[Tutor] Pen plotter data format

[ThreeBlindQuarks]

>>> Phil:
>>> A University lecturer once told a group that I was a member of 
>>> to talk your problem over with your dog if you have no one 
>>> else to talk to.

The dogged approach to solving problems often works best for people new to a subject who doggedly keep plugging away at a pet project until suddenly some pieces finally start to fall together.

I have found that use of companion animals can also be distracting as their interests often differ but they can be good listeners unless distracted by the presence of another animal like a cat!

Enough joking! What Phil is talking about is similar to advice to talk to yourself as if you were an audience who knew very little and try to explain to them what the problem is and how you might solve it. No dog is needed, albeit some people have a thing about what it might look like if seen muttering to themselves, or nobody, so having a pet around may make them more comfortable as talking to them is somewhat socially acceptable.

Half of solving a problem can be a bit like solving many math problems, which they in some sense often are. Write down what is given. Write down some things you can deduce or calculate from those givens. Write down what tools you might have such as related things taught in the classroom. Write down the objective.

Then try to look at a way to make progress in the right direction, even if only partial. For example, you may need to read in the data from a file. Then convert it in some way, and so on. If stuck, perhaps go back a few steps and see if something else may work better or perhaps fill in a gap you skipped. Don't optimize too early, just get it working first. A step at a time, perhap with a few stumbles, often gets the problem done and it starts with being able to explain what the problem is and the potential method to deal with it.

Often 90% of programming is dogged persistence and maybe an occasional catnap.

- Q



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------- Original Message -------
On Saturday, April 1st, 2023 at 1:20 AM, Phil <phillor9 at gmail.com> wrote:


> On 1/4/23 14:29, Cameron Simpson wrote:
> 
> > So, you've got a g-code file you want to plot on one system, and the
> > RPi connected to that system (serial cable?) controlling your lego
> > based plotter? And you're designing the protocol to go over the serial
> > cable?
> > 
> > It's perfectly possible to have a text dialogue over the serial cable.
> 
> 
> That pretty well sums up the project.
> 
> I always find it helpful to jot down a few ideas whenever I become a
> little lost and I now have plan.
> 
> A University lecturer once told a group that I was a member of to talk
> your problem over with your dog if you have no one else to talk to.
> 
> --
> 
> Regards,
> Phil
> 
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