External Remote Link

External Remote Link

This is the updated Version to SD-Bridge for Factorio 2.1 . You can now use your second screen instead of a StreamDeck device or even an external device like a tablet. It shall also be used with a Factorio server, where you can just not interact, but see all the stats.

Testing is very limited in local game, you are welcome to check and submit bugs. I have some features in my backlog, but wanted to have feedback first.

Factorio Remote View + Stream Deck Integration

A three-component bridge between Factorio and the Elgato Stream Deck. Provides live game-state data (production, alerts, research, circuit networks) and remote-view control directly from your Stream Deck buttons.

> Disclaimer: External Remote Link is an independent, fan-made companion and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Wube Software. "Factorio" is a trademark of Wube Software.

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Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  Factorio                        RCON (TCP port 25575)          │
│  ┌──────────────┐    ┌──────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│  │ ext-remote-  │───>│  Middleware (Node.js)                │   │
│  │ link mod     │    │  ws://localhost:8080  (StreamDeck)   │   │
│  │ (control.lua)│    │  http://localhost:8081 (Dashboard)   │   │
│  └──────────────┘    └──────┬───────────────────────────────┘   │
│                             │                                   │
│                             ▼                                   │
│                     Stream Deck Plugin                          │
│                     (TypeScript / Elgato SDK)                   │
│                     9 action buttons                            │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Three components

| Component | Location | Role | |---|---|---| | Factorio Mod | mod/ | Registers 12 RCON commands (/sd-data, /sd-view, /sd-toggle, etc.). Reads game state, controls remote view, handles alerts. | | Middleware | middleware/ | Node.js relay: connects to Factorio via RCON, polls /sd-data every second, broadcasts JSON to WebSocket clients (port 8080) and web dashboard (port 8081). | | Stream Deck Plugin | com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.sdPlugin/ | 9 action buttons that connect to the middleware, render live data on key images, and send commands back through the middleware to Factorio. |

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Prerequisites

• Windows 10+
• Node.js 20+ (npm, npx on PATH)
• Factorio (legally owned) — base game required, Space Age DLC recommended
• Elgato Stream Deck (hardware + software)
• PowerShell 5.1+ (ships with Windows)

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Quick Start

1. Enable RCON in Factorio

Edit %APPDATA%\Factorio\config\config.ini:

local-rcon-socket=127.0.0.1:25575
local-rcon-password=YourPassword

2. Clone and build

build-and-run.bat

This single command:

• Installs npm dependencies for both middleware and plugin
• Compiles TypeScript
• Deploys the plugin to %APPDATA%\Elgato\StreamDeck\Plugins\
• Generates Factorio-derived graphics (planets, alerts, icons)
• Starts middleware, StreamDeck, and Factorio

3. Configure

Middleware (middleware/.env)

Edit ext-remote-link/middleware/.env to match your RCON setup:

RCON_HOST=127.0.0.1
RCON_PORT=25575
RCON_PASSWORD=YourPassword
WS_PORT=8080
WEB_PORT=8081
READ_ONLY=false

| Field | Default | Description | |---|---|---| | RCON_HOST | 127.0.0.1 | Factorio RCON host (local game = localhost) | | RCON_PORT | 25575 | RCON port (must match config.ini) | | RCON_PASSWORD | — | Must match config.ini → local-rcon-password | | WS_PORT | 8080 | WebSocket port for Stream Deck plugin | | WEB_PORT | 8081 | HTTP port for web dashboard | | READ_ONLY | false | Set to true to disable remote-view control commands |

Stream Deck Actions

In the Stream Deck app, add any of the 9 actions and set:

• RCON host — 127.0.0.1
• RCON port — 25575
• RCON password — your chosen password
• WebSocket port — 8080 (default)

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Button Reference

All buttons show their current state live on the key image. Short-press and long-press have distinct actions.

Planet Button (Vanilla — com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.planet-button)

| Property | Value | |---|---| | Display | Planet icon, evolution factor, red/yellow alert counts | | Short-press | Switch remote view to the selected planet; cycle alerts (red → yellow → hub/origin) | | Long-press | Jump to planet origin {0,0} |

Configure the planet name in the Property Inspector.

Planet Button (Cycle — com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.generic-planet-button)

| Property | Value | |---|---| | Display | Planet icon, evolution factor, red/yellow alert counts | | Short-press | Cycle alerts on the current planet | | Long-press | Next planet (all discovered planets, including modded) |

No configuration needed — automatically discovers all planets.

Space Station Button (com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.platform-button)

| Property | Value | |---|---| | Display | Platform icon, platform name, alerts, background planet | | Short-press | Jump to the selected platform | | Long-press | Next platform |

Configure the platform index (1-based) in the Property Inspector.

Player Button (com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.player-button)

| Property | Value | |---|---| | Display | Character icon, UPS, player count, playtime, background planet | | Short-press | Jump to the selected player | | Long-press | Next connected player |

Configure player index in the Property Inspector.

Remote Toggle (com.robsomania.ext-remote-link.remote-toggle)

| Property | Value | |---|---|