flowchart-fun VS qgroundcontrol

https://flowchart.fun recently helped a lot with a project.

- flowchart.fun - paid - https://flowchart.fun

flowchart.fun though!

On https://flowchart.fun I found that I got better overall results by asking GPT for an intermediate syntax that it was less likely to mess up (and easier for me to parse), and then parsing and transforming that syntax to my DSL. The relevant code: https://github.com/tone-row/flowchart-fun/blob/main/api/prom...

https://flowchart.fun is a good one if you're looking for something fast. (It's text-to-diagram)

That's the use-case we're angling for with our GPT integration on flowchart.fun

If you just need the image for your interface, you can generate one very quickly with https://flowchart.fun

For Disco you're in luck, there are some really decent ardupilot-based projects out there[1]. Plus, unlike the Bebop camera which is inaccessible via the shell (you can only use the Parrot SDK), the Disco camera can be commanded to stream/record with a few simple commands, and even bound to controller inputs.

A caveat with the controller: it needs to have custom firmware[2] to get it communicating with ardupilot, and to get the firmware onto the controller you need telnet/adb into it via SkyController→usb→ethernet→usb→Laptop adaptor(s).

For a ground control system (GCS), there's three to choose from: Mission Planner, APM Planner, and QGroundControl[3] (ignore the rest, use this one).

For configuring the drone, mission planner is pretty good... but you can also just use MavProxy[4] which is a fantastic commandline program that all the GCSes use in some way, and can even be installed in Termux/Android.

1: https://github.com/uavpal/disco4g/

2: https://github.com/ArduPilot/dema-rc/

3: https://github.com/mavlink/qgroundcontrol

4: https://github.com/ArduPilot/MAVProxy

I expect you’re running into this issue, although it’s also possible you’re using a QGroundControl version that’s poorly set up to work with ArduSub (or your particular ArduSub version). If you’re not already it’s likely best to use the software version(s) recommended by Blue Robotics.

> Are UML diagrams used effectively in the dev industry?

Are they effective? I say they are when correctly used. For example last year I used plant UML to draw a sequence diagram to demonstrate some threading/mutex problems. [1]

I've also used draw.io to draw similar problems. [2]

I would say that tbqh using UML (or maybe just plant UML) is the "better" solution because it can be embedded in code and re-rendered as needed. But draw.io is _much_ easier to use!

I will also say that UML diagrams aren't well taught nor do most devs even know to reach for the tool.

[1]: https://github.com/mavlink/qgroundcontrol/pull/9595

[2]: https://github.com/airmap/qgroundcontrol/pull/6