Do not treat loaders as interchangeable
The key distinction is project lineage. A community NeoForge port can be useful, but it is not automatically the same artifact as the official Forge/Fabric build and may target a different Minecraft version.
Read build metadata
Use the file information that accompanies the build to identify the intended loader and Minecraft release.
Use errors as evidence
If the loader reports a missing or incompatible dependency, follow that message before changing unrelated settings.
Check addons independently
An addon may support fewer loader combinations than the core mod, so verify its requirements separately.
Practical takeaway
Keep the setup reversible. A separate profile, a world backup and a written record of versions make updates and troubleshooting far easier than reconstructing a working environment after several changes.
Continue with the compatibility overview or review the Valkyrien Skies Mod FAQ .