From e49ed72cbcf1cf183263a0a7ca054094e04921a8 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: MayaTheShy <MayaTheShy@gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Mar 2026 16:22:03 -0400
Subject: [PATCH] Refactor dropper controller to remove rednet dependency and
 streamline item dispensing logic

---
 dropperController.lua | 53 ++++++++++++++++++-------------------------
 1 file changed, 22 insertions(+), 31 deletions(-)

diff --git a/dropperController.lua b/dropperController.lua
index 5cecb23..021c985 100644
--- a/dropperController.lua
+++ b/dropperController.lua
@@ -1,27 +1,15 @@
 -- Dropper Controller: Runs on Computer 1 (next to dropper_0)
--- Listens for rednet "dispense" messages and fires redstone to the back.
+-- Watches the dropper and pulses redstone until it's empty.
 
 local REDSTONE_SIDE = "back"     -- side facing dropper_0
 local PULSE_TIME    = 0.3        -- redstone pulse duration in seconds
-local PROTOCOL      = "inventory"
+local POLL_INTERVAL = 0.5        -- how often to check the dropper
+local DROPPER_SIDE  = "back"     -- side where the dropper is (as peripheral)
 
 -------------------------------------------------
--- Setup
+-- Helpers
 -------------------------------------------------
 
--- Open any available modem
-local function setupModem()
-    for _, side in ipairs({"top","bottom","left","right","front","back"}) do
-        if peripheral.getType(side) == "modem" then
-            rednet.open(side)
-            print("[OK] Modem opened on: " .. side)
-            return true
-        end
-    end
-    print("[ERR] No modem found!")
-    return false
-end
-
 -- Send a redstone pulse to trigger the dropper
 local function pulseRedstone()
     redstone.setOutput(REDSTONE_SIDE, true)
@@ -29,6 +17,15 @@ local function pulseRedstone()
     redstone.setOutput(REDSTONE_SIDE, false)
 end
 
+-- Check if the dropper has any items
+local function dropperHasItems()
+    local dropper = peripheral.wrap(DROPPER_SIDE)
+    if not dropper then return false end
+    local contents = dropper.list()
+    if not contents then return false end
+    return next(contents) ~= nil
+end
+
 -------------------------------------------------
 -- Main
 -------------------------------------------------
@@ -37,28 +34,22 @@ print("=================================")
 print("  Dropper Controller (ID " .. os.getComputerID() .. ")")
 print("=================================")
 print("")
-print("Dropper side: " .. REDSTONE_SIDE)
-print("Listening for dispense commands...")
+print("Redstone side: " .. REDSTONE_SIDE)
+print("Watching dropper for items...")
 print("")
 
-if not setupModem() then
-    print("Cannot continue without a modem.")
-    return
-end
-
 while true do
-    local senderID, message, protocol = rednet.receive(PROTOCOL)
+    if dropperHasItems() then
+        print("[DISPENSE] Items detected, firing dropper...")
 
-    if message == "dispense" then
-        print(string.format("[RX] Dispense from computer %d", senderID))
-
-        -- Pulse once per item slot in the dropper to eject everything
-        -- A dropper has 9 slots; pulse enough times to empty it
-        for i = 1, 9 do
+        -- Keep pulsing until the dropper is empty
+        while dropperHasItems() do
             pulseRedstone()
             sleep(0.1)
         end
 
-        print("[OK] Dropper fired (9 pulses)")
+        print("[OK] Dropper empty.")
     end
+
+    sleep(POLL_INTERVAL)
 end