Bash script to allow you to reliably emboss on a Mountbatten Brailler using a USB serial adapter from Linux

mb-emboss.sh

#! /bin/bash
# Mountbatten Embosser Control
PORT_DEVICE=/dev/ttyUSB0

# Copyright 2025 Troy Deck (blindmakers.net)
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sudo stty raw -F "$PORT_DEVICE" 9600 cs8 -cstopb -parenb crtscts

# "Wake up" the Mountbatten
printf '\x00' > "$PORT_DEVICE"
sleep 1
printf '\x00' > "$PORT_DEVICE"
sleep 1

# Choose a command to convert newlines (rarely what you want) to CRLF
translate_cmd=cat # fallback if we don't have a translate command installed

if [ -x "$(command -v unix2dos)" ]; then
    translate_cmd=unix2dos
elif [ -x "$(command -v todos)" ]; then
    translate_cmd=todos
fi

cat "${1:--}" | $translate_cmd > /dev/ttyUSB0