For experienced LSL programmers, the easiest way to make and distribute a product that interacts with ARES is to create a device. This is a generic term for any piece of external equipment, such as an attachment or furniture, that interacts with ARES in some way.

Device Types


There are three major kinds of ARES device:
  • A passive light bus device is any object that interacts with ARES using the light bus protocol, but does not require access to any security-sensitive functions, such as authorizing users or adding system commands (@ commands). Almost all passive devices are various kinds of light, including glowing clothes, status lights, and all eyeballs sold by Nanite Systems.
  • An active light bus device is an attachment that has full access to the light bus protocol. It takes the extra step of registering itself with the operating system (using the add message), in response to which the OS may either allow it to be installed or refuse installation depending on uniqueness and ownership criteria. Most NS attachments are active light bus devices, such as batteries, shields, and icons.
  • A special device is any device that uses a method of communication to interact with ARES other than the light bus. These protocols either to isolate high-bandwidth communications from interfering with light bus devices, or for compatibility with other systems. There are several such specialized protocols, including the ACS protocol used by chargers, the public bus protocol used by remote controls and scanners, the LC and LEC protocols used by TESI attachments, and the ORIX protocol.
    Occasionally you may also encounter a device that uses both the light bus and another protocol; this is called a mixed special device. ARemote is such a device; it pings all known robotics-related channels when scanning a region.

What kind of device do I want to make?


Here are some common genres of device, and the protocols best suited to them. The examples mentioned below can be found in https://github.com/rhetorica/ARES-SDK/tree/main/ARES/hardware/examples|ARES/hardware/examples] in the Software Development Kit.
Device Function Suitable Protocols
light-up clothing or jewelry light bus (passive), see passive/flicker/*
light-up furniture light bus (passive), see passive/flicker/sit-anywhere-flicker-mono
safety bolts light bus (passive), see passive/bolts
chromatic communicator (icon) light bus (active), see active/icon-mono
passive charger furniture or wireless chargerpublic bus, see charge/sit-anywhere-charger or charge/touch-to-charge
charging pad ACS protocol, no demo code available, see protocol reference page
repair furniture public bus, see repair/touch-to-repair