Gene Ledger

Gene Ledger

Gene Ledger is a technical utility for RimWorld (Biotech DLC) that provides a centralized database for tracking and locating genetic material currently present on the map. It aggregates data from living pawns and corpses to provide a searchable, real-time overview of your colony's genetic pool.

Technical Overview

Data Collection & Scope

The mod scans all spawned actors on the current map to index genetic data:

• Living Carriers: Indexes genes from all player-controlled colonists, prisoners, and slaves.

• Corpses: Scans all corpses on the map to identify genes held within biological remains.

• Genepacks: Scans all genepacks on the map floor and inside connected gene banks.

• Enemy Pawns: Optionally indexes genes from hostile humanlike pawns (disabled by default via Legend toggle).

• State Detection: Automatically identifies the environmental state of genetic material, specifically marking carriers that are Frozen or Rotting.

Advanced Search Syntax

The ledger features a custom recursive-descent parser for complex gene filtering. Supported search parameters include:

• Plain Text: Matches against gene labels or category names.

• category:[name] - Filters by specific gene category.

• mod:[name] - Filters by the source mod providing the gene.

• xeno:[name] - Filters for genes that are members of a specific XenotypeDef.

Quantitative Biostat Metrics:

• c:[op][value] - Complexity (e.g., c:<=3).

• m:[op][value] - Metabolism (e.g., m:>2).

• a:[value] - Archite cost (e.g., a:1).

Logical Operators: Supports boolean logic using & (AND), | (OR), ! (NOT), and parentheses () for nested queries.

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Interface & Interaction

• Dynamic Grouping: Toggle between grouping genes by functional category or by the origin of their carriers (Colonists, Slaves, Prisoners, Corpses, Genepacks, and Enemies).

• Sorting Modes: Sort entries alphabetically, by Complexity (High), Metabolism (High/Low), or Archite Cost.

Navigation:

• Left-click: Opens the standard gene information card.

• Right-click Gene: Opens a context menu to Apply Ability (cast available abilities from your pawns) or Go To (jump to carrier).

• Right-click Search: Instantly clears all active search text.

• Click Legend: Toggles the visibility of specific gene sources (Colonists, Slaves, Prisoners, Corpses, Genepacks, or Enemies).

Visual Indicators: UI uses color-coded borders to identify carrier types — Cyan (Colonists), Amber (Prisoners/Slaves), Gray (Corpses), Purple (Genepacks), Red (Enemies). Status badges (❄/~) indicate frozen or rotting tissue.

Implementation & Performance

• Zero Passive Impact: The mod does not utilize a background tick system; as long as the Gene Ledger menu is closed, the mod has zero performance impact on the game.

• Efficient UI: While the menu is open, the data is cached and only refreshes every 900 ticks (15 seconds at normal speed) to ensure smooth performance even with large numbers of carriers.

• Clean Integration: Injected via MainButtonDef XML; the mod requires no Harmony patches and maintains high compatibility with other mods.

Change Log

2026-03-01

• Added: Genepack indexing — genes inside genepacks on the map floor and stored in gene banks now appear in the ledger with a purple border. Toggle via the Genepack legend chip.

• Added: Enemy pawn indexing — genes of hostile humanlike pawns are now tracked with a red border. Disabled by default to prevent clutter; enable via the Enemy legend chip.

• Improved: "Group: Origin" mode now shows separate sections for Colonists, Slaves, Prisoners, Corpses, Genepacks, and Enemies.

2026-02-26

• Refactored Context Menu: Unified the gene carrier menu to include an "Apply Ability..." sub-menu. You can now cast relevant abilities directly from the ledger. For example, you can use "Incorporate" ability from the Big and Small - Genes & More mod directly on a corpse with a gene you want to incorporate, and a pawn to incorporate with.

2026-05-24

• Translation keys were added.

Video example:

• Smart Ability Targeting: The menu filters targets based on ability requirements (e.g., resurrection abilities only list corpses, while social abilities only list living pawns).

• Granular Source Toggles: The Legend is now interactive. Click Colonist, Slave, Prisoner, or Corpse to toggle their visibility in the grid.

• UI Polish: Added a detailed tooltip for the Refresh button, a persistent right-click hint on gene cards.

Compatibility

• No known incompatibilities found.

Credits

• Author: Waggish Pluto

Source