cylon/README.md

# Cylon.js

Cylon.js (http://cylonjs.com) is a JavaScript framework for robotics and
physical computing using Node.js.

It provides a simple, yet powerful way to create solutions that incorporate
multiple, different hardware devices at the same time.

Want to use Ruby on robots? Check out our sister project Artoo
(http://artoo.io).

Want to use the Go programming language to power your robots? Check out our
sister project Gobot (http://gobot.io).

[![Build Status](https://secure.travis-ci.org/hybridgroup/cylon.png?branch=master)](http://travis-ci.org/hybridgroup/cylon)

## Getting Started

All you need to get started is the `cylon` module:

    npm install cylon

Then install modules for whatever hardware support you want to use from your
robot (in this case, an Arduino using the Firmata protocol):

    npm install cylon-firmata

## Examples

**Note:** before running examples in the `examples/` dir from source, make sure
to compile using `grunt coffee` first.

### Javascript:

```javascript
var Cylon = require("cylon");

// Initialize the robot
var robot = Cylon.robot({
  connection: { name: 'arduino', adaptor: 'firmata', port: '/dev/ttyACM0' },
  device: { name: 'led', driver: 'led', pin: 13 },

  work: function(my) {
    // we do our thing here
    every((1).second(), function() { my.led.toggle(); });
  }
});

// start working
robot.start();
```

### CoffeeScript:

```
Cylon = require "cylon"

# Initialize the robot
robot = Cylon.robot
  connection:
    name: 'arduino', adaptor: 'firmata', port: '/dev/ttyACM0'

  device:
    name: 'led', driver: 'led', pin: 13

  work: (my) ->
    # we do our thing here
    every 1.second(), -> my.led.toggle()

robot.start()
```

## Hardware Support

Cylon.js has a extensible system for connecting to hardware devices. The
following robotics, physical computing, or software platforms are currently
supported:

- [Ardrone](http://ardrone2.parrot.com/) <==> [Adaptor/Drivers](https://github.com/hybridgroup/cylon-ardrone)
- [Arduino](http://www.arduino.cc/) <==> [Adaptor](https://github.com/hybridgroup/cylon-firmata)
- [Leap Motion](https://www.leapmotion.com/) <==> [Adaptor/Driver](https://github.com/hybridgroup/cylon-leapmotion)
- [Raspberry Pi](http://www.raspberrypi.org/) <==> [Adaptor](https://github.com/hybridgroup/cylon-raspi)
- [Salesforce](http://www.force.com/) <==> [Adaptor/Driver](https://github.com/hybridgroup/cylon-force)
- [Sphero](http://www.gosphero.com/) <==> [Adaptor/Driver](https://github.com/hybridgroup/cylon-sphero)

Support for many devices that use General Purpose Input/Output (GPIO) have
a shared set of drivers provded using the cylon-gpio module:

  - [GPIO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Purpose_Input/Output) <=> [Drivers](https://github.com/hybridgroup/cylon-gpio)

Support for devices that use Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) have a shared set of
drivers provded using the cylon-i2c module:

  - [I2C](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I%C2%B2C) <=> [Drivers](https://github.com/hybridgroup/cylon-i2c)

More platforms and drivers are coming soon...

## Documentation

We're busy adding documentation to our web site at http://cylonjs.com/ please
check there as we continue to work on Cylon.js

Thank you!

## Contributing

In lieu of a formal styleguide, take care to maintain the existing coding style.
Add unit tests for any new or changed functionality. Lint and test your code
using [Grunt](http://gruntjs.com/).

## Release History

[![NPM](https://nodei.co/npm/cylon.png?compact=true)](https://nodei.co/npm/cylon/) 

Version 0.5.0 - Improve API, add GPIO support for reuse in adaptors 

Version 0.4.0 - Refactor proxy in Cylon.Basestar, improve API

Version 0.3.0 - Improved Cylon.Basestar, and added API

Version 0.2.0 - Cylon.Basestar to help develop external adaptors/drivers

Version 0.1.0 - Initial release for ongoing development

## License

Copyright (c) 2013 The Hybrid Group. Licensed under the Apache 2.0 license.