84 replies to this topic

[Sebra]

I understand you want computers to be dumb/mute/inarticulate without modems.
Just quote the way Wired Modem can be usable with Turtles.

Spoiler

immibis, on 31 August 2012 - 01:52 PM, said:

This peripheral is the interface between a network and a computer. It must be placed on the side of a block, but will stay even if that block is removed - this allows it to be used with turtles.

[KaoS]

why doesn't someone just make a peripheral that you can call peripheral.call("front","send","hi") and it will queue a message event on all linked computers/turtles? then a turtle can arrive, place a link and use it to commune with another turtle or you can have static link points. I would do it myself but I don't know java

[Sebra]

Such peripheral can help. But it cannot be so convenient as direct connection could be.
For Turtle to Turtle messaging on a field you need to place it in the world. Two Turtles talking do not touch each other so unable to send items without moving. Possible but not so convenient.

[KaoS]

Cloudy, on 25 February 2013 - 11:30 PM, said:

Not happening.

well it seems your best option at this point

[GopherAtl]

Sebra, on 28 February 2013 - 06:49 AM, said:

Such peripheral can help. But it cannot be so convenient as direct connection could be.
For Turtle to Turtle messaging on a field you need to place it in the world. Two Turtles talking do not touch each other so unable to send items without moving. Possible but not so convenient.

know what would be the most convenient of all? the ability to arbitrarily send whatever you want to any computer anywhere in the world. It could be part of the magic api,
magic.sendWithoutRednet(target,msg)

Fits in well with the other functions in the magic api
magic.getBlockID(x,y,z)
magic.reproduce(numChildren)
magic.fetchDiamonds(howMany)

my point being, convenience is in no way a major critera for whether features will be added. Plausibility, consistency, and sure, usefulness - but usefulness and convenience aren't the same thing. If anything, there is an effort deliberately made no to make things too easy.

[Sebra]

My suggestion here simple, logical, convenient and useful.
Your magic interface not logical. It is extremely overpowered. It may be useful for some things and even simple as possible. But it breaks significant part of game.
I know about ability to communicate with any computer on any distance in any dimension of most worlds. It is called "internet".
My suggestion here is not overpowered. Only short distance, only direct contact. Like com-com, lpt-lpt, usb-usb cables.
My suggestion here is logical. Now computers are dumbest peripheral of all. They are unable to receive information directly, only simple on/off.
Imagine two people on a field, unable to speak without phones(modems), notebook/pencil(diskette) or other "hardware".

[JJRcop]

Actually Sebra. Now that you mention it. Our computers are connected by, the internet is, cables. (Hinting at the new 1.6 cables.) So we'll have the ability to lay out the internet, block by block. Unlimited range, modems will be obsolete for long range data transfer.

But still, two computers next to each other should be able to do something...

EDIT: Wait, the suggestion is literally being able to send rednet messages (that the other computer can receive and choose what to do with) to computers if they're right next to each other. Not directly calling anything, right? I'm saying that because if you could directly call anything then with the cables you could potentially bypass rednet and wrap the computer on the other side of the length of cable and call whatever you want for whatever purpose you want. Without the other computer having a choice. Then my idea of rednet internet but using the cables is ruined.

Edited by JJRcop, 01 March 2013 - 06:37 AM.

[Xenopathic]

This suggestion would certainly get my vote - although the cables that will be added in 1.6 will effectively mimic the behaviour of these connections, they will still require at least one block of space to be inserted. For a server cabinet (as an example) space is money, so directly connected computers would be awesome.

[Sebra]

Just messaging of course. Nothing more.
And what are you mean by 1.6 cable? Current beta is 1.51.

[JJRcop]

I just assumed it was 1.6, haha.

[Combo]

mailmanq, on 12 February 2013 - 04:34 PM, said:

Sounds nice, but, not necessary, you could just check the ID of the computer sending the message, and use rednet.send() to only send to one computer. Nobody can intercept your message, and nobody can send fake messages. But I would like a file transfer from computer to computer, that would be amazing, but a giant computer cube sounds amazing!

Uhhh, Little Lua Hax0rs can intercept it right?

[Jarle212]

Direct messaging between computers are possible by using the rs api. Send messages as bits. This is a bit slow, but for short commands this works perfectly.

[sophiamaster]

Modems have virtual antennas, so they are radio. My opinion is that a better approach for two turtles to communicate to each other very short range is to have some sort of api side controllable power for the modem. maybe being an additional parameter to transmit() or something. Meaning, if you know you're next to a turtle, you could reduce modem transmission power to like 1%. There are many reasons why this would benefit, and one of the biggest ones is "not to interfere or collide" with other in use channels at a reachable distance. One of my biggest problems I face is the fact that modems always run on maximum transmission power, which for rednet isn't a problem because they keep track of ID's, but for other implementations, I have to sit down sometimes and do some trig to figure out proportions of the signal with pencil and paper and implement my own collision prevention solution.

Quote

Direct messaging between computers are possible by using the rs api. Send messages as bits. This is a bit slow, but for short commands this works perfectly.

Haha, that's actually kind of awesome Jarle, if not a little insane ^^

[Jarle212]

sophiamaster, on 16 March 2013 - 04:14 AM, said:

Modems have virtual antennas, so they are radio. My opinion is that a better approach for two turtles to communicate to each other very short range is to have some sort of api side controllable power for the modem. maybe being an additional parameter to transmit() or something. Meaning, if you know you're next to a turtle, you could reduce modem transmission power to like 1%. There are many reasons why this would benefit, and one of the biggest ones is "not to interfere or collide" with other in use channels at a reachable distance. One of my biggest problems I face is the fact that modems always run on maximum transmission power, which for rednet isn't a problem because they keep track of ID's, but for other implementations, I have to sit down sometimes and do some trig to figure out proportions of the signal with pencil and paper and implement my own collision prevention solution.

Quote

Direct messaging between computers are possible by using the rs api. Send messages as bits. This is a bit slow, but for short commands this works perfectly.

Haha, that's actually kind of awesome Jarle, if not a little insane ^^

A bit but it works.

[sophiamaster]

Only problem with using redstone IO is that it would probably require a sync, as in just like ethernet frames, flashing 1's and 0's so that the other machine knows when to start, and how to pair up 1's and 0's. Something that isn't hard but I wouldn't want to write it for trivial purposes.

[Jarle212]

sophiamaster, on 16 March 2013 - 01:51 PM, said:

Only problem with using redstone IO is that it would probably require a sync, as in just like ethernet frames, flashing 1's and 0's so that the other machine knows when to start, and how to pair up 1's and 0's. Something that isn't hard but I wouldn't want to write it for trivial purposes.

True

[wilcomega]

i love this idea. but maybe 3-10 block radius.

[MudkipTheEpic]

No. That would be like charging your phone from a cable that is 10 feet away XD

[wilcomega]

MudkipTheEpic, on 26 March 2013 - 04:16 AM, said:

No. That would be like charging your phone from a cable that is 10 feet away XD

lol xD

[Left4Cake]

MudkipTheEpic, on 26 March 2013 - 04:16 AM, said:

No. That would be like charging your phone from a cable that is 10 feet away XD

or it could be "Redtooth".

I do think the point of the original post to have them next to each other however.