I've been using Bricx Command Center pretty much since it first came out. At the time, the original RCX (RIS) graphical programming environment was too limiting and did not allow for more advanced features that I wanted to use. BricxCC uses NQC (Not Quite C - a C-like development language) that was the perfect fit. The interface is easy to use and provides numerous tools to aid in developing and debugging applications for your robot. The current version supports the RCX (1.0 - 2.0), Scout, Cybermaster and Spybot and will likely soon support the NXT. For more information on BricXCC, click the image to the left.

RobotC is the new kid on the block (July 06) and is targeted at providing a single IDE for developing robots with Lego Mindstorms NXT & RCX as well as the Vex robot platform. At the moment, my experience lies with using it to program DominoBotNXT(2) so that it could take advantage if a Mindsensors Motor Multiplexer. (more on this.). RobotC is very similar to BricXCC in that it uses C-like language and has similar functions. However, I believe there is more under the hood in RobotC, I just have not had time to investigate it all. For more information on RobotC, click the image to the left.

As part of the Lego Mindstorms Developer group (MDP), I was invited to work with Lego and approx. 100 others to Beta test the new NXT system. We were able to work with the NXT software in the Spring of 2006. Due to my non-disclosure agreement, there is not much I can tell about this, but can talk to the final retail version. The NXT software provides a graphical interface to programming. It is an approach that has been around for some time and is spearheaded by National Instruments. It has its popularity in Labs around the world as well as robotics classrooms where students of all ages use it to program their robots for fun and competition.

The graphical approach to programming is not for everyone. At first, I was hesitant as I had used BricXCC for such a long time. However, withing an hour or so, I was able to grasp the mindset necessary to develop with the programmable blocks. The new NXT environment is much more powerful than the previous RCX graphical environment. There are many things that you can to and should cover 90% (+) of NXT programming requirements. For me, I will stick with the C programming environments. I tend to get into using 3rd party sensors that cannot be handled by the retail development tools. For more information, click the image to the left.

This was the original graphical programming environment offered by Lego when the Mindstorms set came out with RIS 1.0. The program has gone throuh a number of versions and has its place similar to that of the NXT development environment detailed above.