Category Archives: Computer

(Blind) Maze puzzle now with generation and play modes.

Info:

  • PlatformIO tested ( install StackArray.h in lib/StackArray/StackArray.h )
    • Reset button and dipswitches for below options
      • Visited pathmode ( dip switch 1)
        • Preview maze generation ( dip switch 3)
        • Hard mode – starts at first position when hitting a wall ( dip 2 )
        • Longest path mode (longest stackarray before stack.pop (dip 4 )
        • Prints serial info, like a drawn maze
        • Pixel remapping for other displays ( Below mapping i had to use, see source sketch )

How is the maze generated?

It is generated using recursive backtracking:

Start at 0,0 mark visited, select a random direction from unvisited neighbours, push current on the stack, goto new location, and mark this visited.
Repeat until no possible directions.
pop from the stack a previous location, another direction possible? Take that path and repeat.
Repeat popping from stack, until stack empty .. now all cells are visited

longest pop : 41
maze
------------------------
|    ||    ||       || |
---            ---      
| ||    ||    ||    || |
   ------------   ---   
|       || ||    ||    |
   ---         ---   ---
|    ||    || ||       |
      ---         ---
| || || || || || ||    |

| || || || || || || || |
---
|    ||    || || || || |
   ---------   ---
|                   || |
------------------------
x y : 00
maze 4
|4|3|6|3|6|5|3|2|
|2|12|9|12|9|6|9|10|
|14|5|3|2|6|9|6|9|
|14|3|12|11|10|6|13|3|
|10|10|2|10|10|10|6|11|
|8|10|10|10|10|10|10|10|
|6|9|12|9|10|8|10|10|
|12|5|5|5|13|5|9|8|

Easiest play mode: Preview Maze, Show visited path, NO reset to square 0,0 and NOT the longest path so :

Show visited DIP1Reset to 0,0 DIP2Preview DIP3Longest path DIP4
1010

Hard mode:

Show visited DIP1Reset to 0,0 DIP2Preview DIP3Longest path DIP4
0101

Todo: Battery / batterymanager / 3D case / better buttons

Some video shorts put together to show modes

CODE

#include <Arduino.h>
#include <Adafruit_NeoPixel.h>
#include "StackArray.h"

// Pin Assign
int up=25;
int down=33;
int left=32;
int right=26;
int trailsw=17;
int restartsw=5;
int showmazesw=18;
int popendsw=19;

int xend=7;
int yend=7;

int countpop=0;
int currentpop=0;

int directions[4]{};
int notalldone = 1;
int tmpx=0;
int tmpy=0;
int xgen = 1;
int ygen = 1;
int x = 0;
int y = 0;
int showmaze = 0;

// 0 easy = trail // 1 only red walls // 2 = reset to 0.0
int mode=0;

//int trail=32;
int trail=32;

// Which pin on the Arduino is connected to the NeoPixels?
#define LED_PIN    2

// How many NeoPixels are attached to the Arduino?
#define LED_COUNT 64

// Declare our NeoPixel strip object:
Adafruit_NeoPixel strip(LED_COUNT, LED_PIN, NEO_GRB + NEO_KHZ800);

int maze[8][8] = {

  };

int displaymatrix[8][8] = { 
{ 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 },
{ 15,14,13,12,11,10,9,8 }, 
{16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23},
{31,30,29,28,27,26,25,24},
{32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39},
{47,46,45,44,43,42,41,40},
{48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55},
{63,62,61,60,59,58,57,56}
};

int visitmatrix[10][10] = { 
  1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1
  };


void(* resetFunc) (void) = 0;

void drawmaze2(){
  Serial.print("x y : ");
 Serial.print(x);
 Serial.println(y);
 Serial.print("maze ");
 Serial.println(maze[x][y]);
  for(int ledy=0;ledy<8;ledy++)
  { Serial.print("|");
    for(int ledx=0;ledx<8;ledx++){
    Serial.print(maze[ledx][ledy]);  
    Serial.print("|");  
    if ( maze[ledx][ledy] != 0 ) {
       // mled.dot(ledx,ledy); // draw dot
      //  mled.display();
       // delay(50);
    }
      }  
    Serial.println("");
  }
  Serial.println("");
  delay(100);
}

void drawmaze(){
  Serial.println("maze ");
 
  for(int ledy=0;ledy<8;ledy++)
  { 
    // 1st line
    for(int ledx=0;ledx<8;ledx++){
    if(bitRead(maze[ledx][ledy], 3) == 0){ Serial.print("---"); } else { Serial.print("   "); }
    }
    Serial.println("");
    // 2nd line

    for(int ledx=0;ledx<8;ledx++){
    if(bitRead(maze[ledx][ledy], 0) == 1){
        if(bitRead(maze[ledx][ledy], 2) == 1){
          Serial.print("   "); } 
          else 
          { Serial.print("  |"); }
     }
     if(bitRead(maze[ledx][ledy], 0) == 0){
        if(bitRead(maze[ledx][ledy], 2) == 1){
          Serial.print("|  "); } 
          else 
          { Serial.print("| |"); }
     }
    

    
    }
        Serial.println("");
} 
   
    // last line
    int ledy=7;
    for(int ledx=0;ledx<8;ledx++){
    if(bitRead(maze[ledx][ledy], 1) == 0){ Serial.print("---"); } else { Serial.print("   "); }
    }
    Serial.println("");

    
    
  
  //Serial.println("");
  delay(100);
}

void mazegen(){
  visitmatrix[xgen][ygen]=1;       
  StackArray <int> rowStack; 
  StackArray <int> colStack;
        rowStack.push(xgen);
        colStack.push(ygen);
  while(notalldone == 1){    
     visitmatrix[xgen][ygen]=1;
        while(!rowStack.isEmpty()) {
        int count=0;
        //up
        if ( visitmatrix[xgen-1][ygen] == 0 ){
          directions[count]=1;
          count++;    
        }
        //right
        if ( visitmatrix[xgen][ygen+1] == 0 ){
          directions[count]=2;
          count++;    
        }
        //down
        if ( visitmatrix[xgen+1][ygen] == 0 ){
          directions[count]=4;
          count++;    
        }
        //left
        if ( visitmatrix[xgen][ygen-1] == 0 ){
          directions[count]=8;
          count++;    
        }  
        if (showmaze == 1 ){ 
          strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[xgen-1][ygen-1], 32, 32, 32);

          strip.show();
          delay(50);
        }
        // no dir found
        if (count == 0 ) {

if (digitalRead(popendsw) == 0 ){
  currentpop = rowStack.count();
  if (currentpop > countpop ) {
    countpop = currentpop;
  xend = xgen-1;
  yend = ygen-1;
  Serial.print("longest pop : ");
  Serial.println(currentpop);
  }
}

         // mled.dot(x-1,y-1);
         // mled.display();
          xgen = rowStack.pop();
          ygen = colStack.pop();

         // Serial.println("popping ");
          } else {
          // count random direction
          int dir = directions[random(count)];
          //Serial.println("push ");
          rowStack.push(xgen); 
          colStack.push(ygen);
         // Serial.print("nr dir : "); 
         // Serial.println(count);
          //delay(100);
         // Serial.println(dir);
          // move 1,1 to 0,0
          //mled.dot(x-1,y-1);
          //mled.display();
          // set direction in maze, dit moet bit set worden
          int mybits = maze[xgen-1][ygen-1];
          int storedir = mybits | dir;
          maze[xgen-1][ygen-1] = storedir;
          if ( dir == 1){
          int getup = maze[xgen-2][ygen-1];
          int storedir = getup | 4;
          maze[xgen-2][ygen-1] = storedir;
          }
          if ( dir == 2){
          int getup = maze[xgen-1][ygen];
          int storedir = getup | 8;
          maze[xgen-1][ygen] = storedir;
          }
          if ( dir == 4){
          int getup = maze[xgen][ygen-1];
          int storedir = getup | 1;
          maze[xgen][ygen-1] = storedir;
          }
          if ( dir == 8){
          int getup = maze[xgen-1][ygen-2];
          int storedir = getup | 2;
          maze[xgen-1][ygen-2] = storedir;
          }


          
        //  maze[x-1][y-1] = dir;
          //set new square
          if (dir == 1){ xgen--; }
          if (dir == 2){ ygen++; }
          if (dir == 4){ xgen++; }
          if (dir == 8){ ygen--; }
          visitmatrix[xgen][ygen]=1;
          //drawmaze();
          }
        }
        notalldone = 0;                                                  //#2
        // if found 0 in 10x10 matrix visited, do
        for(int checkx=0;checkx<10;checkx++){
          for(int checky=0;checky<10;checky++){
            if ( visitmatrix[checkx][checky] == 0 ){
              tmpx=xgen;
              tmpy=ygen;
              notalldone = 1;  
            }
          }
        }
   }
rowStack.push(tmpx); 
colStack.push(tmpy);

}




void setup() {
  pinMode(32, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(33, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(25, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(26, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(popendsw, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(trailsw, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(restartsw, INPUT_PULLUP);
  pinMode(showmazesw, INPUT_PULLUP);
  
  Serial.begin(115200);

  strip.begin();
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
  strip.setBrightness(10);

 unsigned long seed = 0;
for (int i=0; i<32; i++)
{
  seed = seed | ((analogRead(A0) & 0x01) << i);
}
randomSeed(seed);

if (digitalRead(showmazesw) == 0){
  showmaze = 1;
}


mazegen();
drawmaze();
drawmaze2();
 
 strip.fill(0, 0, 64);
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
  strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, 255);
  strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[xend][yend], 0, 255, 0);

  strip.show();

  x=0;
  y=0;
  
}

uint32_t Wheel(byte WheelPos) {
  WheelPos = 255 - WheelPos;
  if(WheelPos < 85) {
    return strip.Color(255 - WheelPos * 3, 0, WheelPos * 3);
  }
  if(WheelPos < 170) {
    WheelPos -= 85;
    return strip.Color(0, WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3);
  }
  WheelPos -= 170;
  return strip.Color(WheelPos * 3, 255 - WheelPos * 3, 0);
}


void reset2start() {
      strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, 0);
    strip.show();
  x = 0;
  y = 0;
  strip.begin();
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
  strip.setBrightness(10);
  strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, 255);
  strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[xend][yend], 0, 255, 0);
  strip.show();

}

void rainbow(uint8_t wait) {
  uint16_t i, j;

  for(j=0; j<256; j++) {
    for(i=0; i<strip.numPixels(); i++) {
      strip.setPixelColor(i, Wheel((i+j) & 255));
    }
    strip.show();
    delay(wait);

  }
}

void loop() {


if (digitalRead(trailsw) == 0 ){
  trail = 32;
} else { trail = 0; }

if (digitalRead(restartsw) == 0 ){
  mode = 2;
} else {
  mode = 0;
}
    int isUp = (bitRead(maze[x][y], 1));
    int isRight = (bitRead(maze[x][y], 2));
    int isDown = (bitRead(maze[x][y], 3));
    int isLeft = (bitRead(maze[x][y], 0));
  
//isUp = 1;
//isDown = 1;
//isLeft = 1;
//isRight = 1;

if (digitalRead(up) == 0) {
   
  if (isUp == 1){

  strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, trail);
  y++;
     drawmaze();
  if ( y > 7) { y=7;}
  strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, 255);
  strip.show();
  } else {
    strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 255, 0, 0);
    strip.show();
    delay(100);
    strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, 255);
    strip.show();
    if (mode == 2){ 
      delay(1000);
      reset2start();
    }
  }
}
if (digitalRead(down) == 0) {
  if (isDown == 1){
   
  
  strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, trail);
  y--;
       drawmaze();

  if ( y < 0) { y=0;}
  strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, 255);
  strip.show();
  } else {
    strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 255, 0, 0);
    strip.show();
    delay(100);
    strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, 255);
    strip.show();
    if (mode == 2){ 
      delay(1000);
      reset2start();
    }
  }
}
if (digitalRead(left) == 0) {
      drawmaze();
  if (isLeft == 1){
  strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, trail);
  x--;
       drawmaze();

  if ( x < 0) { x=0;}
  strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, 255);
  strip.show();
  } else {
    strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 255, 0, 0);
    strip.show();
        delay(100);
    strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, 255);
    strip.show();
    if (mode == 2){ 
      delay(1000);
      reset2start();
    }
  }
}
if (digitalRead(right) == 0) {
      drawmaze();
  if (isRight == 1){
  strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, trail);
  x++;
       drawmaze();

  if ( x > 7) { x=7;}
  strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, 255);
  strip.show();
  } else {
    strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 255, 0, 0);
    strip.show();
    delay(100);
    strip.setPixelColor(displaymatrix[x][y], 0, 0, 255);
    strip.show();
    if (mode == 2){ 
      delay(1000);
      reset2start();
    }
  }
}
if (x ==xend && y == yend){
  strip.begin();
  strip.show(); // Initialize all pixels to 'off'
  rainbow(20);
}

delay(200);

}

Visual Code and local ssh based git

I’ve gone back and front using Visual Code.
For work and now with platformio.
(I’ve been using platformio on the commandline only, until recently.)

While i have some private github/gitlab accounts, I alway had some local git repositories.
Using in the past GiTea, and a ssh based one.

Below: This own hosted SSH setup allows me to use Visual Code to use as git repository

========== On you ssh server

adduser git
su - git
mkdir .ssh && chmod 700 .ssh
touch .ssh/authorized_keys && chmod 600 .ssh/authorized_keys
chsh git -s $(which git-shell)
# Note .. there is no interactive shell! 

== locate git-shell-commands 
locate git-shell-commands
cp -r /usr/share/doc/git/contrib/git-shell-commands /home/git/
chmod +x /home/git/git-shell-commands/*

== Make sure git-shell is in /etc/shells

== Make a git repo destination

mkdir -p /mygitstuff/git
cd /mygitstuff/git
mkdir project.git
cd project.git
git init --bare

========== On your workstation

== copy ssh public key in .ssh/authorized_keys on the server

cd myproject
git init
git add .
git commit -m 'Initial commit'
git remote add origin git@gitserver:/mygitstuff/git/project.git
git push origin master

Backtracking maze generation with Arduino

As POC for the maze game.

Maze generation!

Make an initial cell the current cell
   mark it as visited
While there are unvisited cells
   If the current cell has any neighbours
   which have not been visited
         Choose randomly one of the unvisited neighbours
                Push the current cell to the stack
                Mark wall hole
                Make the chosen cell the current cell
                mark it as visited
        Else if stack is not empty
                Pop a cell from the stack
                Make it the current cell

This is my implementation of backtracking

The displaymatrix function is a implementation of different led mappings

Still have to decide where to place endpoint …
At 8,8 or at first stack pop?
Maybe both?

Code

#include <WEMOS_Matrix_LED.h>
#include <StackArray.h>

int directions[4]{};
int notalldone = 1;
int tmpx=0;
int tmpy=0;
int x = 1;
int y = 1;
MLED mled(5); //set intensity=5

int maze[8][8] = { 
  };

int displaymatrix[8][8] = { 
{ 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7 },
{ 8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15 }, 
{16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23},
{24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31},
{32,33,34,35,36,37,38,39},
{40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47},
{48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55},
{56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63}
};

int visitmatrix[10][10] = { 
  1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,1,
  1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1
  };

void setup() {
    Serial.begin(115200);
    randomSeed(analogRead(0));
    mazegen();
    drawmaze();
}

void mazegen(){
  visitmatrix[x][y]=1;       
  StackArray <int> rowStack; 
  StackArray <int> colStack;
        rowStack.push(x);
        colStack.push(y);
  while(notalldone == 1){    
     visitmatrix[x][y]=1;
        while(!rowStack.isEmpty()) {
        int count=0;
        //up
        if ( visitmatrix[x-1][y] == 0 ){
          directions[count]=1;
          count++;    
        }
        //right
        if ( visitmatrix[x][y+1] == 0 ){
          directions[count]=2;
          count++;    
        }
        //down
        if ( visitmatrix[x+1][y] == 0 ){
          directions[count]=4;
          count++;    
        }
        //left
        if ( visitmatrix[x][y-1] == 0 ){
          directions[count]=8;
          count++;    
        }  
        // no dir found
        if (count == 0 ) {

          mled.dot(x-1,y-1);
          mled.display();
          x = rowStack.pop();
          y = colStack.pop();

          Serial.println("popping ");
          } else {
          // count random direction
          int dir = directions[random(count)];
          Serial.println("push ");
          rowStack.push(x); 
          colStack.push(y);
          Serial.print("nr dir : "); 
          Serial.println(count);
          //delay(100);
          Serial.println(dir);
          // move 1,1 to 0,0
          mled.dot(x-1,y-1);
          mled.display();
          // set direction in maze, dit moet bit set worden
          int mybits = maze[x-1][y-1];
          int storedir = mybits | dir;
          maze[x-1][y-1] = storedir;
          if ( dir == 1){
          int getup = maze[x-2][y-1];
          int storedir = getup | 4;
          maze[x-2][y-1] = storedir;
          }
          if ( dir == 2){
          int getup = maze[x-1][y];
          int storedir = getup | 8;
          maze[x-1][y] = storedir;
          }
          if ( dir == 4){
          int getup = maze[x][y-1];
          int storedir = getup | 1;
          maze[x][y-1] = storedir;
          }
          if ( dir == 8){
          int getup = maze[x-1][y-2];
          int storedir = getup | 2;
          maze[x-1][y-2] = storedir;
          }


          
        //  maze[x-1][y-1] = dir;
          //set new square
          if (dir == 1){ x--; }
          if (dir == 2){ y++; }
          if (dir == 4){ x++; }
          if (dir == 8){ y--; }
          visitmatrix[x][y]=1;
          drawmaze();
          }
        }
        notalldone = 0;                                                  //#2
        // if found 0 in 10x10 matrix visited, do
        for(int checkx=0;checkx<10;checkx++){
          for(int checky=0;checky<10;checky++){
            if ( visitmatrix[checkx][checky] == 0 ){
              tmpx=x;
              tmpy=y;
              notalldone = 1;  
            }
          }
        }
   }
rowStack.push(tmpx); 
colStack.push(tmpy);
}



void drawmaze(){
  Serial.println("Generating done - Drawing");
  for(int ledx=0;ledx<8;ledx++)
  {
    for(int ledy=0;ledy<8;ledy++){
    Serial.print(maze[ledx][ledy]);  
    if ( maze[ledx][ledy] != 0 ) {
        mled.dot(ledx,ledy); // draw dot
        mled.display();
       // delay(50);
    }
      }  
    Serial.println("");
  }
  Serial.println("");
  delay(100);
}


void loop() {
}

Simple FreeOTP access for PHP

I’ve played with FreeOTP for my own websites in the past, but here is a cleaned up version.

apt-get install qrencode oathtool

Using a webserver with php you can use below simple sniplet to restrict access.

<?PHP
$output = shell_exec('oathtool --totp=sha256 --base32 ################PLACE-SECRET-OUTPUT-HERE-############');
$otp=$_POST["otp"];
$stripped = preg_replace('/\D/', '', $output);
$strippedotp = preg_replace('/\D/', '', $otp);
?>
<form action="" method="post">
OTP: <input type="text" name="otp"><br>
<input type="submit">
</form>
<?PHP
if(strcmp("$strippedotp", "$stripped") == 0)
{ echo "Access"; }
else
{ echo "No Access"; }
?>

bash script to generate secret and qrcode

#!/bin/bash
secret=$(echo 1234567812345678 | base32)
echo "Secret : (place in PHP file)"
echo $secret
qrencode -t ANSI256 -o - $(echo otpauth://totp/Mine:myname?secret=${secret}\&issuer=Mine\&algorithm=SHA256\&digits=6\&period=30) -o qrcode.png -t png -s 5

Above generates a QRcode you can import in FreeOTP

Mikrotik and Zerotier

Today i’ve upgraded one of my Mikrotiks to 7.8.

And installed the zerotier extra package!
I’m not going to explain what zerotier is .. read it here:
https://www.zerotier.com/

I already did some tests using my phone and a linux server.

  1. Upgrade to the latest stable version (at this time : 7.8)
  2. Install from the extra packages zerotier-7.8.arm.npk
    upload to the files folder and reboot your MT

Add zerotier network

Allow connection in the Zerotier Gui

Mikrotik changes from ACCESS_DENIED to OK

Ping test from MT to my Phone !

Maybe we could setup a adhoc zerotier network with some of my friends to do some remote assisting when needed!

Finished a display case for the SDK-85

So i made a nice display case for this SDK.

I made some designs and came up with this:

I just took a 12mm x 60mm piece of wood, and made a slit for the acrylic plastic using a circular saw, and removed a part for the back-plate using a wood router. I found a piece of acrylic in my shed, cut it to the right size using the circular saw. Slapped some paint on the wood.

I want to be able to use the sdk whenever i want, so i made a sliding window thingy. ( With wooden handle so the frame looks intact when closed. )

Then I 3D printed some holders, which I designed using Openscad.

Openscad code

difference(){
difference(){

    translate([0,8,1])
    cube([20,15,10],center=true);
union(){
    cylinder(h=9, d1=9, d2=9, center=true);
translate([0,0,3])
cylinder(h=9, d1=15, d2=15, center=true);
}
   
}
$fn=100;
 translate([0,12,0])
 cylinder(h=30, d1=3.5, d2=3.5, center=true);
}

I will probably add a powerconnector and lasercut a hole for the keypad at a later stage.

Guess the code in Node Red

I asked ChatGPT to write code for me, i was not completely correct, and in Python. https://www.henriaanstoot.nl/2023/03/28/i-asked-chatgpt-to-write-code-for-a-crack-the-code-game/
I wrote my on version in JavaScript so it can be used in NodeRed as a function.

The codes are entered using a keypad (Arduino) and send via MQTT

Node Red Dash board

Code

var code = global.get("mysetcode");
var good = 0;
var wrong = 0;
var wrongplace = 0;
var match = false;
var wrongchars = 0;
var wrongplaced = 0;
var goodchars = 0;
var payloadcode = msg.payload.toString();

var usr_input = Array.from(payloadcode);
var secret_code = Array.from(code);
var secret_code1 = secret_code;

if (msg.payload === code) {
    match = true;
}
var result = "";

for (var i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
    var found = false;
    if (usr_input[i] === secret_code[i]) {
    usr_input[i] = "a";
    secret_code[i] = "b";
        good = good + 1;
        
    }
}

for (var i = 0; i < 4; i++) {
    var found = false;
    for (var j = 0; j < 4; j++) {
        if (usr_input[i] === secret_code[j]) {
                found = true;
        } 
    }
        if (!found) {
    wrong = wrong + 1;
    }
}

wrongchars = wrong - good;
wrongplaced = 4 - good - wrongchars;

msg.goodchars = good;
msg.wrongchars = wrongchars;
msg.wrongplace = wrongplaced;
msg.result = result;
msg.match = match;
return msg;

I asked ChatGPT to write code for a Crack the Code game.

The Game

elcome to Crack the Code!
The code has 4 digits. Each digit is between 0 and 9.
You have 10 tries to guess the code.
After each guess, you will be told how many digits you got correct and how many were misplaced.
Good luck!
Enter your guess: 1234
Guess 1: 1234 - 0 correct, 0 misplaced
Enter your guess: 5678
Guess 2: 5678 - 2 correct, 1 misplaced
Enter your guess: 5689
Guess 3: 5689 - 1 correct, 2 misplaced
Enter your guess: 9688 
Guess 4: 9688 - 1 correct, 2 misplaced
....
Sorry, you did not crack the code. The code was 5568.

Generated python code

import random

def generate_code():
    code = ""
    for i in range(4):
        code += str(random.randint(0, 9))
    return code

def check_guess(code, guess):
    correct_digits = 0
    misplaced_digits = 0
    for i in range(4):
        if guess[i] == code[i]:
            correct_digits += 1
        elif guess[i] in code:
            misplaced_digits += 1
    return (correct_digits, misplaced_digits)

def play_game():
    print("Welcome to Crack the Code!")
    print("The code has 4 digits. Each digit is between 0 and 9.")
    print("You have 10 tries to guess the code.")
    print("After each guess, you will be told how many digits you got correct and how many were misplaced.")
    print("Good luck!")
    code = generate_code()
    num_guesses = 0
    while num_guesses < 10:
        guess = input("Enter your guess: ")
        if len(guess) != 4 or not guess.isdigit():
            print("Invalid input. Please enter a 4-digit number.")
            continue
        num_guesses += 1
        correct, misplaced = check_guess(code, guess)
        print(f"Guess {num_guesses}: {guess} - {correct} correct, {misplaced} misplaced")
        if correct == 4:
            print("Congratulations! You cracked the code!")
            return
    print(f"Sorry, you did not crack the code. The code was {code}.")

play_game()

After this i let the AI made some changes, which kinda worked.
Scary nevertheless

Infrared Sending Receiving

I’ve build a IR Blaster in the past and tested IR with EspEasy Dev.
I’m not happy with my Harmony Hub. Not so much control as i like to have.

So now OpenMqttGateway with IR.

I’ve installed platformio in the past.
Not really a fan of visual-code i’m showing you the process on CLI

We can’t use the webinstaller or a precompiled binary because we need to change GPIO ports

wget https://github.com/1technophile/OpenMQTTGateway/releases/download/v1.5.0/nodemcuv2-ir-libraries.zip
wget https://github.com/1technophile/OpenMQTTGateway/archive/refs/tags/v1.5.0.tar.gz
tar xzvf v1.5.0.tar.gz
cd v1.5.0/libs
unzip ../../nodemcuv2-ir-libraries.zip
cd ..
edit platformio.ini
remove ; from 
default_envs = nodemcuv2-ir
vi main/config_IR.h
search for LOLIN, edit and change into 0 (GPIO 0 = D3)

build and upload
pio run --target upload --upload-port /dev/ttyUSB0
build and upload with flash erase
pio run --target erase --target upload --upload-port /dev/ttyUSB0

clean the environment when needed
pio run -t clean

Now you will get a Access Point, connect and enter your Wifi network information and mqtt server.

When connected you will see the IR codes and if you installed mqtt support in home assistant it will see the mqtt topics.

I’ve copied a json output as was send by my IR remote.
Below an example using mosquitto_pub to send codes.

mosquitto_pub -t home/OpenMQTTGateway_ESP8266_IR/commands/MQTTtoIR -h mymqttserver -m '{
  "value": 1270235327,
  "protocol": 3,
  "bits": 32,
  "hex": "0x4BB640BF",
  "protocol_name": "NEC",
  "raw": "8908,4498,536,604,510,1700,532,604,512,604,510,1722,510,604,510,1700,534,1700,534,1702,532,606,510,1722,510,1700,534,604,512,1722,510,1722,510,604,512,604,510,1702,532,606,510,606,510,604,510,604,512,604,512,604,510,1722,510,606,510,1722,510,1702,532,1700,534,1722,512,1722,510,1700,534"
}'

platformio commands

Why use platformio?
I know Arduino IDE is easier for starters.
Platformio is far more flexible, you can make projects with their own versions of libraries.
I like CLI, easier to do version control (git)

pip install -U platformio
pio upgrade
pio update

Some screenshots of my visual code platformio

Last weeks useful schematics

While working on my game, i had to come up with some solutions i could not find an answer for on the internet.

I’m not going to post every little detail of my game on this blog, my main reason is sharing my experiences and solutions.

16 SWITCHES

16 Switches on a Wemos Arduino. While push buttons are easier to connect, I needed ON/OFF switches.
Push buttons are easy, there is only one active, so 4 enable lines and 4 scan lines and you’re golden.
16 Switches can be enabled all at the same time.
So you need some extra components to get a good result (0-65535)

Above schematic works, you need 4x 1k Pull-up resistors and 16 diodes. I used 1N4007

CONTROLLING 24V using Arduino and a buck convertor

Next problem, i’m using some elevator buttons for a project. These have build-in leds but run at 24V.
I only have 5V from the Arduino.
Regular leds you can connect directly to the Arduino using a 220ohm resistor.
So i used a Buck-Step-Up-Convertor. This little module converts 5V to 24V. (You can control the output voltage using a variable resistor)
To control the lamp/leds i used a PN2222a transistor to switch the lights on/off using a pin of the Arduino.

MT3608 Convertor
  • Input voltage: 2V-24V DC
  • Output voltage: 5V-28V DC
  • Output current: 2A (max), 1A (recommended), <100mA (input <4.0V), <50mA (input <3.5V)