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Core Concepts
The basic ideas that show up across the Ferrumium wiki and app.
You do not need to learn every Ferrumium feature before you start. These are the core ideas that show up across the app.
| Concept | What it means | Where you will run into it |
|---|---|---|
| Factory | A saved planning workspace. It can contain machines, logistics, groups, notes, and other layout decisions. | In your factory list, shared factories, and publishing flows. |
| Subfactory | A factory inside another factory. Use it when part of a layout needs its own internal structure without taking over the whole canvas. | In subfactory creation, subfactory naming, and draft conversion options. |
| Planner | The main visual editor for a factory. This is where you place things on the canvas, connect them, and inspect production flow. | In the main planner workspace and its side panels. |
| Draft | A target-based production plan. You start with a goal, inputs, and recipe rules before turning the result into a factory. | In the drafts app, draft setup, and draft results. |
| Node | An object on the planner canvas, such as a machine, resource, input, output, logistics part, or grouped structure. | Mostly on the canvas itself, and sometimes in import or stats views. |
| Connection | A link between nodes. In practice, users usually experience this as belts or pipes between parts of the layout. | On the canvas, connection controls, and flow warnings. |
| Recipe | A rule that turns one set of inputs into an output. Recipes affect machine choice, rates, and plan structure. | In the planner sidebar, recipe browser, and draft recipe settings. |
| Rate | The amount of something produced, consumed, or moved over time. Rates are used to check balance and throughput. | In production values such as /min, m³/min, and MW across planner and drafts. |
| Group | A way to keep part of a factory organized. Groups help with structure and readability in larger layouts. | In planner grouping actions, group nodes, and summary panels. |
| Co-op | More than one user working on the same factory at the same time. | In live collaboration status, invite flows, and role management. |
| Discover and publishing | The part of Ferrumium used to publish, browse, and reuse shared work. | In Discover and other community content pages. |
The short version
If you want the quickest mental model, use this:
Planneris where you build and edit a factory.Draftsis where you solve a production goal before turning it into a factory.Toolshandle smaller focused tasks.Discover and publishingis where you browse or publish finished work.