Shuffleboard API docs do not mention sending data with lambda functions

[SamCarlberg]

The docs currently recommend using NT entries directly:

If data needs to be updated (for example, the output of some calculation done on the robot), call getEntry() after defining the value, then update it when needed or in a periodic function

class VisionCalculator {
   private ShuffleboardTab tab = Shuffleboard.getTab("Vision");
   private GenericEntry distanceEntry =
      tab.add("Distance to target", 0)
         .getEntry();

   public void calculate() {
     double distance = ...;
     distanceEntry.setDouble(distance);
   }
}

This should instead recommend addNumber with a lambda function to read a cached distanceToTarget field.

class VisionCalculator {
   private ShuffleboardTab tab = Shuffleboard.getTab("Vision");
   private double distanceToTarget = 0;
   
   public VisionCalculator() {
     tab.addNumber("Distance to target", () -> distanceToTarget);
   }

   public void calculate() {
     double distanceToTarget = /* expensive calculation*/;
   }
}

The NT entry API should only be used for reading data from the dashboard, such as from a slider, button, or text field

[Starlight220]

The NT entry API should only be used for reading data from the dashboard, such as from a slider, button, or text field

Isn't that what getNumber etc are for?

[SamCarlberg]

Isn't that what getNumber etc are for?

Are you thinking of the smartdashboard API? Shuffleboard doesn't have those functions.