[2.0.28] Circuit Network Unlocked Before Research on Subsiquent Runs [Duplicate][not a bug]

[Aricitic]

Correction:
Lazyness is never the best option... I didn't notice that I copy/pasted the wrong version number. Thankfully it allowed me to change it.
Second correction: Apparently I'm bad at searching, this is a duplicate of: 122605 where we are told it is not a bug, and why.

Firstly, I did a search with the following words: "circuit unlocked before research" with yielded nothing (relevant).

Ok, granted, this may not be a bug... it may be a design choice as of 2.0, but I suspect that is not the case given the difference between blueprinting/deconstruction planner being unlocked without research(ing construction bots) and being able to utilize the circuit network - fully - before researching it...

What did you do?

Noticed the circuit network buttons ("make green/red wire") available before having finished the research... verified I had not completed the research (not even in progress yet).

What happened?

Explained above.

What did you expect to happen instead?

Because, and SOLELY because the circuit network wires control whether something can be used in the circuit network, these buttons shouldn't be unlocked (by default) on subsequent runs.

Does it happen always, once, or sometimes?

Considering I exited my current save and started a brand new one, and the buttons were still there, I believe it is safe to say "always."


Screen shots:

Transport belt with circuit attached and reading "all belts".

12-21-2024, 09-08-01.png (3.93 MiB) Viewed 248 times

Assembly Machine 1 with circuit attached.

12-21-2024, 09-09-08.png (3.38 MiB) Viewed 248 times

Research screen with mouse over "effects": Unlocks circuit network.

12-21-2024, 09-09-50.png (1.96 MiB) Viewed 248 times

Of note:

I literally, literally, just noticed this. It is entirely possible that this has been a thing since 2.0 added these buttons. It's entirely possible that this is intentional and by design. Heck, it's possible that the buttons are unlocked before even researching it as a new player (though I doubt that last one).
I know that this is the case for the Construction bot commands since 1.1, but those "abilities" are only useful if you have the bots, which you have to unlock independently of the abilities/buttons (or for blueprinting/planning ahead), but I strongly feel that the circuit network is different given it can be used without the addition of combinators, which are still locked behind the research.

Also, I only literally just noticed this as of this morning (right before searching before creating this post), so it may be an X.X.28 thing? Sadly, I don't know for sure.

Finally, if this is already known and/or intentional, then I very much apologize for the bother. I literally couldn't find anything (and I read the patch notes prior to/during download). If that is the case I will gladly delete this thread (if I'm able to).

[IsaacOscar]

Although I disagree, this is officially "not a bug", see 122605, despite easily being fixable with 2 lines of lua code (one for each wire).

(the next version of my mod https://mods.factorio.com/mod/coloured-tool-icons will do this, as well as make the copper wire require you've actually unlocked electricity)

[eugenekay]

It is entirely possible that this has been a thing since 2.0 added these buttons. It's entirely possible that this is intentional and by design. Heck, it's possible that the buttons are unlocked before even researching it as a new player (though I doubt that last one).

I remember that these were Unlocked on a brand-new 2.0.7 game from the start. I did not try hooking up a machine to a belt until I had Uranium unlocked.

I believe that this is similar to the “Filter Inserter” situation, where something that was previously a Research unlock is now free to make it more obvious / available to players who would not have found it by Exploration, since it is necessary for “end game” challenges.

[IsaacOscar]

Aslo, the "Construction bot commands" are all useful without bots, so I specifically unlocked them by json editing before I started my current game.

[Aricitic]

Although I disagree, this is officially "not a bug", see 122605, despite easily being fixable with 2 lines of lua code (one for each wire).

(the next version of my mod https://mods.factorio.com/mod/coloured-tool-icons will do this)

Oh, FFS... I swear I looked... /cry

Sorry...

Aslo, the "Construction bot commands" are all useful without bots, so I specifically unlocked them by json editing before I started my current game.

Also, I did say that they "are useful," just not "as useful."
The Deconstruction Planner is useful for marking things you need/want to remove manually. The Upgrade Planner is the same but for upgrading. Blueprings go without saying (although I did mention them in my post).

It is entirely possible that this has been a thing since 2.0 added these buttons. It's entirely possible that this is intentional and by design. Heck, it's possible that the buttons are unlocked before even researching it as a new player (though I doubt that last one).

I remember that these were Unlocked on a brand-new 2.0.7 game from the start. I did not try hooking up a machine to a belt until I had Uranium unlocked.

I believe that this is similar to the “Filter Inserter” situation, where something that was previously a Research unlock is now free to make it more obvious / available to players who would not have found it by Exploration, since it is necessary for “end game” challenges.

I would agree with your last statement, except it is still an unlock via research thing, whereas "Filters" for inserters have been entirely changed to be available by default for all inserters (removing the extra inserter altogether). Personally I see this as different, although I could easily be wrong, and I'll gladly accept that, but see my last screenshot for evidence.

^- Correction to the above in my next post.

[Aricitic]

For anyone else who is confused as to whether this is a bug or not, consider the following quote:

Re: [2.0.20] Circuit Network Wires Unlocked Prematurely
Post by boskid » Sat Nov 23, 2024 7:09 am
"It is still related to a modifier on a force data, the "unlock-circuit-network" modifier. It is used in an extremally subtle way: if its set, then "Circuit network" button in entity gui will be enabled for entities that support circuit network even if an entity has no circuit wires attached to it. If there are circuit wires attached to the entity then this button is enabled regardless of this modifier. Still not a bug."

The key points here are: If this research IS completed then the button for "circuit network" will be enabled (usable) whether a circuit is attached or not, and if it is not researched it will be enabled ONLY if a circuit is attached. This is to prevent breaking blueprints pasted in if there is connections, but the research is not done.

PostScript: forgive my poor attaching of a quote. I don't know how to make one without the "quote" button. (Yes, I am aware that there exists one in the editor, but that just puts it in the nice box, not adding the meta data to link to the post...)