boy I miss the distant world universe interface, where you can say build this here and ai makes it happen
This. Being able to queue construction would really lower micromanagement.
Shift key. Also you can right click a system and ask it to build all of everything.
That's about the extent of it, and goddamn I wish there was an auto button, but that's better than doing it one by one.
Yeah, but this isn't like Distant Worlds, since in Stellaris you need to have available resources in order to order construction, in every screen.
But I've seen videos of people not doing Order Queueing with Shift even on Science ships. Even though they will evade hostile aliens a lot, it just seems crazy not to queue some systems.
Distant Worlds requires that the resources be at location (starport/construction machine/base)... or else the construction project grinds to an absolute standstill. It doesn't tell you that you don't have enough resources at location nor the status of the supply chain for said resources. The AI will try to acquire the needed resources, if possible.
Freighters will automatically collect the needed resources from mines/storage hubs and will even purchase it from a neighboring empire if they are non-belligerent and have the spare resources to sell. Freighters will also automatically stockpile resources on its own, but that could be a limited amount and the travel distance much greater.
That supply chain can be disrupted by pirates/hostiles. The source can be blown up. Or if the source is via trade, same problems can happen for them.
Yes, you can put in an order for a hundred capital-sized boats you don't have the resources for at the barren fringes of your empire and it'll get done eventually. But it will stall for years if the supply chain is unable to supply it in a timely matter.