Fairly avid DIYer looking to learn more about ProntoScript. I've been using Prontos since the early 2000s. I've had a TSU3000 for about 6 years, and then about 6 months ago, invested in an upgraded TSU9400 to go with our new home theatre. Currently using it in conjunction with RFX Extender in stand alone mode to control 11 components in theatre, including X10 control of lighting and fireplace. Didn't want to use it in network mode as I didn't want to purchase a dedicated router as it recommended, as well as the fact I have alot of traffic on our home network between 2 laptops, DTV boxes that are networked via hardwire, etc. Don't know that I really need RS232 or Pronto Script capabilities and added features, but don't really know what it's capable of doing, so would like to learn more and maybe add some new cool items. Not a programmer by trade, and don't know Java, so I don't know if this is a major stumbling block and if attempting this would be biting off more than I can chew. Would love to hear some advice from those more experienced than me, maybe some who was in my situation and has attempted this. Also, are there any books published I can read on this, similar to how I learned home automation and X10 control. Thanks in advance for all your advice and help

ProntoScript is Javascript/ECMAScript and NOT Java. Java is a true object-oriented language and javascript is not.

The Dev Guide is available in the files section and mentions a book in the appendix by David Flangan. I highly recommend this book as well as using google to explore example snippets of Javascript that you might need.

I recommend learning Java first.
This can be as simple as enrolling a the local college for basic programming course.
once you learn about code syntax and basic principles of program structure and object-oriented terminology, you'll find the PS guide much easier to follow.

I think the 'Java' in Pulse's response is a typo. As Lyndel says, Prontoscript is Javascript, not Java.

Learning Javascript depends on how much you already know about programming. If a reasonable amount then it is just a case of learning a new language and there are lots of online tutorials available on Javascript. If you have never programmed before then a course at a local college would seem to be a reasonable thing to do.

This website is also a great place to get a basic understanding of javascript. Every time I forget how to do something I always seem to get directed to their site. [Link: w3schools.com]

|I recommend learning Java first.
|This can be as simple as enrolling a the local college for basic programming |course.
|once you learn about code syntax and basic principles of program structure and |object-oriented terminology, you'll find the PS guide much easier to follow.

|I think the 'Java' in Pulse's response is a typo. As Lyndel says, Prontoscript is |Javascript, not Java.

|Learning Javascript depends on how much you already know about |programming. If a reasonable amount then it is just a case of learning a new |language and there are lots of online tutorials available on Javascript. If you |have never programmed before then a course at a local college would seem to |be a reasonable thing to do.

I don't think they give JavaScript courses, and knowing Java does make Learning JavaScript that much easier. If you know basic Java it isn't hard to learn JavaScript at all.

Nonetheless you seem to do this for your personal use, so it would be foolish to learn a programming language just to make learning JS easier. So grab a book about JS and the Dev guide that's available for download here under the files section and start learning!

Java and Javascript are not related at all - except that the syntax is loosely related to C.

Ted,

I just did this exact thing for my current job. Javascript is a full scale programming language that is unrelated to Java. Flanagan's book has a full explanation. The book assumes a lot of programming knowledge. If you're not a programmer, I'd recommend starting with "Absolute Beginner's Guide to C," followed by "JavaScript: The Definitive Guide." The first is a great introduction to programming concepts, the second will teach you JavaScript, which is loosely based on C.

First you say JavaScript is unrelated to Java and then you say it's slightly related to C, in which case it's also slightly related to Java.. And imho it's easier to go from Java to JavaScript than it is to learn C and then JavaScript (Java is easier to learn)

If that's the problem I suggest you start with Head First: Java, that is WAAAY easier to understand for someone who has never programmed than learning C first.

In any case, if you're just looking for quick way to learn ProntoScript there is none, you'll have to take the hard and long road I'm afraid (unless you're a programmer in which case you should be able to pick up JavaScript pretty quickly)

Btw: JavaScript is not a full scale programming language, I do agree that it is much more than a scripting language though

Imho, the best route is Assembler then Cobol then Fortran then APL then C then Java and only then Javascript.

On second thoughts, if you want to learn Javascript then maybe the best place to start is - wait for it - Javascript!

Sorry nerieru, hadn't read your post. I was just quoting what I remembered of the intro to Flanagan's book, not trying to argue. Like Ted K I was never trained as a programmer and that C book really helped me along. Ted if you read this I recommend you listen to nerieru, his is likely the better path.

Now why is javascript not a full scale programming language. It is fully computable in the finite state sense and can be used to solve any problem that has a solution.

It may be misiing some niceties that other languages have, but it is a full language in the above sense.

And while discussing programming languages, What is the oldest formal programming language used by man/woman? Any takers? By the way Man/Woman is a big hint. By "formal" I mean written, and if desired capable of being executed by a suitable machine.

Ok, assuming we are talking about programming languages for computers, I'll go for Plankalkül.

So maybe the best way to learn Javascript is to learn Plankalkül first.

From Wiki:

Plankalkül (IPA: [ˈplaːn.kal.kyːl], German, "Plan Calculus") is a computer language developed for engineering purposes by Konrad Zuse. It was the first high-level non-von Neumann programming language to be designed for a computer and was designed between 1943 and 1945. Also, notes survive with scribblings about such a plan calculation dating back to 1941. Plankalkül was not published at that time owing to a combination of factors such as conditions in wartime and postwar Germany and his efforts to commercialise the Z3 computer and its successors. By 1946 Zuse had written a book on the subject [1] but this remained unpublished. In 1948 Zuse published a paper about the Plankalkül in the "Archiv der Mathematik" but still did not attract much feedback - for a long time to come programming a computer would only be thought of as programming with machine code. The Plankalkül was eventually more comprehensively published in 1972 and the first compiler for it was implemented in 1998. Another independent implementation followed in the year 2000 by the Free University of Berlin.
The German term "Kalkül" means formal system – the Hilbert-style deduction system is for example originally called "Hilbert-Kalkül", so Plankalkül means "formal system for planning".

No, The oldest formal programming language, does not have to be specifically for computers but must have all the necessary elements of a programming language, be written, widely disseminated and used by a large number of practitioners. Programs written in the language had to be publicly available and disseminated.

Hint: your mother or grandmotrher may have been fluent in it.