Wiki / Tools & Software

lego-blockly

lego-blockly is a web (Blockly) visual programming environment for many LEGO interfaces. It is written in JS plus a bit of C++ and is an installable PWA.

VLL support

It explicitly supports "Virtual Light Link (Code Pilot, MicroScout)" alongside Interface A/B, RCX/ControlMaster, WeDo, and LPF2.

VLL implementation (`device/DeviceLegoVLL.js`)

Emitter = LED on the FTDI DTR pin via Web Serial → FTDI DTR + LED.
sendVLL(data7): preamble 1000 ms, start, 3 checksum bits + 7 data bits MSB-first, stop (ON 1u / OFF 3u). unit = 20 ms.
VLL checksum = 7-((n+(n>>2)+(n>>4))&7) — identical to the one used by Flash Force.
Opcodes are entered by the user (no built-in table); blocks: vll_senddata, vll_preamblems, vll_unitms.

Send VLL to a Micro Scout (quick start)

Open the live editor in Chrome/Edge (needs Web Serial). Wire a genuine FT232R/FT232H + red LED on the DTR pin — see FTDI DTR + LED.
Pick the VLL (Code Pilot/MicroScout) device and Connect (Web Serial picker).
Drop a vll_senddata block with a code from the VLL opcode table (e.g. 0 forward, 4–8 beeps, 33 Run, 34 Delete); tune vll_preamblems / vll_unitms if needed.
Run — Highlight Execution shows the active block, Log shows what was sent.

Build a stored program = Delete (34) → script steps 16–32 → Run (33), same flow as Flash Force.

Other devices

Serial via USB-RS232 / HC-05 BT / BLE / WebSocket. SketchArduino/ is Interface A firmware. It is a reference for multi-interface communication.

Significance

The tool provides the FTDI-DTR emitter approach and an independent confirmation of the VLL protocol.