Quite interesting article from Stroustrup (unfortunately dated by 1999), however still topical. Here is a small list of concepts a person should be considered. The the approach to a new language, which:
– proceeds from the concrete to the abstract,
– presents language features in the context of the programming and design techniques that they exist
to support,
– presents code relying on relatively high-level libraries before going into the lower-level details (nec-
essary to build those libraries),
– avoids techniques that do not scale to real-world applications,
– presents common and useful techniques and features before details, and
– focus on concepts and techniques (rather than language features).
As well, as some interesting comparisons of C and C++ languages in his article.
Programming
c++, Programming, Tips
Few connectors, someone may want look at:
etc
Java, Microsoft, Programming
Chris Anderson from Wired Mag gives a great article covering some issues concerning Programming environment of Lego Mindstorms robots using different programming languages.
For anyone who’s ever programmed, there’s nothing better for understanding programming logic than properly tabbed and commented code, all in a column of text as God intended. And for your kids, there’s no time like the present to introduce real programming, using coding conventions that will be as relevant in the decades to come as they were in decades past.
Simple and straight advantage of RobotC platform - coding in plain C, with well written Documentation on each function used for NXT’s. For the last month, RobotC upgraded from v1.05 to 1.10, so there are some improvements and updates from Carnegie Mellon University developers.
A great news is that for our projects on Robotics and Automation subject, we have switched from Microsoft Robotics Studio to RobotC due to some reasons:
- Lack of documentation on MRS (Professional MRS from Wrox will be published at the end of the year)
- Missing some simulation sensors’ files for NXT (can’t test all the capacities of sensors without robot)
- Not all of students run Windows (but it can be managed via Wine)
- Full access to encoders and sensors data in simple programming manner.
As more sensors are about to come in stock, I believe NXT will become one of the easiest ways of implementing Robotics concepts and algorithms for students.
Cyprus
Cyprus, Frederick University, Programming, Robotics
After few days of surging, I came out with few NXT programming solutions:
- RobotC
Basic C-language interface from umc.edu, which works with NXT and RCX model
- Microsoft Robotics Studio (MRS)
Nice and easy way of programming Robots with GUI interface, with almost no interaction with code.
- LeJOS
For Java programmers: NXT and RCX Java Open Source interface with simple Java Eclipse installation Plug-in.
To be continued…
Gadgets, Links
Lego, NXT, Programming, Robotics