New Helpful Tools for Software and Gear

I’ve just joined and have been diving into both software and hardware recently. First up, I discovered a new program that’s already operational and seems quite handy; it’s called SexScripts. I haven’t dropped the link yet because I’m not sure how you all feel about this particular one, though their forum is mentioned several times by our community. The main thing is that programming knowledge isn’t required to use it. It executes commands based on data in a script file (similar to some older programs), and these scripts can be downloaded, written from scratch, or tweaked to fit your needs. What makes this software particularly appealing is its open-source nature. This suggests there’s minimal risk of it vanishing unexpectedly, plus users with coding skills can add their own features. It’s built in Groovy, which is essentially an enhanced version of Java. Secondly, Velleman produces a range of cards that connect to computers via interfaces like USB. I recently picked up the VM110 (a pre-assembled variant of the 8055), which offers 8 outputs and 5 inputs. It includes basic software along with source code for various programming languages, but there are also excellent third-party apps available at no cost. One is KO855 Commander, which manages the I/O so I can toggle almost anything on or off via the card’s outputs. Another handy tool I found is Start by interface card (StartByIntFace), enabling the card to launch and execute any PC program (or batch file). With this app, my card can start, run, and close programs using end-it-all. While there are other options out there, these two seem most promising for those who want a ready-to-use solution without coding (though writing a batch file aids automation by letting you pre-set actions before loading). For anyone currently experimenting with the Velleman 8055 or VM110 cards, I’d love to see your progress. Velleman also offers other card types, like relay cards that plug into a PC’s RS232 port. Since they use RS232, these can be directly controlled by the PC using nearly any programming language. If links are permitted and anyone wants them, I can share connections to everything mentioned above.