Lego + Linux HOWTO

luge writes "In more than a few Lego articles posted here, I've seen the question asked "But can I use the Mindstorms under Linux?" Well, the new Lego + Linux mini-HOWTO provides the answer. There are (currently) 7 different software options in 7 different languages (including C, Perl, and Java) for the Linux-based Mindstorms owner."

Comments

Bravo to the HOWTO author

[nellardo]

A cool HOWTO. Clearly it could use some fleshing out, but that's more a "You're going in the right direction" rather than "You didn't do enough". Writing doc is one of those thankless tasks, but I'm glad someone is doing it.

Now if only there was an environment that provided something outside the Algol family. Oh wait, of course, I can use Forth. I RPN like not. :-) A nice functional language (Haskell being my current fave) would be well-suited to the MindStorms system. Pure functional PLs handle data flow so cleanly, and the flow from sensors to actuators is exactly that. Six built-in primitives for the three sensors and the three actuators.

A simple Braitenberg-style mouse:

main = union (connect sensor1 actuator2) (connect sensor2 actuator1)

Simple, clear, understandable. I like it.

Re:Lego Languages

[codemonkey_uk]

Come on, someone who actually knows what they're talking about continue/correct me...

• RCX
  You try to make a car, but end up with a speed boat. But you don't care. its a really cool speadboat!
• LegOS (C/C++)
  After months of development your lego car starts quickly, but then grows so big it crushes you. And crashes.
• Lego::RCX.pm (Perl)
  After half an hours hacking you have a dune buggy that works. Unfortunatly further development is impossable.
• Not Quite C
  After months of development you realise its not quite feasable.
• pbForth
  you lego build
• TinyVM & leJOS (java)
  Your lego car works everywhere, but its quicker to walk.
• TCL RCX
  Your car doesn't work, but if it did you could control it remotly with a pretty GUI

Wow I suck.

Thad

Re:Finally! A physical graph of my apache hits

[nicky_d]

Could you build a PC case using Mindsorms components and have your machine look after itself physically? Like, you come back from work and it's taken a few bricks out of itself to reduce temperature? Or added a west wing on the side to house a couple of new hard drives? Or built itself some wheels and... uh, I've got to stop thinking about this now.

Finally! A physical graph of my apache hits

[hardaker]

Wouldn't it be cool to use mindstorm to construct a physical bar graph of the traffic to my webserver?

Re:Isn't Lego a bit childish for /. ?

[talesout]

I went through a stage called growing up.

It doesn't sound like you grew up so much as grew older. Your post sounds like a typical bitter old-timer, "Damn kids, when are ye gonna learn ye gots to grow up!"

I'm 26, happily married, have good financial investments and am a systems/network administrator for a small company with a good salary and bonus. However, I still play with toys (and the old Transformers and Legos are my favorites) and I still watch cartoons (Cartoon Network is only second to the sci-fi channel in my book, and those two occassionally trade places during certain months). Does that make me a child? Hardly. I work my butt off, I pay my bills, and I treat my wife with respect (or she wouldn't be my wife). Yet I'm still able to enjoy a good 'childish' thing like cartoons and toys.

You knock Legos as childish. The funny thing is that Legos are designed with the basic premise of helping you develop your mind and your imagination. You are never too old to give up on those sorts of ideals. You need to constantly exercise your brain to keep it growing. And just because it is targetted at kids doesn't mean you can't use it as an adult. If you feel that way, you've already lost part of your humanity. Hopefully you'll get it back.

Oh yeah, and if you think my wife has a problem with my 'childish' endeavors, why the hell did she pull me through Valley Fair, running from ride to ride, screaming her head off and in general acting like a big kid? Simple, she (like myself) hasn't grown old.

You can grow up without growing old. We choose to seperate those two things. It looks like you choose to combine them into one process. In a way I feel for you, but it's your choice. However, don't knock it just cause you don't like it. It's a lot more fun than you might think.

(Now, my hypothesis is you are either a troll, or the following applies: You have avoided using Legos and other 'toys' because you know deep down inside that if you went anywhere near them you would play with them and have a great time. This fear of looking 'childish' has kept you from exploring something you may enjoy. It's too bad, but it happens.)

Lego Languages

[pigpogm]

C: The bricks fit together quickly, as long as you put them in place carefully, but push too hard in the wrong direction and the whole structure will spring apart.

Perl: You have over 43,000 different bricks, though most of them seem to do the same thing. The model is built quickly, but seems to have used a lot more bricks than you expected.

Java: The bricks can also be used with Duplo and Meccano. However, they operate so slowly that you go for a coffee instead.

Come on, someone who actually knows what they're talking about continue/correct me...

Re:Has Anybody Used the Mindstorms Before?

[Kickasso]

1. Yes it's limited. Some people like to push things to their limits, and Mindstorms provides plenty of opportunities.
2. A lot of people make homebrew sensors for Mindstorms. If you also build a port expander, and use LegOS, the RCX brick suddenly becomes not so awfully limited compared to HandyBoard. (Disclaimer: I didn't try any of these things -- yet.)
3. HandyBoard is ridiculously expensive. $200? Come on. If you can find one for less than $100 I'm willing to reconsider.

--

T2 by a script kiddie?

[AbbyNormal]

Calls to 911 that we're likely to hear: 911 operator: "911 what is your emergency?" Frantic Person: "ARgghhh! Somebody rooted my computer this morning and now my toy dogbot attacked and tried to kill me. I'm hiding in the bathroom right now, but the robot is building itself a lock pick"

Re:Has Anybody Used the Mindstorms Before?

[FascDot Killed My Pr]

"Has anybody actually purchased one of these Lego Mindstorm kits?"

Yes. Me.

"Was it easy to work with?"

Hardware: Just like regular (technic) legos.
Software: I use nqc--it's very very easy for a person who already knows C. Probably also quite easy for someone who knows programming. Probably a challenge for someone who doesn't know programming. OTOH, the nqc docs (and the book by Dave Baum) has A LOT of examples.

"For what age group would it make a good gift?" Upper age limit: none. There is plenty here to keep anyone occupied--it's not a "toy" (it's like a Palm compared to a PC--it does less, but it is still a general computing device).

Lower age limit: Depends on the child. Probably an 8 year old could handle it with help from someone who knows how to program. A 10 year old certainly could (with less help). The real controlling factor is the software. From the screenshots, the Lego-provided IDE is very easy to use.
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