SpectatorTab

OVERVIEW
SpectatorTab is a lightweight utility that automatically removes players from the TAB player list while they are in spectator mode. Their entry returns as soon as they switch back to survival, creative, or adventure mode.

The plugin changes only the player-list entry. It does not call hidePlayer, does not apply vanish, does not change game modes, and does not alter normal physical visibility inside the world.

MAIN FEATURES

• Automatic spectator detection — no command or manual action required.
• Per-viewer visibility — regular players cannot see spectators in TAB.
• Staff bypass — authorized staff members continue seeing spectators normally.
• Instant restoration — players return to TAB after leaving spectator mode.
• World-change synchronization — the correct state is reapplied after changing worlds.
• Join synchronization — newly connected viewers receive the correct player list.
• TAB refresh protection — a lightweight safety task reapplies the state if another plugin rebuilds the list.
• No configuration — install it, assign one permission, and it is ready.
• No database and no commands — small, focused, and conflict-free.

HOW IT WORKS
When a player enters spectator mode, SpectatorTab evaluates every online viewer:

1. Viewers without the bypass permission stop seeing the spectator in TAB.
2. Viewers with the bypass permission keep seeing the spectator.
3. The spectator remains physically present according to vanilla Minecraft rules.
4. When the spectator changes to another game mode, the removed entry is restored.

This makes the plugin ideal for staff supervision, events, recording accounts, builders, and public SMP communities.

PERMISSION
Allows a viewer to keep seeing spectators in the player list.

• Default: false
• Recommended for: owners and trusted administrators

LuckPerms example:
COMPATIBILITY

• Server software: Paper 1.21.x
• Tested version: Paper 1.21.8
• Java: 21 or newer
• TAB: Optional and compatible
• ProtocolLib: Optional and compatible
• LuckPerms: Optional and recommended for permissions

Important: Spigot and CraftBukkit alone are not supported because SpectatorTab uses Paper's per-viewer player-list API.

INSTALLATION

1. Download SpectatorTab-1.0.0.jar.
2. Place the file inside your server's /plugins folder.
3. Restart the Paper server.
4. Confirm that SpectatorTab appears in green in /plugins.
5. Grant the bypass permission only to staff members who should see spectators.

GREAT FOR

• Survival and SMP communities
• Community events
• Moderation and supervision teams
• Recording or cinematic accounts
• Builders working in spectator mode
• Servers that want spectator privacy without a vanish plugin

SpectatorTab oculta del TAB a los jugadores que estén en modo espectador, pero no los vuelve invisibles dentro del mundo. Al regresar a supervivencia, creativo o aventura, vuelven a aparecer automáticamente.

• Instala el archivo en /plugins.
• Reinicia Paper.
• Concede themurft.spectatortab.see únicamente al personal que deba ver espectadores.

Ejemplo con LuckPerms: