Bashtorio – Factorio-Like in the Browser Backed by a Linux VM

Name: Bashtorio – Factorio-Like in the Browser Backed by a Linux VM
Availability: InStock
Author: elijahcham

by elijahcham·Feb 17, 2026·23 points·0 comments

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AI Analysis

●●●BangerWizardryRabbit HoleCrowd Pleaser

Factorio meets Unix pipes—games 30+ command types live in a browser VM.

Strengths

•v86 + 9p FIFO streaming enables genuinely novel game mechanic: real shell commands as game objects.
•30+ machines with audio synthesis, visual displays, and routable data streams—huge design space.
•Shareable factories and polished UX (presets, menu, chiptune audio) make it immediately playable.

Weaknesses

•VM overhead and pipe semantics may limit complexity at scale; unknown if deep factory strategies are viable.
•Niche appeal: requires Unix fluency to truly enjoy; casual players may not grok the pipe abstraction.

Post Description

I created a free, open-source browser game inspired by Factorio.

You place "Input" machines that produce streams of bytes. You use conveyor belts to feed those bytes through other machines which produce transformations, and then to "Output" machines which produce audio or visual effects.

The game uses v86 to run a real Linux VM in the browser. I use the 9p filesystem to enable IPC via FIFO pipes, so shell commands can stream data continuously rather than just running once.

Features: - 30+ machine types (sources, filters, routers, packers, audio synthesis, displays) - "Command" machines that pipe data through real shell commands - Streaming mode for persistent processes - Shareable factories via URL - Chiptune audio engine (oscillators, Game Boy noise channel) + additional 808 drum machine

Try the presets in the menu bar (top left) to see what's possible.

Live: https://bashtorio.xyz Source: https://github.com/EliCunninghamDev/bashtorio