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Dacta Control Lab Software

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maehw

maehw

Posted
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, Toastie said:

Well, as said, I have lost track. What is the goal of all this in one sentence? There are so many things already out there ... 

True.

 

RCX:

WebPBrick: webbrowser-based cross-platform IDE of an RCX in NQC and upload RCX firmware without the hassle to set something up on your own PC, especially no Windows VM; only works with the IR Serial tower so far, the IR USB tower is still not working yet

Details in https://github.com/maehw/WebPBrick (its README)

WebPBrick's BlockNQC: A web-based visual programming editor called BlockNQC can be used to generate NQC code. — Can be used in the IDE above.

Build your own DIY IR tower? Sure: https://github.com/maehw/DiyIrTower (it's the DIY miniature version of a IR Serial tower) (Edit: requires no 9V battery power supply and no D-Sub 9 serial converter cable in the times of USB connectors)

 

Interface A:

 https://github.com/maehw/BrickLines — run your LEGO Lines program from a Python environment (USB serial/parallel DIY adapter required); supports old file formats

(@Toastie: I guess you pinged me about this one some days ago, but I didn't receive an email notification; also I wasn't aware of this thread)

 

Control Lab:

Isn't that what this thread (new to me) is actually about? :)) I got one several months ago but didn't find the time and motivation to play around with it. No clue how it works under the hood but I guess that there's a serial protocol. Could be made part of WebPBrick thanks to WebSerial technology.

 

(Edit: my stuff is typically using old TLG hardware peripherals with more modern computers + software; not so much retro... because I am lacking the space, money and knowledge/skill for the old equipment)

 

Edited by maehw
AJB2K3

AJB2K3

Posted
Posted (edited)
54 minutes ago, BrickTronic said:

Hello,

Maybe the Info in this thread might help (Page 3) :


Jo

Yeh, I am aware of that thread and posted a comment.

everything I have tried so far has failed so I’m wondering if my adapters can’t do 2400, If the adapters are stuck in 9600 bps.

the problem with the CM and Spybotics transmissions could be down to timing and BPS. 
 

Oh I just discovered bps is set in the driver, I wonder if that’s my problem that the driver is set to 9600 and overriding the code setting 

Edited by AJB2K3
amine

amine

Posted
Posted (edited)

We can very well make a lego computer running on Linux with a raspberry pie and a parallel +serial port shield.

 

The main logical reason for that is that all those retro computers will not last for ever. The corrosion will eventually destroy all motherboards.

 

Raspberry pie will still be around hopefully

Edited by amine
Toastie

Toastie

Posted
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, amine said:

The main logical reason for that is that all those retro computers will not last for ever. The corrosion will eventually destroy all motherboards.

Ahh, I see, as I said, I got a bit lost.

I am also aware that Windows is not loved much (with at least one exception: Me :pir-laugh:), but all LEGO software runs either directly within Win11 (including BricxCC = access to RCX, Scout, Spybot, Cybermaster, NXT - I have them all, and they connect fine using the serial IR or RF tower, or BT/USB) with any USB2Ser adapater I have, even a USB2BT transceiver pairs work) or within DOSBox-X, which in turn runs perfectly well in Win11. Except for Interface A, every other LEGO PBrick or device runs on some sort of serial protocol - and since USB will be around a bit, all various adapters including USB/serial-to-parallel (with a little help from an Arduino Nano or Pico). VLL requires an even simpler adapter, which in turn runs perfectly well using Win11 or DOSBox-X. 

So what would the Raspberry pie do differently other than running LINUX, or is that the main point?

All the best
Thorsten

Edited by Toastie
amine

amine

Posted
Posted (edited)

I received today  the package from Germany,.No disk as I suspected. However with the manual there are plenty of exclusive documentation. 4 pages of Basic, Pascal and Comal codes.

Edited by amine
Toastie

Toastie

Posted
Posted
1 hour ago, amine said:

However with the manual there are plenty of exclusive documentation. 4 pages of Basic, Pascal and Comal codes.

Wow! That IS cool. This was for the IBM PC/XT right? What BASIC, Pascal, and Comal versions are they recommending/using on what OS? I shall then feed my Gotek on my IBM appropriately!

All the best
Thorsten 

amine

amine

Posted
Posted (edited)
35 minutes ago, Toastie said:

Wow! That IS cool. This was for the IBM PC/XT right? What BASIC, Pascal, and Comal versions are they recommending/using on what OS? I shall then feed my Gotek on my IBM appropriately!

All the best
Thorsten 

Here is the link 

https://archive.org/details/interface-a-programming

It mighty be still processing the document 

 the full manual coming soon.

 

I am curious of what evan thinks about it.

 

Edited by amine
Toastie

Toastie

Posted
Posted

That is a nice read! 

GW Basic, QuickBasic, Turbo Pascal,  ... all on my Laptop :pir-huzzah2:

And the unobtainable LEGO TC Controller software is mentioned as well!!! We tried so hard, but to no avail.

And here is where you could order all that stuff: "LEGO GmbH, Schulbereich, Postfach 1263, 2354 Hohenwestedt", which was 20 km away from where I grew up in Northern Germany - and never ever heard about it back then - OK, I was in my dark ages ...  

So enjoyable!

All the best
Thorsten

amine

amine

Posted
Posted (edited)
43 minutes ago, Toastie said:

That is a nice read! 

GW Basic, QuickBasic, Turbo Pascal,  ... all on my Laptop :pir-huzzah2:

And the unobtainable LEGO TC Controller software is mentioned as well!!! We tried so hard, but to no avail.

And here is where you could order all that stuff: "LEGO GmbH, Schulbereich, Postfach 1263, 2354 Hohenwestedt", which was 20 km away from where I grew up in Northern Germany - and never ever heard about it back then - OK, I was in my dark ages ...  

So enjoyable!

All the best
Thorsten

Here is the german manual

https://archive.org/details/lego-lines-manual

It needs some time for processing by archive

Daniel from Germany if you hear us save  a copy of the disk please. 🙏 

 

Edited by amine
Toastie

Toastie

Posted
Posted (edited)
2 hours ago, amine said:

Daniel from Germany if you hear us save  a copy of the disk please.

I believe, Evan was/is in touch with him, I can try as well - but let us wait for Evan's reply!

This will be such a nice read, thank you again so much, @amine for letting the past shine - brilliantly!

This IS such a nice read. I have all the US/ENG cards and manuals, but there is a subtle difference. And I am really impressed how this difference in addressing - in this case German teachers - makes such a big difference! This is of course about PCs and compatibles and LEGO Lines. TLG really was something different in the past, at least this is my impression, over and over again.

All the best
Thorsten

P.S.: I believe we are seriously derailing this thread, as this is about Interface A, LEGO Lines etc. rather than about Control Lab. No idea how to fix that other than ... just go on? 

Edited by Toastie

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