Logistic Container Skill

"The factory grows. Items flow. The world runs itself."

Overview

The Logistic Container skill brings Factorio-style logistics to MOOLLM adventures. Containers participate in a network where items flow automatically between providers and requesters.

The Five Box Types

Like Factorio's colored logistic chests:

Mode	Color	Emoji	Behavior
passive-provider	Yellow	📦🟡	"Take from me if you need"
active-provider	Red	📦🔴	"I'm pushing these OUT"
requester	Blue	📦🔵	"I WANT these items"
storage	White	📦⬜	"General overflow"
buffer	Green	📦🟢	"Hold until condition met"

Grid Storage

Containers can manage grids of cells, each holding one item type:

warehouse/
  LOGISTIC-CONTAINER.yml    # The config
  iron-ore/                 # Auto-created
    CELL.yml                # count: 2500
  copper-ore/
    CELL.yml                # count: 1800
  magic-sword/
    CELL.yml                # instances: [{...}, {...}]

Auto-Creation

When you toss a new item type into a grid container, a new cell directory is created automatically. Like mkdir -p for items!

grid:
  enabled: true
  auto_create_cells: true
  cell_naming: item-id        # iron-ore/ from iron-ore item

Fungible vs Instance Items

Fungible (Just Count)

Identical items — store as a count:

# 500 iron ore, all the same
{ item: "iron-ore", count: 500 }

Tags that trigger fungible mode:

• raw-material, currency, ammo, commodity, stackable

Instance (Keep State)

Items with individual properties — store as array:

# 3 swords, each different
{ item: "magic-sword", count: 3, instances: [
    { id: "sword-001", durability: 85, enchant: "fire" },
    { id: "sword-002", durability: 100, enchant: null },
    { id: "sword-003", durability: 50, enchant: "ice" }
]}

Tags that trigger instance mode:

• unique, named, enchanted, damaged, configured

Examples

Pantry (Passive Provider)

logistic-container:
  id: pantry
  name: "Kitchen Pantry"
  mode: passive-provider
  
  provides:
    - tags: ["food", "ingredient"]
    
  reserve: 1    # Always keep 1 of each
  
  filters:
    allow: [{ tags: ["food"] }]

Factory Output (Active Provider)

logistic-container:
  id: assembly-output
  name: "Assembly Line Output"
  mode: active-provider
  
  push_to:
    - match: { tags: ["finished"] }
      destination: "../warehouse/"
    - match: { tags: ["scrap"] }
      destination: "../recycling/"
    - default: "../overflow/"

Workbench (Requester)

logistic-container:
  id: workbench
  name: "Crafting Workbench"
  mode: requester
  
  request_list:
    - item: "iron-plate"
      count: 20
      min: 5          # Request more when below 5
    - tags: ["fuel"]
      count: 10

Warehouse (Grid + Provider)

logistic-container:
  id: main-warehouse
  name: "Central Warehouse"
  mode: passive-provider
  
  grid:
    enabled: true
    auto_create_cells: true
    stack_limit: 10000
    navigable: true       # Players can walk between cells
    
  item_handling:
    default_mode: auto
    fungible_tags: ["ore", "ingot", "plate"]
    instance_tags: ["weapon", "armor"]

Loading Dock (Buffer)

logistic-container:
  id: dock
  name: "Ship Loading Dock"
  mode: buffer
  
  buffer_for:
    - destination: "../ship/cargo/"
      when: "world.ship.docked == true"

Network Participation

Containers only exchange items with others in the same network:

network: factory-a        # Only connects to factory-a

# Or multiple networks:
network: [factory, emergency]

Signals (Circuit Network)

Emit signals about contents for automation:

signals:
  enabled: true
  emit:
    - signal: "iron-count"
      value: "count of iron-plate"
    - signal: "is-full"
      value: "total_items >= capacity"

Other objects can read these signals:

# Door that only opens when warehouse has iron
exit:
  signal_control:
    open_when:
      signal: "iron-count"
      operator: ">"
      value: 100

Logistics Bots

Characters with behavior.type: logistic-bot move items between containers:

character:
  id: courier-kitten
  behavior:
    type: logistic-bot
    roboport: warehouse/#charging-station
    cargo_slots: 5
    range: 10

Bots:

1. Find active providers or pending requests
2. Pick up items
3. Deliver to requesters or push destinations
4. Return to roboport when idle

Integration with Exits

Exits can have flow for automatic item transport:

exit:
  direction: EAST
  destination: ../warehouse/
  flow:
    enabled: true
    allow: [{ tags: ["finished"] }]

This creates a "conveyor belt" between rooms!

Related Skills

• container — Simpler container without logistics
• exit — Exits with flow behavior
• character — Logistic bot characters
• object — Inserters and assemblers
• postal — Message-based logistics

Design Document

See factorio-logistics-protocol.md for the full design.