FactoriOS - Lua-Powered Command Blocks

This mod adds a new block called a Command Block that allows for high performance factory scripting in Lua. Has been battletested to orchestrate 40k furances/assemblers/labs with minimal lag.

As of now, here are the core things the api gives access to:

TaskModule - Allows for dynamic tick scheduling

HookModule - Allows for hooking onto some game events and custom events.

OutModule - Allows for basic debug printing

WireModule - Allows for circuitry operations like traversing a wire system or signal stuff.

InvModule - Allows for basic inventory operations

AssemblerModule - Allows for basic assembling machine operations

BankModule - Allows for a virtual item storage that simplifies a lot of the complexities of scripting.

core/modules

It also gives access to:

• LuaGameScript
  Full access to the global scripting interface (game), including player data, surfaces, and entity control.

• LuaPrototypes
  Allows reading prototype definitions like items, recipes, entities, and more.

• serpent
  In game entity debugger

Steps To Run Scripts:

1. Craft a Command Block from the Unsorted category (1 Iron Plate for now).
2. Open the GUI.
3. Create a empty script.
4. Paste in some code (hello_world.lua is good).
5. Toggle the block to ON.
6. Click Select Current Script.
7. Click Compile All.
8. Close the GUI and you should see Hello world on the block.

Examples:

hello_world.lua

---@param api API
---@param caller CB
local function main(api, caller)
  api.out.print(caller, "Hello world")
end

return main

inspect.lua

---@param api API
---@param caller CB
local function main(api, caller)
    api.task.schedule(caller, 1, function() -- 1 tick delay before ran
        api.out.print(caller, "Bank Contents:\n" .. api.bank.inspect()) -- prints contents of the bank
        return 60 -- 1 second intervals
    end)
end

return main

drill.lua

---@param api API
---@param caller CB
local function main(api, caller)
    local drills = api.wire.bfs_wire_wl(caller.ent, "green", {["mining-drill"] = true}) -- finds all drills in green wire
    local chests = api.wire.bfs_wire_wl(caller.ent, "red", {container = true}) -- finds all chests in red wire


    api.task.schedule(caller, 1, function()
        for _, ent in ipairs(drills) do
            local fuel = api.inv.get_inv(ent, "fuel") -- gets fuel inventory

            -- drains then sets fuel to exactly 2 coal
            api.bank.inv_drain(fuel)
            api.bank.inv_move("coal", 2, fuel)
        end

        for _, ent in ipairs(chests) do
            local chest = api.inv.get_inv(ent, "chest")
            api.bank.inv_drain(chest) -- drains mined ore from chest into bank
        end

        return 480 -- 8 second intervals
    end)
end

return main

output_to_chest.lua

-- pumps out 50 iron ore from the bank into a chest
local output_ores = {"iron-ore"}
local count = 50

---@param api API
---@param caller CB
local function main(api, caller)
    local cached_ents = api.wire.bfs_wire_wl(caller.ent, "green", {container = true})

    api.task.schedule(caller, 1, function()
        for _, ent in pairs(cached_ents) do
            local chest = api.inv.get_inv(ent, "chest")

            for _, ore in pairs(output_ores) do
                api.bank.inv_move(ore, count, chest)
            end
        end

        return 240
    end)
end

return main

For more info like source code, and more advanced examples:
https://github.com/murkm105/factoriOS

Future Plans:

1. More Modules – Expand the API with additional building blocks.
2. Custom Art – Add proper sprites and visual polish.
3. Improved UI – Enhance the in-game editor and scripting interface for better usability.