evank

My educated guess, which I've said before, is that "TC-Controller" is just a language mistranslation of TC LOGO or Lego Lines. I have no reason to believe that it's some other program entirely.

Correct, that's pretty much the same as in Lego TC LOGO. You'd still have to type TTO A ON.

Oh that's cool. You should talk to @BatteryPoweredBricks.

I don't understand electronics or programming at the level of you, Bliss, Toastie, etc., but I get by. :) I also don't use Lego Lines. I program almost exclusively in BASIC and sometimes in Lego LOGO. In Lego LOGO there is a SETPOWER command, 0-7, to let a motor or light gradually increase/decrease. There is no way to do that in BASIC. You can probably accomplish this in assembly code. But I never got beyond HELLO WORLD in that language. Ethan hangs out more on Facebook. If anyone wants to reach him, a good place to do so is my "Lego Interface A" group there. I need to update the schematic on my website. Still working on Blocky Kong and I never did solve that problem! I have the opto sensors working decently enough for collision detection between Mario and the barrels, using a little software trick. What book?

Me too. I would like to test it but I don't really have time. It seems like some people here would rather just build cool electronics and software, than actually build Lego models from that technology! :) @Bliss I will have to update my website to reflect the existence of Blockly as another control alternative for Interface A. I'm also glad you called it "-ly" because the game I'm building is "Blocky" Kong. Two-plus years into that model and it's still not done, but overall I am making progress. It uses six or seven Interface A connected to a single Apple //e. Programming? As everyone here knows, I use Applesoft BASIC.

I know the image because it was created by a friend at my request: https://brickhacks.com/9750.php.

Hey I recognize that image. :)

I have plenty of them and will happily share with anyone who is pushing the boundaries + doesn't necessarily have the cash to buy one retail.

Same! This is probably true for all of EuroBricks, but even just in this little vintage Lego robotics community, we've got active participants from around the world -- sorry, flat-earthers ;) -- happily tinkering together. My door is open in New Jersey for anyone to visit and see some awesome Interface A models.

I obliviously did not realize that your method requires a microcontroller. I thought it would allow Blockly to control any vintage Lego interface directly from a PC. I don't own a microcontroller and have very little experience with using them.

@Bliss I'm somewhat confused. How do I attach the parallel Interface A to a modern-ish Windows or Mac computer?

They even suggested similar code when using BASIC. I ignore that part, since I'm not in school :) and already know where I slotted the Lego card(s).

No, they're the same. Generic 20-pin, female/female.

What if I insist on sending it to you? :) I have more than I need and your project is a great cause. Selfishly, I really want to see your software work on the real hardware. Otherwise I look forward to testing it myself, but I'll probably need some hand-holding.

I have several and would be happy to donate one to you, for the cost of shipping from the US. Yes. Lego LOGO for the Apple II was probably the most common version here. You can use the SETPOWER command to control motor speed. I wish there was an easy way to do that in BASIC, which everyone knows is my preferred language. I'm not writing assembly code.