Privileges and what they do

[ElemiachBronzebark]

Hello, does anybody know what Role Privileges actually do? Some are pretty self explanatory, but some aren't.
I feel like I've searched everywhere but I cannot find any sensible info on their function. 
In command handbook there is also some info that you can even have "custom" privileges, not sure what that is about. Are they really not described anywhere or am I just stupid?

For example, here is a list of Admin privileges. 

      "Privileges": [
        "build",
        "useblock",
        "buildblockseverywhere",
        "useblockseverywhere",
        "attackplayers",
        "attackcreatures",
        "freemove",
        "gamemode",
        "pickingrange",
        "chat",
        "kick",
        "ban",
        "whitelist",
        "setwelcome",
        "announce",
        "readlists",
        "give",
        "areamodify",
        "setspawn",
        "controlserver",
        "tp",
        "time",
        "grantrevoke",
        "root",
        "commandplayer",
        "controlplayergroups",
        "manageplayergroups",
        "selfkill",
        "worldedit"
      ],

Edited October 31, 2025 by ElemiachBronzebark

[LadyWYT]

Welcome to the forums! These are probably the links you're looking for: 

Server commands: https://wiki.vintagestory.at/List_of_server_commands

Client commands: https://wiki.vintagestory.at/List_of_client_commands

Admin privileges basically just control who can do what on a server, especially when it comes to using commands that directly change the world or overall server configuration(like the whitelist). 

4 hours ago, ElemiachBronzebark said:

In command handbook there is also some info that you can even have "custom" privileges, not sure what that is about. Are they really not described anywhere or am I just stupid?

I'm guessing that's probably referring to setting up custom roles on a server in addition to the default admin roles. That way users in those roles can have access to specified commands, but won't have free reign entirely like a full admin would. At least, that's my best guess, as I'm not really a server admin.

[Professor Dragon]

4 hours ago, LadyWYT said:

I'm guessing that's probably referring to setting up custom roles on a server in addition to the default admin roles. That way users in those roles can have access to specified commands, but won't have free reign entirely like a full admin would. At least, that's my best guess, as I'm not really a server admin.

Yes, it's the serverconfig.json file.

It contains a list of Roles and what they do, as per the example on that page.

Professor Dragon.

Edited October 30, 2025 by Professor Dragon

[ElemiachBronzebark]

Thank you both kindly for your replies. However, there’s no information in those wiki articles about what these actually do, only that they exist.
I’ve already checked twice.

Maybe I’m just missing it? You replied with such confidence that I’m starting to doubt myself.
Would you be so kind as to show me directly where the information is on what these privileges do?
For example, root or readlists.

[Professor Dragon]

47 minutes ago, ElemiachBronzebark said:

Would you be so kind as to show me directly where the information is on what these privileges do?

For example, root or readlists.

Oh right, got you. You want to know the details of what the privileges do, not just which Roles contain which Privileges. I'm up to speed, now!

Uh, I don't know. I've had a quick look around but have not found anything.  If anyone else knows, feel free to chip in.

Most of them are fairly self explanatory I would think, such as "build."

You could try doing a text search against the code here: https://github.com/anegostudios
For example, my initial search against this brings up entries such as this:
https://github.com/anegostudios/vsapi/blob/7a623149c858d44f5a570f734eae14ca9a6e5d0a/Server/API/IPlayerDataManager.cs#L74

 /// Set given role for given player. Role must exist in the serverconfig.json. For a list of roles, read sapi.Config.Roles

Now, I've got no idea what that is referring to or whether it helps. (Sorry!)
No doubt someone with code experience could chase this down a lot quicker.
Or someone who already manages a server

EDIT

Found it.
https://apidocs.vintagestory.at/api/Vintagestory.API.Server.Privilege.html

 

This is from an older post: 

Paging @Thorfinn in case they wish to add anything.

Professor Dragon.

 

Edited October 31, 2025 by Professor Dragon

[Thorfinn]

I don't know of anywhere they are explained. It's just common lingo to the kinds of people who run servers. "root", for example, comes from Unix. Root has access to, well, root, which in Windows would be C:\ and because of the way inheritance works, has access to all subdirectories from C:\, or root. In this context, root has complete privilege control. Some others are based on very similar inheritances in object oriented languages, where one privilege has all inherited privileges under it unless specifically revoked.

Not trying to be elitist. People conversant with the jargon often don't even think of it as jargon, but it also serves a purpose -- if you have to ask, you are getting into areas you could cause serious damage. You could do like most of us did and in this context, set up a single-player server and play around with it until you internalize what the various concepts mean, or you could ask specific questions. Like "root", it's easy to forget that is specialized knowledge.

 

[ElemiachBronzebark]

Bless your soul @Professor Dragon you are a true Scholar
Best I could do is 3 pages of google, didn't even think about searching through code (Or that VS's code is public in the first place, hah!)
Thank you, this will suffice, you also gave me a new source of information for any other obscure query I could have in the future, I am really grateful.

My dude @Thorfinn  Asking questions is the first step to knowledge, but thank you for your input all the same.
The thread is solved. 

[Professor Dragon]

5 hours ago, ElemiachBronzebark said:

Bless your soul @Professor Dragon you are a true Scholar
Best I could do is 3 pages of google, didn't even think about searching through code (Or that VS's code is public in the first place, hah!)
Thank you, this will suffice, you also gave me a new source of information for any other obscure query I could have in the future, I am really grateful.

My dude @Thorfinn  Asking questions is the first step to knowledge, but thank you for your input all the same.
The thread is solved. 

You're welcome. 

Thorfinn is the person who put me onto the code location and gave me my first tips on searching it.

Professor Dragon.