Logic: Gates
Building on the basics of activation blocks and connections, StarMade provides four additional logic blocks that let you build complex circuits.
Logic Gate Blocks
| Block | Behaviour |
|---|---|
| NOT | Inverts the input signal |
| AND | ON only when ALL inputs are ON |
| OR | ON when ANY input is ON |
| DELAY | Passes the signal with a time delay |
All gate blocks are connected the same way as activation blocks: C to select a source, V to connect to a destination.
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NOT Block
The NOT block inverts its input.
Common use: Keep a system running by default and shut it off when a condition is met, rather than turning it on.
AND Block
The AND block outputs ON only when every single connected input is ON.
Common use: A door that only opens when two independent conditions are both met (e.g. a switch AND a timer).
OR Block
The OR block outputs ON when at least one connected input is ON.
Common use: A system that activates from multiple independent triggers (e.g. two different switches can each open the same door).
DELAY Block
The DELAY block passes its input signal through after a configurable time delay.
Key capability: Loops. By connecting a DELAY block's output back to its own input (or through a chain), you create a clock — a continuously oscillating signal.
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Clocks are the foundation of:
- Repeating firing sequences
- Animated light patterns
- Timer-based mechanisms
- Complex synchronised systems
Combining Gates
Gates can be chained and combined freely. Inputs and outputs of one gate become inputs to another. Since the system is Turing-complete, any digital logic circuit you can design on paper can be built in StarMade.
Practical Example: Airlock
[Button A] ─┐
AND ──► [Inner Door]
[Pressure] ─┘
[Button A] ──► NOT ──► [Outer Door]
Both the inner and outer doors are managed so they never open at the same time.
Resources
For further study on logic gate designs, search for "logic gate truth tables" or "digital electronics basics" online. The same principles apply directly to StarMade's system.