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[This was posted to lugnet.robotics; forwarding a copy to
lugnet.robotics.cybermaster... --Todd]
In lugnet.robotics, Bert van Dam writes:
> I have cracked the Cybermaster protocol for fun and because I wanted to be
> able to control it from a DOS machine. Even though cracking the Scout will
> be a piece of cake with the Cybermaster experience I do not intend to do so,
> because the Lego tools fullfil my needs at the moment.
>
> I think Lego has provided the right tools (at least for the DOS and Windows
> users) so I guess I might just make a DOS GUI. And ofcourse I'll try to make
> some AI applications with it.
>
> CU Bert
>
> Lego robots and artificial intelligence www.bvandam.net
>
>
> -----Oorspronkelijk bericht-----
> Van: Dave Baum <dbaum@spambgoneenteract.com>
> Aan: lego-robotics@crynwr.com <lego-robotics@crynwr.com>
> Datum: zaterdag 20 november 1999 19:01
> Onderwerp: Thoughts on NQC for Scout
>
> > With the advent of the Scout SDK, several people have asked me if I plan
> > on making NQC available for Scout. I thought it would be appropriate to
> > summarize my position on this and post it...
> >
> > The Scout SDK looks quite interesting - clearly the Scout is much more
> > flexible than initially assumed by most advanced users. The SDK also
> > provides a nice set of tools to program the Scout in assembly language
> > from a PC.
> >
> > However, for those already using NQC - or those who prefer a C-style
> > syntax to assembler - the Scout assembler isn't quite enough. Ideally, I
> > would like to allow NQC to target the Scout. However, in order to do this
> > I will need to know the Scout's download protocol and its bytecode format.
> >
> > I suspect the official line from Lego is presently something like this:
> > "use the ScoutDos.exe assembler as a back end for NQC". This would work
> > for Windows. This will not work for the Macintosh or Linux. Since I use
> > Macintosh and Linux far more than I use Windows, I have no interest in
> > creating a Windows-only solution. If it can't be made portable, I don't
> > want to write it.
> >
> > Similarly, the ScoutDOS.exe has some significant limitations in its
> > license. Anything developed with it cannot be used in any way with
> > commercial implications. That's pretty broad. Perhaps unenforceably
> > broad. NQC is free software - and its current licensing is incompatible
> > with the Scout SDK license. I do not want to create "NQC for Scout" such
> > that it is no longer free software and requires the user to carry the
> > baggage of the Scout SDK license.
> >
> > As I see it, there are three alternatives here:
> >
> > 1) Hack it - specifically hack the download protocol and bytecodes. This
> > is the path that was taken for the RCX, and it really didn't take very
> > long, but then again several people were highly motivated to crack it. At
> > this point, I've got an RCX and I'm not that motivated to crack the
> > Scout. I'm willing to add Scout support to NQC (which is by no means a
> > trivial task), but I see no reason to make it more tedious by hacking the
> > protocols as well.
> >
> > 2) Get official information from Lego. Quite simply, I don't see what
> > Lego has to gain by keeping the download protocol and bytecodes secret.
> > They will come out eventually - why not use this as an opportunity for
> > Lego to demontstrate that they are willing to support the notion of open
> > software for their programmable products.
> >
> > 3) Forget it - no NQC for Scout. Personally this is OK with me. I have
> > more than enough RCX's and don't need to use a Scout for possible
> > expansion. The Scout can do some interesting things, but nothing
> > compelling enough for me to abandon using the RCX as my primary
> > programmable brick.
> >
> > Dave Baum
> >
> > --
> > reply to: dbaum at enteract dot com
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: Thoughts on NQC for Scout
|
| I have cracked the Cybermaster protocol for fun and because I wanted to be able to control it from a DOS machine. Even though cracking the Scout will be a piece of cake with the Cybermaster experience I do not intend to do so, because the Lego tools (...) (25 years ago, 20-Nov-99, to lugnet.robotics)
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