Factorio Forums

TL;DR

Show an alert for when an automatic rocket launch can't launch and/or space platform can't move.

What?

Like a train that can't path or is out of fuel, I would like a notification when a rocket or space platform gets stuck.

In my case I had a space platform that was a little undersized for _all_ requests. So there was not enough room on the platform for the last rocket's cargo. So the rocket doesn't launch. But since there is cargo 'on the way', the platform won't start moving. I can confirm the rocket/platform will happily stay stuck like this for multiple hours.

Possibly this can be extended to a notification when a 'moving' platform's thrusters are completely out of fuel, but at least that case doesn't appear to be about to do something.

Why?

For the same reason there is an alert when a train can't path; it's annoying when things get stuck in a way that is not apparent at a glance.

I think if the rocket silo had an alert like "space platform cargo full", it would work, right? It seems like a better message than "can't path", because the path isn't the direct problem.

Yep. If there isn't an alert when space platforms run out of fuel, there should be, just like trains.

Yes, I would second this.

I would be fine if this is similar to the no-path alert trains get or a separate one.

my whole production lines stalled due to a chain reaction of supplies not available. My Aquilo import ship was stuck on volcanos, it was waiting for request satisfaction while it could not load any more. So it was never loaded. Both ship and rocket silo where stuck. This of course is my own fault, but it would be nice if an alert shows up so I can correct my own mistakes! See pictures for stalled ship and silo.

Wait, but there is an alert «cargo full» already, why wasn't it triggered there ?!?

Possibly this can be extended to a notification when a 'moving' platform's thrusters are completely out of fuel, but at least that case doesn't appear to be about to do something

The problem here is that spaceships are much more complicated than trains : there might be plenty of valid reasons for thrusters to end up out of fuel (at least temporarily), like undersized fuel production, automatic speed control or to prioritize water to turbines for nuclear-powered ships (or maybe even iron ore / carbon to make ammo / rockets ??).
It seems like devs are expecting us to solve this issue with Programmable Speakers instead ?

BlueTemplar wrote: Sat Nov 23, 2024 9:05 pm Wait, but there is an alert «cargo full» already, why wasn't it triggered there ?!?

Possibly this can be extended to a notification when a 'moving' platform's thrusters are completely out of fuel, but at least that case doesn't appear to be about to do something

The problem here is that spaceships are much more complicated than trains : there might be plenty of valid reasons for thrusters to end up out of fuel (at least temporarily), like undersized fuel production, automatic speed control or to prioritize water to turbines for nuclear-powered ships (or maybe even iron ore / carbon to make ammo / rockets ??).
It seems like devs are expecting us to solve this issue with Programmable Speakers instead ?

Well, if thats the case than i ran in some kind of bug. Sadly, my save game moved on so i cant reproduce that easily. My platform for sure had fuel, was stationary and was just sitting there never receiving what it requested. My rocket silo sit just there, with a full inventory of chips, never sending it.

What it looks like :

When the space platform hub doesn't have enough space for a request then the logistic "no storage chest" alert goes off.

Sometimes.

Or the items are shipped and simply destroyed because the hub is out of space.

+1 on that. The problem is the fact space platform love requesting full rockets even if only one item needed, potentially leading to 2x storage usage.

Hares wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 2:08 pm +1 on that. The problem was is the fact space platform love requesting full rockets even if only one item needed, potentially leading to 2x storage usage.

It's up to 10x the space unless there is something with more than 10 stacks per rocket.

But you can configure the amount shipped in each rocket if you don't like that.

mrvn wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2024 1:42 pm

Hares wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 2:08 pm +1 on that. The problem was is the fact space platform love requesting full rockets even if only one item needed, potentially leading to 2x storage usage.

It's up to 10x the space unless there is something with more than 10 stacks per rocket.

But you can configure the amount shipped in each rocket if you don't like that.

I tested it.
It results in always incomplete rockets, even if higher amount is requested.

Hares wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2024 2:24 pm

mrvn wrote: Sun Dec 08, 2024 1:42 pm

Hares wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 2:08 pm +1 on that. The problem was is the fact space platform love requesting full rockets even if only one item needed, potentially leading to 2x storage usage.

It's up to 10x the space unless there is something with more than 10 stacks per rocket.

But you can configure the amount shipped in each rocket if you don't like that.

I tested it.
It results in always incomplete rockets, even if higher amount is requested.

Yes, already reported as a bug a while ago.

BlueTemplar wrote: Sun Nov 24, 2024 6:51 pm What it looks like :

With luck I could reproduce the bug today. If space platforms are full they do not always trigger the "cargo full" alert. (I found out today because rocket silo's full with bitter eggs where not launched, after which bitters started to spoil and attack everything, was comical).

Here are some pictures/proof

Space platform that is full, and requesting bitter eggs.

All alerts, missing the one about a space platform with full cargo.