Query vending machine inventory

[sjefferson99]

Assuming vendie can output current contents over MDB and makes that available on the API. Have a smib command to query current vending machine contents. Good for someone planning restocking away from the space. Could also trigger inventory low messages to appropriate slack channel.

[sam57719]

Don't think our vmc controller is that fancy

[sjefferson99]

Buy new controller... or install camera that uses overly complex AI to work out how many of what there is,

[sam57719]

Could write own controller software and hardware using raspberry pi? Would be interesting project. And then wouldn't need to use the shitty MDB thing.

[sjefferson99]

We don't want to replace anything off the shelf for actual vending, as then people would call us when chocolate fails to vend and there's no way I am the person between people and chocolate. But perhaps we can improve it somehow, one for the far future probably.