Buses and devices

The capabilities of any computer are extended using devices. Devices are internal or external devices attached to a computer and offer additional functionalities through Lua interfaces, usually Lua methods.

There are several types of devices:

• Built-in devices, which are usually integrated through native Lua APIs. For example, the native term API in CC:T abstracts the terminal device.

• Hotplug devices, usually named peripherals, which are integrated through a generic API such as the peripheral API in CC:T.

For example, a wired modem, recognized as a peripheral in CC:T, has the following methods available, documented in modem:

Some devices are:

• Disk drives, for reading and writing floppies.

• Video devices, such as monitors or terminals, for displaying information and graphics; see Video devices.

• Printers, for printing information such as a newspaper.

• Modems, for networking with other computers; see Modem devices.

• Speakers, for emitting sound to the real world.

• And many other things!

Devices are accessible through buses. Buses are the link between computers and devices. On every bus, every device has an address which is the device’s identifier on this bus, used for calling a method on this device through this bus.

Buses

For more information about specific buses, consult the following sections.

• Core bus
• ComputerCraft side bus
• ComputerCraft wired bus
• OpenComputers bus

Devices

For more information about specific devices, consult the following sections.

• Modem devices
• Video devices