Building a 64 × 64 particle accelerator frame in Minecraft with a computercraft turtle

Question

I dont think this will work anywhere besides in minecraft with computercraft but it's all correct syntax. I just feel like it has some lines of code I could eliminated somehow and made it a cleaner script. I appreciate any constructive criticism to help me further understand what I'm misunderstanding.

function placef()
  turtle.select(1)
  x = 1
  if turtle.getItemCount(x) == 0 then
  repeat turtle.select(x+1)
  x = x + 1
  if x == 17 then
  x = 1
  y = 2
  end
  if y == 2 then
  os.reboot()
  end
  until turtle.getItemCount(x) > 0
 end
 turtle.place()
end

function placeup()
  turtle.select(9)
  x = 9
  if turtle.getItemCount(x) == 0 then
  repeat turtle.select(x+1)
  x = x + 1
  if x == 17 then
  x = 9
  y = 2
  end
  if y == 2 then
  os.reboot()
  end
  until turtle.getItemCount(x) > 0
  end
  turtle.placeUp()
end  

function place()
  turtle.select(9)


x = 9
  if turtle.getItemCount(x) == 0 then
  repeat turtle.select(x+1)
  x = x + 1
  if x == 17 then
  x = 9
  y = 2
  end
  if y == 16 then
  os.reboot()
  end
  until turtle.getItemCount(x) > 0
  end
  turtle.placeDown()
end

function repairOT()
  turtle.select(1)
  x = 1
  if turtle.getItemCount(x) == 0 then
  repeat turtle.select(x+1)
  x = x + 1

  if x == 17 then
  x = 1
  y = 2
  end
  if y == 2 then
  os.reboot()
  end
  until turtle.getItemCount(x) > 0
  end
  if turtle.compareDown() == false then
  place()
  turtle.turnRight()
  else
  turtle.turnRight()
  end
  if turtle.compare() == false then
  placef()
  turtle.turnLeft()
  else
  turtle.turnLeft()
  end

turtle.forward()
end

function repairBI()
  turtle.select(1)
  x = 1
  if turtle.getItemCount(x) == 0 then
  repeat turtle.select(x+1)
  x = x + 1
  if x == 17 then
  x = 1
  y = 2
  end
  if y == 16 then
  os.reboot()
  end
  until turtle.getItemCount(x) > 0
  end
  if turtle.compareUp() == false then
  placeup()
  turtle.turnLeft()
  else 
  turtle.turnLeft()
  end
  if turtle.compare() == false then
  placef()
  turtle.turnRight()
  else
  turtle.turnRight()
  end
 turtle.forward() 
end  

These functions are where I think I could do away with alot of lines of code but I'm not sure how. Maybe an anonymous function and a class. Don't really quite understand using those very well yet.

https://pastebin.com/JDZSibmn There is the full script just in case anyone wants to see it. The rest is just loops.

Answer 1

First of all, use more local. It will save you a lot of headache in the future.

Instead of the three place functions, you could just do

local function selectAnyBlock()
  for i=1,16 -- 4 x 4 inventory
    if turtle.getItemCount(i) > 0 then
      return true
    end
  end
  os.reboot() -- No idea why you'd want to reboot here though
end

and then call turtle.place[up|down]() after that. That saves you two functions and some code.

As for the last two functions, I have no idea what they are supposed to do. They seem to place a block up or down, then turn left and place a block in front?

They also make use of that construct that selects a block in the inventory, so you could replace that with the above selectAnyBlock() function. There's also some places where you have the same instruction (turtle.turnLeft()) in both code paths of a condition. Just place them after the if and you'll only have to write them once.

You don't have to compare booleans to true or false; you can just check for them directly in a condition:

if turtle.compareUp() == false then
  placeup()
  turtle.turnLeft()
else 
  turtle.turnLeft()
end

turns into

if not turtle.compareUp() then
  placeup()
end
turtle.turnLeft()

I don't really see a need for object orientation here. Maybe it makes sense in the program overall, but your example works well with just functions. Same goes for anonymous functions; useful as they are, sometimes you just don't need them.

Overall, try indenting your code like everybody else does (each new scope has its own indentation level) and add some comments to clarify your intentions. This not only helps others reading your code, but also yourself in the future :)