Free Grow Software!

LuciferX

Well-Known Member
Awesome software Boss! Just an idea on an enchancement to the reports section. I do not know if this was asked before, but could you add the Pics to the report. That way you could have a full record of the grow cycle with pics. You could also add a check box to exclude the pics. Just a idea. Once again an awesome software.
I can do that for ya, will put it in the next version

Lx
 

LuciferX

Well-Known Member
what steps do I take to get it running on OS X? is it complicated?
It's not released yet, but when it is it's simple, I'll post it online you just go to the page, right click and choose install. It will prompt you for putting the shortcut on your desktop and program menu and from there you launch it like any other app. It will prompt you to install the silverlight runtime if you don't have it yet, it's really small only a few megs compared to the huge .NET 4 runtime that the windows version uses.

Lx
 

synX

Member
I'm currently having the same issue that Jason2011 stated a couple pages ago(buttons/input/data forms are cut off near the bottom). However your solution of changing the DPI doesn't work for me because mine was already at 96. I'm running vista utlimate w/ .net framework updated. Any help would be appreciated! Looks like you've done some nice work so far!

(link to jason's post a few pages back)
https://www.rollitup.org/general-marijuana-growing/345468-free-grow-software-93.html#post5702701
 

medicine21

Active Member
Lucifer, great software! A couple minor points:

1. The light/ballast thing is a bit weird. The room wattage is linked to ballast wattage from what I can see. I use LED lights, so have no ballasts. To get the room wattage I have to fake ballasts. Perhaps, just link the room wattage to light wattage instead?

2. I use LITERS as a metric. My home screen defaults "5.6 days since Botanicare 70L / gallon has been cleaned". Suggest to remove hardcoded "gallon" from this string. Users can enter G or L in the input themselves if needed anyway.

Keep up the great work! Still looking for those expense/income improvements :)
 

Kdn

Member
Lucifer I've been developing some arduino based controllers with a wide array of sensors: PH, PPM, CO2, Temp, Humidity, Energy Draw, etc.. and a number of control options(fans lights timers) hoping to bring a much more cost effective method for us to automate our gardens. I noticed you added in support for some sensors, If you would be interested in interfacing with my hardware I can give you the protocol it is really simple serial ASCII msgs.
 

LuciferX

Well-Known Member
Lucifer I've been developing some arduino based controllers with a wide array of sensors: PH, PPM, CO2, Temp, Humidity, Energy Draw, etc.. and a number of control options(fans lights timers) hoping to bring a much more cost effective method for us to automate our gardens. I noticed you added in support for some sensors, If you would be interested in interfacing with my hardware I can give you the protocol it is really simple serial ASCII msgs.
Ya I'd definately be interested, I've been looking into netduinos myself but don't really have the hardware or time to start integrating to that level yet but hope to eventually. The device I'm using just outputs serial strings as well so I can quickly add support for for your hardware to HERB.IQ

Lx
 

Kdn

Member
Im just about to test my next versions of hardware as soon as I get my boards in and built I can send you a setup, ive been running the first version stuff for about 5 months now with basically no issues.
 

rosecitypapa

Active Member
Hey LuciferX,
Great software!
I was wondering though, in the future will it have any capacity to autodose pH? I noticed the sparkfun add-on is just for basic environmental parameters.

Good job keeping it real with open source!
 

LuciferX

Well-Known Member
Hey LuciferX,
Great software!
I was wondering though, in the future will it have any capacity to autodose pH? I noticed the sparkfun add-on is just for basic environmental parameters.

Good job keeping it real with open source!
Yeah that's kind of what me and kdn were just talking about, there's no reason those systems need to cost as much as they do. Read the ph level and turn on the pump for ph down or ph up depending on what it needs it pretty simple, I just need to pick up some development hardware which may take some time but ya it's definitely in the future.

Lx
 

rosecitypapa

Active Member
Yeah that's kind of what me and kdn were just talking about, there's no reason those systems need to cost as much as they do. Read the ph level and turn on the pump for ph down or ph up depending on what it needs it pretty simple, I just need to pick up some development hardware which may take some time but ya it's definitely in the future.

Lx
I found this: Arduino pH hack with PCB layout and schematics
http://code.google.com/p/phduino/

In another life, I was a software developer. This might be a project that gets me back into it. Otherwise I might just do a diy hardware thing like:
http://www.thcfarmer.com/forums/f95/diy-nutrient-doser-32721/
 

ColdArmySoldier

Well-Known Member
I have been using this software for 8 months now and I have loved it. I am really excited to hear that it will soon be supporting OSX. How hard would it to make this into a smartphone app? I feel like you could make a killing selling this app for a few bucks. I sure know I would pay!
 

Kdn

Member
RCP I just about have everything you mention working quite well including ph,ppm,co2,temp and humidity, 120/240v 16amp relays,servo based ph doser "widgets" for arduino but would work on just about any 8bit MCU with an ADC onboard. I also have some datalogging/Manual control software for PCs to accompany the firmware on the arduino. so far for about 5 months it has been chugging away working well beyond my expectations. I paired it with Lucifers excellent software and have been able to have a very complete picture of the environment and plant growth conditions.

Lucifer, I think next week my boards should get in and that should set you up with what hardware you need to test with I will let you know when its ready. All in all I got to toss most of my expensive meters/timers/etc and just have to buy cheap reef tank ph probes every 18 months not a bad deal to sit back and enjoy the fruits!
 

rosecitypapa

Active Member
Woohoo!!

That's pretty exciting. Is it something you're sharing straight off or developing further? Even though I love diy, I appreciate a good trailblazer!

Right on Kdn!!
 

LuciferX

Well-Known Member
I have been using this software for 8 months now and I have loved it. I am really excited to hear that it will soon be supporting OSX. How hard would it to make this into a smartphone app? I feel like you could make a killing selling this app for a few bucks. I sure know I would pay!
Good to hear it's been working for that long! People usually only come here to tell me when somethings broke so I appreciate that :) I don't plan to ever charge anything for HERB.IQ, it needs to stay open and that's really the only way it can be done.

There is already an asp.net version that you can use to access your plant data from your phone or any mobile device. You'd probably see a WP7 native app before any other though, it may even be able to run the silverlight versions I'm working on now.

Lx
 

420Marine

Well-Known Member
Lucifer could you explain in lames terms how to use the asp.net for the phones...I'm semi savy with comps (no where near half of most of the people in teh thread) but can't figure out even how to start with it...

ps 8 months for me as well good sir
 

LuciferX

Well-Known Member
Lucifer, I think next week my boards should get in and that should set you up with what hardware you need to test with I will let you know when its ready. All in all I got to toss most of my expensive meters/timers/etc and just have to buy cheap reef tank ph probes every 18 months not a bad deal to sit back and enjoy the fruits!
Nice! Can you send me your equipment list so I can re-create on my end once you get it up and running on your v2 hardware? Sounds like you have some killer stuff built already I'd love to see it in action :D [/QUOTE]
 
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