I have been playing with Lego since the age of 2 and graduated fairly early to Technic. Since I acquired a Lego Mindstorms set a couple of years ago I have been exploiting its possibilities. Some of the pieces of software, freeware and commercial, are listed below.
Programming the RCX:
- RCX Code - Lego's standard, clicking-blocks-together visual programming language supplied with the Robotics Invention System.
- Robolab - Lego's slightly more advanced visual language (again involving connecting blocks together), based on Labview from National Instruments. While a lot more capable than RCX Code, it is still only something I use for a simple programme as it can rapidly get unwieldy. It is supplied with the educational Lego Mindstorms kits.
- Not Quite C (NQC) - a conventional-style fairly powerful language for programming the RCX which suits what I like to do with it.
- Bricx Command Centre - a nice graphical interface to NQC.
Programming the Control Lab:
- Control Lab - the standard Lego software is the only interface I have used to the Control Lab, and uses a dialect of LOGO. I am afraid that at present I do not have a link to a website from which more information can be obtained.
- Robolab can also be used with the Control Lab, but I have not tried it.
Recording the designs of models:
- LDraw - a basic Lego CAD programme.
- MLCad - a more advanced front-end to LDraw (but bear in mind that it still takes (me, anyway) a long time to make any model in it!).