I wonder how difficult it would be to implement a language for specifying Factorio factories without worrying about physical layouts. This post provides a lot of good insights into how that could be done. Once a factory is specified, a compiler could turn the high-level specification into a blueprint or a valid save file to be loaded up in the game.
Of course, the compiler would have no way to lay out the factory with respect to available resource deposits. Maybe that would have to be part of the specification as well? Or maybe the programmer (player?) could pass an empty map file as a compiler argument.
Also, this doesn't give any consideration to the tech tree or enemies within the game. I guess those could be compiler flags, as long as we're dreaming.
Look, all I'm saying is that it would be really cool to be able to check factories into version control.
Of course, the compiler would have no way to lay out the factory with respect to available resource deposits. Maybe that would have to be part of the specification as well? Or maybe the programmer (player?) could pass an empty map file as a compiler argument.
Also, this doesn't give any consideration to the tech tree or enemies within the game. I guess those could be compiler flags, as long as we're dreaming.
Look, all I'm saying is that it would be really cool to be able to check factories into version control.