Turtle Flatten

-- flatten
-- Will clear all the blocks in the square area and all the blocks above it, up to the first row of 5 air block it encounters
-- Arguments <Forward> <Right> [blocks to check]


--Config settings
local maxAirRun = 5

local tArgs = { ... }

if #tArgs < 2 then
  print("Usage: <Forward> <Right> [blocks to check]")
  return
end


--program temp variables
local maxX = tonumber(tArgs[1])
local maxZ = tonumber(tArgs[2])

if(#tArgs > 2) then
    maxAirRun = tonumber(tArgs[3])
end

--A helper function to try and move forward, it will attempt to dig if it is blocked.
local function moveForward()
  if turtle.forward() == false then
    --Failed to move, see if we can dig our way forward
    while turtle.dig() do
        turtle.drop()
          --Keep digging till we can't dig any more, in case gravel is falling.
        end
        if turtle.forward() == false then
          print("I am either blocked or out of fuel.")
          return false
        end
  end
  return true
end

--A helper function to try and move down, it will attempt to dig if it is blocked.
local function moveDown()
  if turtle.down() == false then
    --Failed to move, see if we can dig our way down
    turtle.digDown()
        if turtle.down() == false then
          print("I am either blocked or out of fuel.")
          return false
        end
  end
  return true
end

--A helper function to try and move down, it will attempt to dig if it is blocked.
local function moveUp()
  if turtle.up() == false then
    --Failed to move, see if we can dig our way down
    while turtle.digUp() do
          --Keep digging till we can't dig any more, in case gravel is falling.
        end
        if turtle.up() == false then
          print("I am either blocked or out of fuel.")
          return false
        end
  end
  return true
end

--Dig the column of dirt up
local function digColumnUp()
    airCount = 0
    moveCount = 0
    --Keep going up till we hit the top
    while airCount < maxAirRun do
        local dug = false
        while(turtle.digUp()) do
            turtle.dropDown()
            dug = true
            airCount = 0
        end

        if(dug == false) then
            airCount = airCount + 1
        end

        --move up to the next level
        if(moveUp() == false) then
           error("Could not move up, WTF?")
        end
        moveCount = moveCount + 1
    end

    for i = 1, moveCount do
        if(moveDown() == false) then
           error("Could not move down, WTF?")
        end
    end
end

moveForward()

for z = 1, maxZ do
    for x = 1, maxX - 1 do
        --Only run at the start of the 2nd loop
        if(x == 1 and z > 1) then
            if(z % 2 == 0) then
                turtle.turnRight()
            else
                turtle.turnLeft()
            end
            digColumnUp()
            moveForward()
            if(z % 2 == 0) then
                turtle.turnRight()
            else
                turtle.turnLeft()
            end
        end
        digColumnUp()
        moveForward()
    end
end

--dig up the last column
digColumnUp()