Feature Matrix

Every feature found in 176 other generators (games, libraries, engine assets, web tools, tabletop and writing tools), whether UniverseGenerator has it, and how many of the surveyed generators do. It is the short form of the knowledge base's feature matrix, which also names every generator per row, the package each feature lives in and its size cost; that file is generated from the survey by kb/features/build_matrix.py and never edited by hand.

Status: in 1.0.0 is in the package today; later (1.x) is planned for a 1.x release and is additive, so no seed changes when it arrives; rejected says why. "Others" is how many surveyed generators have the feature; 0 means only UniverseGenerator has or plans it.

Totals: 74 in 1.0.0, 58 later (1.x), 7 rejected.

Seeds and API

Feature	What it means	Others	Status	Notes
seed-input	type a seed, get the same result again	25	in 1.0.0
seed-url	seed and options in a shareable URL or code	6	in 1.0.0
seed-versioned	seeds carry a generator version so old ones keep working	2	in 1.0.0
hierarchical-address	any object regenerates alone from its address	13	in 1.0.0
lazy-generation	objects generated on demand	14	in 1.0.0
presets	named one-click presets	5	in 1.0.0
options-sliders	tunable parameters with ranges	24	in 1.0.0
data-tables-editable	users replace or extend the tables	15	in 1.0.0
hooks-plugins	code hooks and post-processors	6	in 1.0.0
constraints	"at least one X" guarantees	8	in 1.0.0
explain-trace	show why a value is what it is	2	later (1.x)	Explain reads the rules after the fact, so it can come later
engine-neutral-data	plain data usable outside one engine	14	in 1.0.0
deterministic-cross-platform	documented identical output on every OS and runtime	3	in 1.0.0
seed-search	search seeds for an output that matches a test	1	later (1.x)	FindSeeds(predicate); cheap thanks to lazy generation; players already brute-force seeds
fill-around-fixed	pin known facts, generate the rest to match	1	later (1.x)	writers start from one imagined world; a separate entry point leaves unpinned output alone
detail-levels	more detail never changes the major bodies	1	in 1.0.0
overlay-diffs	player changes stored as a diff over the generated base	1	later (1.x)	a game's job, but an Overlay type saves every user writing it
time-coordinate	orbital positions and seasons as functions of time	1	later (1.x)	PositionAt(t) from orbital elements; additive
outlier-quota	a share of outputs may break the rules on purpose	1	in 1.0.0
sub-seeds	every object exposes its own seed or stable id	3	in 1.0.0
visited-cache	places are saved when first visited so later changes never alter them	1	rejected	versioned seeds solve it without storage; a game can still save what it wants
multiplayer-determinism	server and clients derive the same world from the seed	2	in 1.0.0
determinism-tests	golden or hash tests in CI	2	in 1.0.0
typed-units	values carry physical units	2	in 1.0.0
diagnostics	soft problems returned as typed warnings	1	in 1.0.0
cited-assumptions	each assumption shown with its source	1	later (1.x)	the wiki's rules pages cite every formula; Explain can link them
custom-fields	users add, rename or hide fields	6	in 1.0.0
rpg-system-profiles	generation biased by a tabletop rule set	1	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Exports; Traveller UWP and SWN tags as presets and exports; rules text not copied
pinned-systems	place hand-made or real systems into a generated map	0	later (1.x)	the hook every real-data feature needs; a pinned star and known planets, the rest generated around them

Universe, cluster and galaxy

Feature	What it means	Others	Status	Notes
universe-level	several galaxies	6	in 1.0.0
cluster-level	galaxy groups, clusters, filaments, voids	3	in 1.0.0
galaxy-shapes	more than one galaxy shape	24	in 1.0.0
custom-shape-map	an image or density map as the shape	5	later (1.x)	a density-function hook; image decoding stays outside the library
spiral-arm-count	configurable arms	9	in 1.0.0
min-spacing	systems never overlap	5	in 1.0.0
regions-sectors	named regions or sectors	21	in 1.0.0
region-traits	regions share age, theme, danger	4	in 1.0.0
constellations	constellations and Bayer letters seen from home	2	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Names; a separate naming pass from a chosen home (Star Control: Origins)
lanes-graph	hyperlanes between systems	21	in 1.0.0
lane-density	tunable lane density	5	in 1.0.0
chokepoints	chokepoints and bridges as data	3	in 1.0.0
wormholes-gates	long links, gates, relays, with requirements	3	in 1.0.0
travel-terrain	free travel changed by terrain instead of lanes	2	later (1.x)	nebula fields on their own stream; a LaneMode option (lanes, terrain, both)
danger-levels	danger per system or sector	5	in 1.0.0
radial-progression	difficulty or tier by distance from a centre, barrier rings	1	later (1.x)	a pure function of position (Avorion)
factions-territory	factions placed on the map	7	in 1.0.0
start-fairness	balanced start positions	4	later (1.x)	Starts(n) as a pass that reads the galaxy; 4X users need it
contested-richness	richer resources between starts	1	later (1.x)	Star Ruler 2's score, applied by the start pass
nebulae-hazards	nebulae, storms, black holes on the map	6	in 1.0.0
galaxy-age-metallicity	age and metallicity change the content	6	in 1.0.0
handmade-systems	hand-made systems mixed into the map	10	later (1.x)	pinned systems by address
run-map	a roguelike branching run map	3	later (1.x)	extracted from the lane graph
landmark-guarantee	a memorable feature at every scale	3	in 1.0.0
real-star-catalogue	maps from real catalogue stars	1	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.RealStars; reverses the 2026-10-02 rejection in a bounded form: larger catalogues (10 pc census, Gaia nearby stars) go to an add-on, a small nearest-stars table to core; licences first; was rejected: game and fiction scale ; catalogue data is large; a hand-made-systems hook covers a few real stars
connected-graph	every system reachable	1	in 1.0.0
spatial-index	query what is in a cell	1	later (1.x)	a grid index over positions; additive
pathfinding-routes	shortest routes over lanes	2	later (1.x)	Route(a, b) by breadth-first search or A*; additive
visibility-helpers	fog of war helpers	1	rejected	game logic, not generation; the lane graph and positions give a game what it needs
galaxy-blend	several galaxy types blended	1	later (1.x)	density functions compose (Gaia Sky channels); colliding pair ships in 1.0
real-neighbourhood	a map of the real stars around Sol	0	later (1.x)	the nearest real systems with real positions, classes, companions and names, unknowns generated from the seed; research first
real-exoplanets	known exoplanets placed as known	0	later (1.x)	Proxima b, epsilon Eridani b and the rest keep their known orbits; generated planets fill the gaps
real-and-generated	real stars near home, generated ones far away	0	later (1.x)	Elite Dangerous's model; a generated or Milky Way galaxy with Sol's neighbourhood at home
milky-way-preset	an approximation of the Milky Way	0	later (1.x)	a barred spiral with its real arms and the Sun's place; tens of numbers, not a star field
real-local-group	the real Local Group as a cluster	0	later (1.x)	the Milky Way, Andromeda, Triangulum, the Magellanic Clouds and the dwarfs (about 80 rows)

Stars

Feature	What it means	Others	Status	Notes
spectral-classes	real spectral classes	17	in 1.0.0
star-physics	mass, luminosity, radius, temperature consistent	20	in 1.0.0
star-remnants	white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes, giants	10	in 1.0.0
multiple-stars	binaries and multiples with configuration	17	in 1.0.0
habitable-zone	habitable zone computed	8	in 1.0.0
frost-line	frost line computed	4	in 1.0.0
star-age	age and lifetime affect output	4	in 1.0.0
star-colour	colour for rendering	5	in 1.0.0

Planets and moons

Feature	What it means	Others	Status	Notes
planet-types	varied planet kinds	33	in 1.0.0
orbit-spacing	believable spacing	10	in 1.0.0
exo-demographics	system architecture from exoplanet statistics	1	in 1.0.0
orbital-elements	eccentricity, inclination, period	13	in 1.0.0
planet-physics	radius, mass, density, gravity	20	in 1.0.0
temperature-climate	temperature and climate bands	12	in 1.0.0
atmosphere	composition and pressure	20	in 1.0.0
hydrosphere	oceans and ice	8	in 1.0.0
rotation-tilt	day length, tilt, tidal lock	5	in 1.0.0
biomes	biomes or surface types	13	in 1.0.0
life-ladder	none to sentient, flora and fauna	13	in 1.0.0
life-conditions-table	life placed by condition rows	2	later (1.x)	condition rows for creature archetypes (Elite exobiology) on their own stream
habitability-score	habitability or Earth similarity	5	in 1.0.0
resources	resources per planet	13	in 1.0.0
moons	moons generated	25	in 1.0.0
rings	planetary rings	13	in 1.0.0
asteroid-belts	asteroid belts	10	in 1.0.0
surface-map	surface map parameters	18	later (1.x)	a parameter pack for engines, no meshes; own stream
planet-traits	special traits or anomalies	8	in 1.0.0
terraforming	terraforming potential	1	later (1.x)	derived T0 to T3
comets	comets as bodies	1	later (1.x)	minor bodies on their own detail stream
sky-view	what the sky looks like from the surface	0	later (1.x)	apparent size and colour of suns and moons, derived; the gap writers noticed
local-calendar	day, year and seasons as a calendar	0	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Text; derived from rotation and orbit

Content and story

Feature	What it means	Others	Status	Notes
stations	stations and starports	5	in 1.0.0
population-society	population, government, law, tech	14	later (1.x)	optional society layer on its own stream
trade-codes	trade or economy class	4	later (1.x)	derived from the society layer
profile-code	compact UWP-style code	8	later (1.x)	derived
story-tags	tags with enemies, friends, complications, things, places	11	in 1.0.0
points-of-interest	ruins, derelicts, anomalies	13	in 1.0.0
history-events	history timeline or events	5	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Text; generate then explain (Caves of Qud), own stream
description-text	generated paragraphs	13	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Text; tag-filtered grammar; a one-line descriptor ships in core at 1.0
tag-filtered-text	text cannot contradict the data	1	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Text; Improv's approach
gm-secrets	GM-only section and player-safe view	10	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Exports; a secret per object in the text layer; a player-safe export
names-catalogue	catalogue-style astronomical names	8	in 1.0.0
names-fantasy	invented or themed names	17	in 1.0.0
names-hierarchical	names derived from the parent	1	in 1.0.0
name-encodes-address	a name decodes to its address	2	later (1.x)	an optional naming style (Elite boxel names)
culture-phonology	names from per-culture sound rules	1	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Names; Syllabore (MIT, .NET Standard 2.0) as dependency or model
cultures-species	species and cultures	8	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Text; hooks for writers, own stream
creatures	creature archetypes	3	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Text; signature creature archetypes
npcs	named characters tied to places	3	rejected	characters belong to RandomNameGeneratorLibrary or the game; the library gives culture and name hooks
entity-links	typed links between objects	1	in 1.0.0
llm-text	prose written by a language model	2	rejected	non-deterministic, needs a service; tag-filtered grammar instead. A caller can still feed our data to a model

Output and tools

Feature	What it means	Others	Status	Notes
map-render	draws a 2D map	18	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Exports; an SVG string export
map-3d	3D view	28	rejected	visual, not data; the library gives 3D coordinates and engines render
export-json	JSON export	27	in 1.0.0
export-markdown	Markdown or Obsidian export	8	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Exports; YAML properties, relative links, GM section
export-image	PNG or SVG	13	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Exports; SVG only; PNG is the caller's job
export-vtt	Foundry or other VTT	4	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Exports; journal-entry JSON after the writers' survey confirms the format
export-text-html	text, HTML or PDF	10	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Exports; plain text sheet; HTML is for the planned web page
export-csv	CSV	3	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Exports; for spreadsheets and writer-tool imports
edit-after-generate	edit or lock, then regenerate the rest	14	later (1.x)	pins plus overlay
open-source-licence	source available	35	in 1.0.0
unity-integration	Unity package	25	in 1.0.0
godot-integration	Godot addon	6	later (1.x)	NuGet (Godot C#); Godot 4 C# takes the NuGet package; a GDScript addon is out of scope
web-tool	runs in a browser	27	in 1.0.0
price	free or paid	36	in 1.0.0
history-log	a log of earlier results	1	later (1.x)	the planned web page; the planned web page keeps recent seeds in the browser
share-gallery	public gallery of shared results	1	later (1.x)	the planned web page; seed URLs are shareable; a gallery is a site feature for later
player-view-live	live redacted view for players	2	rejected	a VTT's or site's job; the player-safe export feeds it
player-safe-export	export that strips GM content	0	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Exports; with the GM secrets
export-traveller-map	Traveller SEC sector files	1	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Exports; needs the profile code; a reach into an active community
export-wiki-site	a static wiki or site	2	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Exports; a folder of Markdown files is the route (LegendKeeper, Foundry MD to Journal)
export-wiki-tool	export shaped for a wiki app	0	later (1.x)	add-on package UniverseGenerator.Exports; World Anvil and Kanka imports are closed or paid; Markdown first
import-foreign	imports other tools' formats	1	rejected	a generator, not a converter; hand-made systems take our own JSON
editor-preview	preview in the engine editor	4	later (1.x)	Unity package; a Gizmos sample in Samples~ at 1.0; an editor window later
dice-tables-printable	also printable as dice tables	0	later (1.x)	the wiki can print the tables for table play

See also: Recipes for the 1.0.0 features in use, and Versions and upgrading for what arrived in which release.