Editing Guide to circuits (section)

== Fundamentals, Part I: Hardware, Space, and Complexity ==

'''Assemblies''' are what house machine components. Without an assembly, there is no machine. Every assembly also requires a power cell in order to power its components. The circuitry lab spawns with four by default, but more can be made from an autolathe (which is handily also inside the circuitry lab!) Other than power, there are two variables every assembly has:
* '''Space''' is the total amount of components that can fit in an assembly
* '''Complexity''' is the overall "complexity" score of the machine, which varies based on which components are added

Each component you insert takes up one point of space; there are no exceptions or deviations from this. However, every component also has a complexity score, depending largely on what it does. For instance, screens are very basic since they only serve one purpose - to display information - and so they only have a complexity score of 1, but integrated hypo-injectors inject, draw, and move reagents around. Because those are complex and serve many more functions, it has a complexity score of 20.

Making your circuits effectively is a matter of making the most use out of the complexity available to you, though space is very rarely a concern. The amount of complexity and space depends on the type of assembly, of which there are four:
* [[File:Smallcircuits.png]] '''Assemblies''' are small-sized, and have a max space of 25 and max complexity of 75
* [[File:Mediumcircuits.png]] '''Mechanisms''' are normal-sized, and have a max space of 50 and max complexity of 150
* [[File:Largecircuits.png]] '''Machines''' are bulky-sized, and have a max space of 100 and max complexity of 300
* [[File:Dronecircuits.png]] '''Drones''' are bulky-sized, and have a max space of 75 and max complexity of 225, but are the only assemblies that can move autonomously.
* [[File:Wallcircuits.png]] '''Wall-mounted Assemblies''' come in three sizes corresponding to each of the three sizes of immobile assemblies, as the name implies, they can also be attached to walls.

Very simple designs, like flashlights or translators, can typically fit into assemblies. More complex ones, like blood draw kits, are usually mechanisms, and the most powerful designs are only capable of fitting into machines. Drones are more niche, but open up a huge amount of possibilities due to their ability to move.

Assemblies have different "types", such as type-a, type-b, and so on. The only difference between these is cosmetic, and they all have the same attributes regardless of which "type" you choose you use.