FirePeripherals: Expanding ComputerCraft with Powerful Peripherals
Minecraft modding constantly pushes the boundaries of what you can build and automate. If you enjoy programming turtles and computers with ComputerCraft, you know that peripherals are the key to interacting with the world. FirePeripherals is a compact but mighty addon that introduces three new blocks designed to bridge the gap between your Lua scripts and the physical environment. Whether you need precise redstone control, bundled cable integration, or entity detection, this mod delivers exactly that with a clean, straightforward API.
What is FirePeripherals?
FirePeripherals is a peripheral pack for ComputerCraft that connects to your computer or turtle via a standard LAN cable. Once attached, each block becomes a wrapped peripheral you can control through familiar Lua functions. The mod focuses on practical automation tasks that often require external redstone logic or bulky vanilla contraptions. Instead of building complex redstone clocks or entity traps, you can simply place one of these blocks, wire it up, and let your code handle the rest. The pack currently includes three distinct peripherals, all crafted with common materials and fully compatible with the ComputerCraft ecosystem.
Peripheral Blocks Overview
Redstone I/O Block
The Redstone I/O Block is your direct line to vanilla redstone signals. It can both read incoming redstone strength and emit a signal of any level from 0 to 15. This block replaces messy comparator setups and allows your programs to react to redstone changes instantly. The crafting recipe uses a basic computer peripheral shell combined with redstone dust, making it accessible early in your world. Once placed, you can wrap it as rio_1 and start controlling redstone with simple boolean or integer commands.
Bundled I/O Block
For players who use Project Red’s bundled cables, the Bundled I/O Block is a game-changer. Bundled cables carry sixteen independent redstone signals on a single wire, each mapped to a Minecraft dye color. This peripheral lets you read the entire bundled input as an integer bitmask, test individual colors, and set specific outputs. The recipe requires a bundled cable and a peripheral shell, tying it directly to Project Red’s progression. With this block, you can manage complex color-coded networks entirely from your ComputerCraft terminal, opening up possibilities for advanced sorting systems, multi-channel communication, and compact redstone memory.
Entity Detector Block
The Entity Detector Block adds a new layer of awareness to your builds. It scans the area in front of it and reports the name of any entity that enters its detection zone. This is perfect for automated farms, security systems, or adventure map triggers. The block fires a detector event whenever an entity is spotted, returning the entity’s name and the peripheral ID. Crafting it involves an observer-like recipe with a peripheral shell and an eye of ender, hinting at its sensory nature. You can then wrap it as edio_1 and use getLastEntityName() to poll the last detected creature, or rely on event-driven programming for real-time responses.
Installation and Dependencies
To get started, you need to place the FirePeripherals .jar file into your Minecraft mods folder, just like any other Forge mod. However, the pack will not function correctly without its two required dependencies: ComputerCraft (version 1.74 or compatible) and Project Red. ComputerCraft provides the core peripheral API and computer blocks, while Project Red supplies the bundled cable logic that the Bundled I/O Block relies on. If you are missing either of these, the peripherals may behave unpredictably or fail to wrap entirely. For a more streamlined experience, the foxygame.net launcher offers a modern way to manage your Minecraft mods; you can find FirePeripherals in its built-in mod library and install it with a single click, along with its required dependencies, making the whole process convenient and flexible. This launcher also keeps your mods organized and up to date, so you can focus on coding rather than file management.
Programming with FirePeripherals
Once installed, interacting with the peripherals is intuitive for anyone familiar with ComputerCraft’s peripheral API. Below are the core functions and event hooks for each block.
Redstone I/O Block Code Examples
redio = peripheral.wrap("rio_1")
redio.setOutput(true) -- enables a redstone signal with strength 15
redio.setOutput(false) -- disables the redstone signal
redio.setOutput(10) -- outputs a redstone signal of 10
redio.setOutput(0) -- disables the redstone signal
redio.getInput() -- returns true/false if there is a redstone signal (any strength)
redio.getAnalogInput() -- returns an integer from 0-15 of the redstone strength
event, state, strength, id = os.pullEvent("redstone")
-- event returns: "redstone"
-- state returns true/false if there is redstone
-- strength returns an integer from 0-15 indicating the redstone strength
-- id returns the id of the peripheral that threw the event
Bundled I/O Block Code Examples
bundledio = peripheral.wrap("bio_1")
bundledio.getBundledInput() -- returns an integer indicating bundled signal on input
bundledio.getBundledOutput() -- returns an integer indicating bundled signal outputting by this block
bundledio.setBundledOutput(2) -- outputs a bundled signal on orange cable
bundledio.testBundledInput(2) -- returns true/false if there is an orange bundled signal
bundledio.testBundledOutput(1) -- returns true/false if this block is emitting a white bundled signal
event, input, id = os.pullEvent("redstone")
-- event returns: "redstone"
-- input returns an integer indicating the bundled signal
-- id returns the id of the peripheral that threw the event
Entity Detector Block Code Examples
entityd = peripheral.wrap("edio_1")
entityd.getLastEntityName() -- returns a string indicating the last detected entity
event, entityName, id = os.pullEvent("detector")
-- event returns: "detector"
-- entityName returns a string indicating the detected entity
-- id returns the id of the peripheral that threw the event
These functions follow the same naming conventions as standard ComputerCraft peripherals, so integrating them into existing scripts is seamless. The event-driven model is especially powerful for creating reactive systems that don’t need constant polling, saving server resources and keeping your code clean.
Changelog
- V1.0: Initial release featuring the Redstone I/O Block, Bundled I/O Block, and Entity Detector Block.
As this is the first version, the mod is stable and focused, but future updates may expand the peripheral roster or add compatibility with newer Minecraft versions. The author originally shared the mod on the ComputerCraft forums, where you can find community discussions and additional usage tips.
Conclusion
FirePeripherals is a must-have for any ComputerCraft engineer looking to simplify redstone interactions and add entity awareness to their builds. The three blocks cover a wide range of automation scenarios without overwhelming you with unnecessary complexity. The code interface is clean, the recipes are balanced, and the dependency on Project Red ensures that bundled cable enthusiasts get a native, scriptable solution. Whether you're designing a smart base defense, an automated crop harvester, or a color-coded item sorter, these peripherals will save you hours of vanilla redstone tinkering. Grab the mod, wire it up, and let your Lua scripts take control of your world in ways you never thought possible.