Parallel Research Lanes

Research different technologies at the same time, with an independent queue for each group of labs.

Parallel Research Lanes lets you create multiple technology queues and decide which labs work on which queue. Keep one group researching upgrades while another works toward new unlocks, or separate research that uses different science packs.

For example, you can dedicate a lane to Gleba technologies so your agricultural science packs keep being used before they spoil, while another group researches technologies using regular science. The lanes can use different lab types or separate groups of the same type. How you divide your research is up to you.

This mod is experimental, so use it at your own risk. I've been using it in my current playthrough without issues. Feedback and bug reports are welcome!

Features

• Research different technologies at the same time using separate groups of labs.
• Give each group its own queue, with automatic prerequisite planning.
• Research a set number of levels, or repeat until stopped.
• Track research speed and estimated time remaining for each lane.
• Keep using the vanilla research screen for the default lane.

Each technology can belong to only one lane at a time, with multiple successive levels allowed within that lane. Two lanes can use the same science packs, but each consumes the supplies delivered to its own labs.

Getting started

1. Open the window with Ctrl+T, or the shortcuts.
2. Create a lane and give it a name. You already start with a "default" lane.
3. Assign labs through the panel beside an opened lab or through Labs & settings. Assigning a lab type to a queue also sets its lane for future builds.
4. Use Add research to build its queue.

The default lane has a fixed name and can be controlled by the vanilla research screen. Paused lanes and prerequisites waiting on another lane can limit what the vanilla queue displays; the mod window retains the full plan.

How it works

Each extra lane uses an allied internal force containing its assigned labs. Factorio performs the actual research, consumes the science, and applies lab quality and modules. The mod shares completed technologies with your main force and keeps lab speed and productivity bonuses synchronized. Having an extra force is required since Factorio only allows one research at a time per force, but this should be totally invisible to the player.

The mod is designed to be UPS-friendly. Factorio handles the research itself, so there's no heavy background scripting or constant inventory scanning. Science consumption from all lanes is included in your regular statistics.

Known limitations

• Deconstruction planner highlights can be inaccurate for extra-lane labs. The selection preview may omit a lab even though releasing the selection correctly orders its removal (does not affect default-lane labs)
• Robot item requests work but are a little wonky. The labs temporarily return to your main force so construction robots can service them, then resume their assigned lane.

The mod has been tested with Factorio 2.1.21, Moshine 1.2.12 and Krastorio 2 Spaced Out 2.0.17.

Inspiration

Moshine's long-running Neural Computer research inspired the mod: it seemed useful to keep other research moving while those computers worked. The same approach applies to any lab groups you want to research independently. When Neural Computers are available, a Moshine lane is created automatically as a convenience.

Factory Planner inspired parts of the interface.

Warning: before uninstalling

If you want to uninstall, run the cleanup command while the mod is still enabled:

1. As an administrator, run /prl-prepare-uninstall.
2. Save the game after cleanup completes, then exit to the main menu or close Factorio.
3. Disable or remove the mod, then load that cleaned save.

Cleanup returns extra-lane labs to their original owner and removes the internal forces. Completed technologies stay unlocked; extra-lane queues and plans stored by the mod are discarded. Keep a backup of your save until you have checked the result.

If you already removed the mod without running cleanup, load a pre-removal save with the mod enabled and follow the steps above.