Refactor dropper controller to remove rednet dependency and streamline item dispensing logic

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

inventoryManager.lua

@@ -1,36 +1,9 @@
--- Inventory Manager: Auto-sort barrel, order & dispense via networked dropper
--- Main computer (networked). Computer 1 sits next to dropper_0 and runs dropperController.lua.
+-- Inventory Manager: Auto-sort barrel & order items to dropper
+-- Main computer (networked). Computer 1 sits next to dropper_0 and auto-dispenses.
 
 local DROPPER_NAME  = "minecraft:dropper_9"
 local BARREL_NAME   = "minecraft:barrel_0"
-local MODEM_SIDE    = nil  -- auto-detected
-local CONTROLLER_ID = 1    -- computer ID of the dropper controller
 local POLL_INTERVAL = 2    -- seconds between barrel checks
-local PROTOCOL      = "inventory"
-
--------------------------------------------------
--- Networking
--------------------------------------------------
-
--- Find and open the modem
-local function setupModem()
-    for _, side in ipairs({"top","bottom","left","right","front","back"}) do
-        if peripheral.getType(side) == "modem" then
-            rednet.open(side)
-            MODEM_SIDE = side
-            return true
-        end
-    end
-    -- Also check for wired modems wrapped as peripherals
-    for _, name in ipairs(peripheral.getNames()) do
-        if peripheral.getType(name) == "modem" then
-            rednet.open(name)
-            MODEM_SIDE = name
-            return true
-        end
-    end
-    return false
-end
 
 -------------------------------------------------
 -- Inventory helpers
@@ -126,16 +99,11 @@ local function sortBarrel()
 end
 
 -------------------------------------------------
--- Order & dispense
+-- Order
 -------------------------------------------------
 
--- Send redstone trigger to computer 1 via rednet
-local function triggerDropper()
-    rednet.send(CONTROLLER_ID, "dispense", PROTOCOL)
-    print("[NET]  Sent dispense signal to computer " .. CONTROLLER_ID)
-end
-
--- Order items: move from chest(s) to dropper, then trigger dispense
+-- Order items: move from chest(s) to dropper
+-- Computer 1 will auto-detect and dispense
 local function orderItem(itemName, amount)
     local catalogue = buildCatalogue()
 
@@ -174,8 +142,7 @@ local function orderItem(itemName, amount)
         print(string.format("[WARN] Only moved %d/%d of %s", amount - remaining, amount, itemName))
     end
 
-    -- Trigger computer 1 to fire the dropper
-    triggerDropper()
+    print("[OK]   Items in dropper. Computer 1 will dispense.")
     return true
 end
 
@@ -213,13 +180,6 @@ local function main()
     print("=================================")
     print("")
 
-    -- Setup networking
-    if not setupModem() then
-        print("[WARN] No modem found. Dispense signals won't work.")
-    else
-        print("[OK]   Modem opened on: " .. tostring(MODEM_SIDE))
-    end
-
     -- Check dropper
     if peripheral.wrap(DROPPER_NAME) then
         print("[OK]   Dropper found: " .. DROPPER_NAME)