Stuck inserters get picked up

[Loren Pechtel]

TL;DR

If an inserter ends up holding something that can't be put in the destination have a bot pick it up.

What?

There have been various discussions as to what to do when an inserter can't do it's job. Putting it back has been rejected because sometimes it can't. And we have the related problem of items spoiling while being inserted. Most things you would be inserting a spoilable can accept spoilage, but not all.

Instead of the various attempts to come up with solutions for the problem avoid the whole thing. Inserter is holding something that doesn't belong where it's trying to put it, treat it as an item on the ground selected for deconstruction. Works in every case, no weird behavior.

viewtopic.php?t=121072

and I feel like there was more discussion but I'm not coming up with it right now.

Why?

Simple, consistent behavior that solves multiple headaches.

[Rseding91]

There are no situations where an inserter will grab an item that can't fit into a destination crafting machine. Even if the item spoils, it will go into the machines trash output which you can then deal with through normal extraction inserters.

[Loren Pechtel]

Crafting machine, yes, it will always fit. Other things, not always.

I just saw another idea that it would also fix:

viewtopic.php?t=121235

[robot256]

The last case I'm aware of where spoilage can cause inserter deadlocks was fixed recently (maybe still in experimental). In all cases, the inserter should be able to dispose of its spoilage while the machine is operating. If you find other cases in the latest release where this does jot happen, you should post a new bug report.

viewtopic.php?t=124219

[robot256]

Crafting machine, yes, it will always fit. Other things, not always.

I just saw another idea that it would also fix:

viewtopic.php?t=121235

It would not solve this request. The inserter still will not pick up the spoilage from the first lab unless the second lab explicitly requests it. Allowing labs to request that an inserter pick up spoilage to feed it is a separate behavior from allowing inserters to place anything in the trash slot if what they are holding is no longer needed (which they already do).