Hello Volare, no, there is not a bug. But there is a large learning curve. I recommend dropping the AI down a notch until you have a better grasp of the mechanics and are able to formulate a competitive strategy.
Strategies differ. I only play Godlike, and in the early rush for colonies I rush build my shipyard first turn from my homeworld and then rush build a light colonyship I designed from that shipyard.
After selecting your starting ship, Press and hold the control button down on your keyboard, then hover the cursor over the closest star systems, a tooltip will popup telling you their range. (Use the minimap to estimate the stars location)
Remove the unnecessary life support systems from your colonyship in the designer. Every point counts to lowering your rush build cost and your manufacturing cost.
Tailor all your ships to your needs, have options available with more or less engines, lifesupport, etc. Then latter do the same with your warships. A new colony's production is wasted if its taking you 28 turns to build a ship. Design a model you can produce within a few turns and churn them out. As your production grows increase your ships manufacturing cost with increased firepower or hull size.
Ideally, you should have burned through most of your starting money by turn 10, preferably earlier. With enough left to cover 20 or more turns of your budget deficits. Do not go negative with your treasury. At this stage in the game you may be dependent on your explorer conducting surveys to keep you from financial trouble until you develop trade routes and begin trading other goods with the other civs.
By turn 10-15 you should be able to manufacture colony ships in 2-3 turns from your homeworld.
Everytime you colonize a new planet, you should do two things at this stage in the game.
1. Have your new colonies immediately begin construction of a shipyard, one per star system, otherwise you waste their production by not having their starship construction points.
2. Assign the new planet to an existing shipyard while they build a new shipyard. Even if it is far away it will provide 1 point minimum which is helpful early game. Just make sure you queue construction of the new shipyard at the planet first before you assign it or you will not have the option to build one.
On your planets do not waste time building projects not immediately needed for your strategy. You will not be building cities yet so dont bother with farms. Dont build your resources until you have constructed your manufacturing or research. Although depending on the resource you may be able to trade it for valuable money with other civs. The more manufacturing you have on your planet the less time it takes to construct your other projects and ships.
