External Remote Link

This is the updated Version to SD-Bridge for Factorio 2.1 . You can now use your second screen instead of a StreamDeck device or even an external device like a tablet. It shall also be used with a Factorio server, where you can just not interact, but see all the stats.

Testing is very limited in local game, you are welcome to check and submit bugs. I have some features in my backlog, but wanted to have feedback first.

Factorio Remote View + Stream Deck Integration

A three-component bridge between Factorio and the Elgato Stream Deck. Provides live game-state data (production, alerts, research, circuit networks) and remote-view control directly from your Stream Deck buttons.

Disclaimer: External Remote Link is an independent, fan-made companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Wube Software. "Factorio" is a trademark of Wube Software.

Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Factorio                        RCON (TCP port 25575)          │
│  ┌──────────────┐    ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│  │ ext-remote-  │───>│  Middleware (Node.js)                │   │
│  │ link mod     │    │  ws://localhost:8080  (StreamDeck)   │   │
│  │ (control.lua)│    │  http://localhost:8081 (Dashboard)   │   │
│  └──────────────┘    └──────┬───────────────────────────────┘   │
│                             │                                   │
│                             ▼                                   │
│                     Stream Deck Plugin                          │
│                     (TypeScript / Elgato SDK)                   │
│                     9 action buttons                            │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Three components

Component	Location	Role
Factorio Mod	`mod/`	Registers 12 RCON commands (`/sd-data`, `/sd-view`, `/sd-toggle`, etc.). Reads game state, controls remote view, handles alerts.
Middleware	`middleware/`	Node.js relay: connects to Factorio via RCON, polls `/sd-data` every second, broadcasts JSON to WebSocket clients (port 8080) and web dashboard (port 8081).
Stream Deck Plugin	`com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.sdPlugin/`	9 action buttons that connect to the middleware, render live data on key images, and send commands back through the middleware to Factorio.

Prerequisites

Windows 10+
Node.js 20+ (npm, npx on PATH)
Factorio (legally owned) — base game required, Space Age DLC recommended
Elgato Stream Deck (hardware + software)
PowerShell 5.1+ (ships with Windows)

Quick Start

1. Enable RCON in Factorio

Edit %APPDATA%\Factorio\config\config.ini:

local-rcon-socket=127.0.0.1:25575
local-rcon-password=YourPassword

2. Clone and build

build-and-run.bat

This single command:
- Installs npm dependencies for both middleware and plugin
- Compiles TypeScript
- Deploys the plugin to %APPDATA%\Elgato\StreamDeck\Plugins\
- Generates Factorio-derived graphics (planets, alerts, icons)
- Starts middleware, StreamDeck, and Factorio

3. Configure

Middleware (`middleware/.env`)

Edit ext-remote-link/middleware/.env to match your RCON setup:

RCON_HOST=127.0.0.1
RCON_PORT=25575
RCON_PASSWORD=YourPassword
WS_PORT=8080
WEB_PORT=8081
READ_ONLY=false

Field	Default	Description
`RCON_HOST`	`127.0.0.1`	Factorio RCON host (local game = localhost)
`RCON_PORT`	`25575`	RCON port (must match `config.ini`)
`RCON_PASSWORD`	—	Must match `config.ini` → `local-rcon-password`
`WS_PORT`	`8080`	WebSocket port for Stream Deck plugin
`WEB_PORT`	`8081`	HTTP port for web dashboard
`READ_ONLY`	`false`	Set to `true` to disable remote-view control commands

Stream Deck Actions

In the Stream Deck app, add any of the 9 actions and set:
- RCON host — 127.0.0.1
- RCON port — 25575
- RCON password — your chosen password
- WebSocket port — 8080 (default)

Button Reference

All buttons show their current state live on the key image. Short-press and long-press have distinct actions.

Planet Button (Vanilla — `com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.planet-button`)

Property	Value
Display	Planet icon, evolution factor, red/yellow alert counts
Short-press	Switch remote view to the selected planet; cycle alerts (red → yellow → hub/origin)
Long-press	Jump to planet origin `{0,0}`

Configure the planet name in the Property Inspector.

Planet Button (Cycle — `com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.generic-planet-button`)

Property	Value
Display	Planet icon, evolution factor, red/yellow alert counts
Short-press	Cycle alerts on the current planet
Long-press	Next planet (all discovered planets, including modded)

No configuration needed — automatically discovers all planets.

Space Station Button (`com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.platform-button`)

Property	Value
Display	Platform icon, platform name, alerts, background planet
Short-press	Jump to the selected platform
Long-press	Next platform

Configure the platform index (1-based) in the Property Inspector.

Player Button (`com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.player-button`)

Property	Value
Display	Character icon, UPS, player count, playtime, background planet
Short-press	Jump to the selected player
Long-press	Next connected player

Configure player index in the Property Inspector.

Remote Toggle (`com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.remote-toggle`)

Property	Value
Display	Character icon, remote/character mode indicator
Short-press	Toggle between remote view and character controller

Goto Button (`com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.goto-button`)

Property	Value
Display	Pin icon
Short-press	Teleport remote view to saved position
Long-press	Save current view position (stores in Property Inspector)

Production Button (`com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.production-button`)

Property	Value
Display	Gear icon, item icon, production/consumption numbers
Short-press	Cycle through tracked items/groups
Long-press	Cycle surfaces

Shows production and consumption statistics from all surfaces.

Circuit Network Button (`com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.circuit-button`)

Property	Value
Display	Signal icon + name, signal count
Short-press	Refresh circuit data
Long-press	Cycle through available circuit channels

Reads signals from radar-based circuit networks (wireless, per-channel). Configure channel name, type (virtual/item/fluid), and wire color (red/green/both) in the Property Inspector.

Research Button (`com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.research-button`)

Property	Value
Display	Tech icon (or Erlenmeyer flask fallback), tech name, progress bar, time remaining, SP cost
Short-press	Open technology GUI
Long-press	Jump to nearest active lab/biolab

Shows current research status with live progress updates.

RCON Commands (for reference)

The mod registers these commands (usable via middleware or direct RCON):

Command	Purpose
`/sd-data`	Full game state JSON (planets, platforms, alerts, production, research, players)
`/sd-view <planet>`	Switch remote view to planet + cycle alerts
`/sd-toggle`	Toggle remote/character view
`/sd-origin <planet>`	Jump to planet origin `{0,0}`
`/sd-platform-view <index>`	Jump to space platform by index
`/sd-player <index>`	Jump to connected player
`/sd-goto <surface> <x> <y>`	Jump to arbitrary coordinates
`/sd-circuit <channel>`	Read circuit network signals from radar
`/sd-circuit-list`	List available circuit channels
`/sd-research-action <open\\|close\\|goto>`	Research GUI control
`/sd-diag`	Diagnostic output (API probing)

Development

Repository layout

.
├─ build-and-run.bat / .ps1    One-click: build + deploy + start (fresh clone ✔)
├─ start.bat / .ps1            Quick-launch middleware + Factorio (daily use)
├─ install-dev.bat / .ps1      Full install (stops everything first, copies mod)
├─ pack-mod.bat / .ps1         Build Factorio mod .zip
├─ .env                        Local paths (not tracked in git)
├─ ext-remote-link/
│  ├─ com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.sdPlugin/    Stream Deck plugin source
│  │  ├─ src/                   TypeScript source (9 actions + renderer)
│  │  ├─ ui/                    Property Inspector HTML pages
│  │  ├─ imgs/                  Icons (own artwork tracked, Factorio-derived gitignored)
│  │  ├─ install-assets.bat/.ps1    Generate Factorio graphics locally
│  │  ├─ reset-assets.bat/.ps1      Restore shippable placeholders
│  │  └─ pack.bat/.ps1              Build .streamDeckPlugin package
│  ├─ middleware/               Node.js middleware (WebSocket + web dashboard)
│  │  ├─ src/                   TypeScript source (index.ts, rcon-client.ts, web-server.ts)
│  │  └─ public/                Web dashboard static files
│  └─ mod/                     Factorio mod (control.lua, info.json)

Scripts reference

Script	What it does
`start.bat`	(Daily use) Start middleware + Factorio if not already running
`build-and-run.bat`	(Recommended) npm install → TS build → deploy plugin → install assets → start all
`install-dev.bat`	Full dev cycle (stops SD & middleware first, copies mod too)
`pack-mod.bat`	Creates `ext-remote-link_<version>.zip` in project root
`ext-remote-link/.../pack.bat`	Builds shippable `.streamDeckPlugin` (without Factorio graphics)
`ext-remote-link/.../pack-marketplace.bat`	Builds Marketplace variant with own artwork
`ext-remote-link/.../install-assets.bat`	Copy/generate Factorio graphics from local installation
`ext-remote-link/.../reset-assets.bat`	Restore placeholder graphics for redistribution
`ext-remote-link/build-dev.bat`	Legacy: TS build + assets only (called by other scripts)

First-time setup (fresh clone)

build-and-run.bat

The script auto-detects Factorio and handles npm install. No manual steps needed.

After code changes

build-and-run.bat

This stops and restarts everything, rebuilds TypeScript, and deploys the updated plugin.

Packing the mod for Factorio

pack-mod.bat

Output: ext-remote-link_0.1.0.zip — ready for the mods folder or mod manager.

Building the StreamDeck plugin

cd ext-remote-link\com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.sdPlugin
pack.bat -Zip

Output: dist-package\com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.streamDeckPlugin

Environment variables (.env)

Create .env in the project root to override defaults:

FACTORIO_DATA_DIR=C:\Program Files\Factorio\data
FACTORIO_MODS_DIR=%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Factorio\mods
FACTORIO_EXE=C:\Program Files\Factorio\bin\x64\factorio.exe
SD_PLUGIN_DST=%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Elgato\StreamDeck\Plugins\com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.sdPlugin
SD_EXE=C:\Program Files\Elgato\StreamDeck\StreamDeck.exe

Missing keys fall back to auto-detection (Factorio) or defaults.

Copyright Notes

Planet/alert/item graphics are taken from Factorio (© Wube Software). They are not stored in this repository. Each user generates them once from their own, legally owned installation (via install-assets.ps1). A build that includes those graphics is for personal use only.
Own artwork (action icons, plugin icon, category icon, research button images) is original and shipped in the repository.
Middleware and mod code are original.