...and by cheating I mean "Build a 2 block high wall around your build and we'll turn off mob spawning". Where's the fun in that?

Anyway...Light Level Overlay let's you easily see if your build zone is protected from mobs spawning or not, real time as you place torches. Makes it a bit easier than running all over with your F3 on trying to find out if you're covered or not.

Works with the latest Forge for 1.7.10, but the link to that version isn't on the main page, I linked to the page with that url on it below.

I cleared this as a "legal" mod to use on the Lab with Doc, but if anyone has cause to deny the claim let me know.

Link:
http://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/mapping-and-modding/minecraft-mods/1284971-light-level-overlay

Page with link to 1.7.10 Version that works with Forge:
http://www.minecraftforum.net/forums/mapping-and-modding/minecraft-mods/1284971-light-level-overlay?page=12

i like this forum idea

but i dont have any but optifine
i had minimap once but never updated it

I'm not a modder. I tried it out about a year ago but I would always have to "relearn" how to do it. The new Forge platform is great - download 1.7.10 forge, run it, and it does the rest.

Then just save mods in the mod folder.

You can make different save paths so you can have uncorrupted levels, that's a bit more advanced but useful even if you don't mod to have different profiles with different directory paths.

That is all I know.

Installed Forge and low light mod today. So simple that a senior citizen can do it. Mod is great, cleaned up 8 floors of High Tor in less than 10 minutes! Toggles easily with F9 but had a crash once and weird graphic updating later on. Went back to vanilla but will use in the future when mob control is paramount.