X-Plane software tools

[navymustang]

It looks like I may need to switch after years with P3D to X-Plane for my helicopter sim, simply because of the lack of correct turbine engine modeling that is in P3D. But I have so much invested - its a hard decision. I use things such as Linda and Lua to work with LVARs.
Would anyone like to describe the tools they use in working with X-Plane DataRefs such as FlywithLua and others in order to steer me in the right direction for tool selection?
This will be a huge effort, but worth it in the end if I can get engines running correctly with my OEM hardware.

[ame]

As far as I can tell they all suck, but the best place to ask is the x-plane.org forum.

When you install X-Plane you get a folder with some notes in it about how to send and receive data via UDP, and there is also a list of datarefs and commands that are current for the installed version of X-Plane.

I have experimented with this using an Ethernet shield on an Arduino, and using a Python script on a Raspberry Pi, and there are fragments of examples scattered around the web. Many people use a plugin to corral the data from X-Plane and then talk to the plugin.

Things to search for that come to mind are SASL, FlyWithLua, AirManager, and SimVim. There are others, but again, ask at the other forum.

[Wendy]

There is a new plugin XPLDirect which allows you to manage all datarefs and vars in XPlane, there are several examples available. I have tested and used it in different projects and most important the developer is supporting it and it is free, fast and easy to use with Arduino.
You can find it here https://www.patreon.com/curiosityworkshop
My examples are here https://www.patreon.com/FlightsimpartsEU

Regards, Wendy

[navymustang]

Wendy, thanks so much. By the way - I use your products in many of the professional sims I build. Thanks for all of your efforts and contributions to the flight sim community.

[Wendy]

Nice to hear, thank you very much.
The shop is closed but you can always order by mail no problem.

Regards, Wendy

[RayS]

You'll be hard-pressed to get LUA to work with many aspects in X-Plane, especially if you are trying to use FWL and Arduinos.

There is no IPC or COM port implementation (As far as I know) in the X-Plane flavor of FLyWithLUA. I had high hopes of driving all my steppers using FWL in X-Plane but it wasn't meant to be.

As a fallback, I was going to use Mobiflight. Although I don't like middleware, it seemed to be the only solution for Steppers and X-Plane.

Mobiflight 'works', but the developer refuses to add a "Return to Zero" function in the software for steppers, instead recommending a myriad of solutions including wires to sense  where the needle is, opto-switches to assist, etc....

I'm not ripping out all my steppers to add opto-sensors when it is so much easier to run all the steppers back against the stops.

So, my search continues.

[RayS]

So, my search continues.

I think I just found the solution right here in this thread! XPLDirect. I'll give it a go for the steppers.

[ame]

As a fallback, I was going to use Mobiflight. Although I don't like middleware, it seemed to be the only solution for Steppers and X-Plane.

Mobiflight 'works', but the developer refuses to add a "Return to Zero" function in the software for steppers, instead recommending a myriad of solutions including wires to sense  where the needle is, opto-switches to assist, etc....

Mobiflight is open source, with an MIT licence. Add your own "return to zero" code and just use it yourself. Or re-publish it, and if you get a lot of users it will validate the need for that feature.