the most important part in mapgen, so many times the term mapgen stands only for the terrain generation algorithm. The terrain generator only decides what nodes are part of ground and what nodes are part of a water body and what nodes are empty. Some of them decide between more classes, for example river water. Even though the decisions of terrain generators are so limited, it is the most challenging part because it has to start from nothing.

In Tunnelers' Abyss, we use Terrainbrot.

Biome Generation
Biome generator populates the terrain by nodes and structures defined by mods. We use the mod ethereal to define the overground biomes and the mod underch to generate the underground biomes.

Ore Generation
Ore generator populates the map by ores and other nodes which can be found in bulk rock. We use ores defined in default, moreores, Technic, underch, xtraores and paleotest. Since we use ores-JIT, ore generation is de facto not a part of mapgen (at least for most ores) because the ores generate after the map is generated.