One idea that works well for programming is setting up a “programming board” that has just enough hardware on it so a programmer can develop code and see that it turns motors, servos, and responds to sensors. Here’s the hardware needed for a programming board:

• Controller
• Color sensor
• touch sensor
• 2 M distance sensor
• 12V battery
• 12V battery charger
• XT30 to Tamia power adapter
• servo
• motor
• power adapter from controller to motor
• encoder adapter from controller to motor
• (need 3, so qty 2 of this) 3-pin JST connectors for the I2C sensors

We’ve saved the components in our wishlists at REV Robotics and goBilda, too.

This can all be mounted on a wood/plastic/metal board or rails with screws & nuts. The programming connection is wireless, using a WiFi Direct link between the laptop and the controller.