Warp Drive Program

Warp drive programs are computer programs that provide buffs to your ship (Programs) or debuffs (Viruses) to all other ships in-sector. The name comes from fact that each program needs to be charged with warp fuel.

Using Warp Drive Programs
Using a program or virus requires it to be installed and charged. Installed warp drive programs are found under the SHIP > Computer tab. They are identified either with the program icon or the virus icon; hovering over the icon will tell you which warp program it is and its effects. Available programs can be executed from the Computer screen found at the Science Station on the bridge or the Science Lab. The current number of charges required and available are displayed underneath each program either as a blank or filled pip. All charges must be filled to execute a program and all are consumed upon execution. Programs with a duration associated will display a timer circle that slowly fills; the effects will remain active until the timer completes. Viruses will begin broadcasting for 60 seconds and are displayed on the Virus screen nearby.

Active viruses are displayed in green (ones you are broadcasting) or red (ones that are infecting your ship). Expanding the virus name will tell you all targeted by it and whether the effects are active or not.

For more details on virus usage and defense, see the Cyber Defense and Cyber Attack pages. For virus removal refer to the Instant Antivirus, Burst AV, or Manual Virus Removal pages.

Charging Warp Drive Programs
Programs can be charged either by warping to a sector or manually by expending fuel. The number of charges given is determined by the Warp drive installed to ship.

Manual charging is done in the Engineering room. First, press "Load fuel" at engineering station and then pull the lever at "Manual program charging station". This gives same amount charges as jumping does and is a good way to quickly recharge programs on the fly.

Regardless of which method is used, programs receive charges in priority order from top-left to bottom-right. Charges will be provided to the first programs in the order that are missing some or all of its charge, and once it's full, the remaining charges will be given to the next program, and so on.

It is a good idea to sort your programs in order of how frequently you need to use them; the more you want to charge and use a program, the closer to the top left you should place it. You can also re-arrange your program list (click and drag to swap positions) before charging so charges aren't given to a program you don't want to use.