Programming for a Freshie

[JAH]

Any thing majorly important that i should know about programming before the actual build season starts. I don't know much of anything right now but i really want to learn the important stuff and the little stuff people on my team can teach me later. Any help would be appreciated.

[Jeff Waegelin]

Well, for starters, get the PBASIC manual and BASIC Stamp software from http://www.parallaxinc.com/html_files/downloads/downloads.htm

You can also look at the default code, but it's currently not posted on the Innovation FIRST website (it's under revision right now). Get that from someone on your team, or PM me with your e-mail address, and I'll send it to you.

[rbayer]

Originally posted by Jeff Waegelin
Well, for starters, get the PBASIC manual and BASIC Stamp software from http://www.parallaxinc.com/html_files/downloads/downloads.htm


Definately grab the BASIC stamp software, but don't worry about reading the whole manual. In fact, the vast majority of it is absolutely useless for the FIRST robots! What you need to know:

if...then...
goto
=
VAR

Optional:
branch
lookup/down
put/get
run
read/write


Far and away the most helpful thing is to read throught the default code until you understand it (I've attached it to this post). After you read through that, try modifying it and running it through RoboEmu (http://FIRSTprograms.tripod.com/Programs.htm) (PBASIC emulator for Windows and Linux) and see what happens.

As always, if you run into problems or need help with anything, go ahead and post what you are trying to do along with the code you are having problems with and somebody should get back to you within a few hours.

--Rob