Bundled Cable API AND Direct Support

So this suggestion is pretty simple, but basically mod authors have been a bit resistant to implement CC's API. This basically suggests that CC reimplements support for the popular cables like MFR and Project: Red, but keeps the API so that others can implement support for their own cables, too. That way, users can use the popular cables even though mod authors don't really care to add support, but if someone is writing a mod they can implement support themself too. Thoughts?

good idea, i dont think these mod devs from other mods can be bothered to make support

I do know the MFR people now refuse outright to use the API. It would be nice for Dan to reimplement support, but I don't know if he would want to if he saw how stubborn skyboy was being.

Or why don't CC make their own multichannel bundled cable like MFR's rednet cable and keep their new API for moders to add suport for their own cables?
A bundled cable like rednet cable is something that should come standard with CC since it's such a good tool to interact with other mods blocks that allows to be maniplulated with redstone power.
This way CC don't have to rely on moders to add suport for bundled cables or constantly update CC whenever a moder have changed the behaviour on their cable.
I can only see a win, win situation if CC make their own bundled cable and keep the API for other mods to add support for their own cables.

I agree, I don't see why CC Bundled cables were not added ages ago. It is rather odd to have a depenancy on other mods for a feature in your mod to function. For those of us that don't use those other mods it really sucks to have to install one to just be able to use the cables…

Cycomantis, on 07 July 2014 - 10:45 PM said:

I agree, I don't see why CC Bundled cables were not added ages ago. It is rather odd to have a depenancy on other mods for a feature in your mod to function. For those of us that don't use those other mods it really sucks to have to install one to just be able to use the cables…

Because ComputerCraft is about computers and not redstone.

Engineer, on 08 July 2014 - 12:18 PM said:

Because ComputerCraft is about computers and not redstone.

I disagree. It's about both. Computers would have little practical use (i.e. automation as opposed to pong) without a good redstone interface. Sure, turtles can move stuff around (and I think they can even flip levers), and you can use dedicated computers just for redstone outputs, but many computerized things are much easier with bundled cables, like controlling lots of train switches, actuating lots of pistons, and turning different engines on and off as necessary.

Engineer, on 08 July 2014 - 12:18 PM said:

Cycomantis, on 07 July 2014 - 10:45 PM said:

I agree, I don't see why CC Bundled cables were not added ages ago. It is rather odd to have a depenancy on other mods for a feature in your mod to function. For those of us that don't use those other mods it really sucks to have to install one to just be able to use the cables…

Because ComputerCraft is about computers and not redstone.

The Redstone API has been part of computercraft including its bunbled cable functions far longer then things such as turtles, wireless rednet, etc.. How is it not part of what ComputerCraft is meant to be used for? It was one of the oringal primary functions…

It was not. It was RedPower.

The redstone API has not always been part of CC. The redstone came first, and then redpower came along, and Dan added support for it. That was only because he was such great friends with Eloraam, and she allowed him to use her code to implement support for her bundled cables.

This isn't really the place to debate what ComputerCraft is "about". Bundled cable support is a feature that many users depend on for their contraptions, while other users disregard them completely. It's up to dan to determine whether a suggestion is a good idea or a bad idea, and arguing over subjective opinions of what ComputerCraft is "about" won't get any of us anywhere.

I plan to add support for MFR, RedLogic and P:Red bundled cables for CC in Computronics 0.6.0.

'asie', on 11 July 2014 - 04:19 PM said:

I plan to add support for MFR, RedLogic and P:Red bundled cables for CC in Computronics 0.6.0.

Thats an idea! Someone could write a mod that would bridge those 2 together using correct APIs. Not as part of some bigger mod but as small standalone mod. That way Dan200 would not need to keep hand on changes in those bundle cables mods and they would not have to implement his api if they don't want to. OpenBundles anyone? :D/>

Note: This was written by person that has some modding knowledge but never looked into minecraft modding and forge stuff. If my suggestion is impossible please disregard.

I personally feel that it is up to the mod authors to implement it, though the peripheral API. I do feel that technically 'cables' aren't redstone and shouldn't be part of the redstone API. I know this is quite an elitist view but having cables as peripherals just seems more 'correct', they're an external mod item, why should they be given special support from Dan?

The current method doesn't use the Peripheral API SquidDev. It still uses the Redstone API, you don't register cables as a peripheral, you simply provide an interface for ComputerCraft to use.

The only

asie, on 11 July 2014 - 04:19 PM said:

I plan to add support for MFR, RedLogic and P:Red bundled cables for CC in Computronics 0.6.0.

I'd love to see this as a a standalone module.

theoriginalbit, on 12 July 2014 - 12:27 PM said:

The current method doesn't use the Peripheral API SquidDev. It still uses the Redstone API, you don't register cables as a peripheral, you simply provide an interface for ComputerCraft to use.

I know, its just I don't understand why. Bundled cables are an external mod, the only reason I can see bundled cables are natively supported with CC is because:

Cranium, on 09 July 2014 - 11:18 PM said:

He was such great friends with Eloraam, and she allowed him to use her code to implement support for her bundled cables.

I don't see people asking Dan to add support for other mods, it is normally up to the developers of the mod. Also there are far more bundled cable implementations (at least 4) than there are are computer mods (2 at the last count), it must be easier for the mod authors to write peripheral APIs then for the CC and OC devs to support ~4 cable implementations?

The problem with that logic is that it's like saying "Ok, in the world there are ethernet cables, coax cables, and fiber cables. I'm going to release a socket which none of them already fit into and expect their creators to modify them all so that they do fit."

Granted this isn't as crazy when talking about software compatibility, in that it's relatively easy to modify things (heck, we're even taking about modifying mods in this instance), but my point is that a MFR cable isn't the same thing as a ProjectRed bundled cable. Expecting them all to fit into the one "socket" is a bit of an "ask". If someone wants to release a product that works with USB cables, then they're generally expected to put a USB port on it…

That's not to say that the new API is a bad idea (it should cut down on maintenance work, and if just two other mod authors jump on board we'll be better off then we ever were before), and I still reckon once ComputerCraft 1.6x gets patched up to the point where it can't be used to break whatever server you put it on there'll be some interest, but ultimately any "responsibility" here rests on the shoulders of whoever wants the support. That means that if Dan or whichever other mod authors don't especially want any particular cable to work, then they don't owe it to anybody to make it do so.

Exacly! And if neather side will implement this soonner or later someone will make 3th party "converter plug" to make stuff work. In the end its in developers/interested 3th party hands if it will work.

http://mc.shinonome.ch/doku.php?id=wiki:computronics

Computronics 0.6.0 now lets you read RedLogic and Project: Red bundled cable signals directly. Writing will probably need a special adapter block (due to the way the API works), which will be added sometime later.

SquidDev, on 12 July 2014 - 09:51 AM said:

I personally feel that it is up to the mod authors to implement it, though the peripheral API. I do feel that technically 'cables' aren't redstone and shouldn't be part of the redstone API. I know this is quite an elitist view but having cables as peripherals just seems more 'correct', they're an external mod item, why should they be given special support from Dan?

I agree that Dan shouldn't support other mods cables. But I realy think that Computer Craft should have their own bundled cable since they are a very good extention of computers to be able to manipulate other blocks that allows redstone maniplulation. I use computercraft in the modpack Tekkit and there are alot of blocks there that I can interact with throu redstone.
When I started with computercraft I didn't know anything about how to code. But after I watched some youtube clip I was able to start making small programs with turtle api, redstone api and colors api.
These three api are very good for us how know nothing or very little of coding programs. For us knowing little of coding, loosing redstone api realy crippled the mod. The mod should be for us who knows very little to those who are very good at coding so I realy think that Computer Craft should have their own bundlede cables that works with redstone api and colors api.

badkruka, on 04 August 2014 - 06:04 PM said:

SquidDev, on 12 July 2014 - 09:51 AM said:

I personally feel that it is up to the mod authors to implement it, though the peripheral API. I do feel that technically 'cables' aren't redstone and shouldn't be part of the redstone API. I know this is quite an elitist view but having cables as peripherals just seems more 'correct', they're an external mod item, why should they be given special support from Dan?

I agree that Dan shouldn't support other mods cables. But I realy think that Computer Craft should have their own bundled cable since they are a very good extention of computers to be able to manipulate other blocks that allows redstone maniplulation. I use computercraft in the modpack Tekkit and there are alot of blocks there that I can interact with throu redstone.
When I started with computercraft I didn't know anything about how to code. But after I watched some youtube clip I was able to start making small programs with turtle api, redstone api and color api.
These three api are very good for us how know nothing or very little of coding programs. For us knowing little of coding, loosing rednet api realy crippled the mod. The mod should be for us who knows very little to those who are very good at coding so I realy think that Computer Craft should have their own bundlede cables that works with rednet api and color api.

You always typed "rednet api" instead of "redstone api", I think.

flaghacker, on 04 August 2014 - 06:45 PM said:

You always typed "rednet api" instead of "redstone api", I think.

Yes I ment redstone API. :)/>
Gonna edit my previous post.

I did look into supporting RedLogic's bundled cables. CC does now have a bundled cable API (as in a Java API) so mods can register their bundled cable types. However, the way it works means that to work properly, RedLogic would need to check for adjacent computers every time it gets a block update. It could work one-way though (so computers can get, but not set, bundled cables).

Given that I'm only aware of one mod which uses the API thus far (which, yes, only allows getting but not setting cable values), if you've any ideas as to how it could be changed for the better now might be the time to bug Dan with them (before anyone actually gets something sorted that uses the full extent of the current version of the API).

That said, I get the impression Dan isn't going to do any more MC 1.6.4 releases, so it may be a moot point.

Good news, everyone! The latest release from Project Red has added bundled cable support through ComputerCraft's API. So now you can work with cables to your heart's content!

I don't think CC should add support for any particular mods. Instead I think you should be able to use modems as redstone output. If a wired modem is placed on a block that isn't a peripheral, when it's activated it could be given a name like "redstone_0", and in code you could do something like rs.setOutput("redstone_0", true) to output on a block or rs.setOutput("attached_peripheral_0", true) to put out a signal on a peripheral that's connected.