VS.NET - hope you have a decent machine
 

VS.NET is incredibly resource intensive. It is unusable on my PII 300 Mhz machine, I use mainly notepad and make files to code for the .NET framework.

The framework software development kit (SDK) is a free download from microsoft and includes command line compilers for all languages. It also includes WSDL.exe and ILDASM.exe. ILDASM is the CLR disassembler and WSDL is a tool that generates a proxy class for you to consume a SOAP-based web service. VS.NET is a *very* nice interface to the tools in the SDK, with lots of enhancements.

VS.NET includes everything, managed C++, C#, and VB.NET. Last time I checked there is nothing in the framework classes that lets you open a serial port, so you'll still have to code against some other DLL or the Win32 API. I honestly don't think its worth it. Code written using VS.NET or the SDK will only run on a windows machine with the .NET framework installed (20 MB download).

You can use SourceSafe to manage all of your project documents. That includes ALL documents, not just programming stuff. ASP.NET is a nice change from ASP, but there are not a lot of commercial hosting companies supporting it.

I don't really think that this will be any different from Small Parts. I've never seen the MSC catalog, but I would venture to guess that with all the different things they sell, FIRST would put out a list of thing that they would allow us to buy from them.

On Friday when I spoke to a FIRST rep, I asked if we would be allowed to choose anything from the MSC catalog or if we would be limited to certain items or if we would be limited by cost. They said they had not yet fully decided on this and that I would have to wait until Kickoff to find out. :(

It would be pretty painful if, for example, they put limits on the types of metal we can use. You can use 6 in. diameter Al from small parts if you want to, while otherwise you're limited to the cross section. They might have to do that, though, if MSC is too extensive. With the change in catalogs, I think we can expect significant changes in the additional hardware list and rules.

My 2¢

I like the idea of limiting what you can get from MSC, simply because you are likely to have some things designed/built out of pre-packaged parts that are going to be too difficult for FIRST to maintain order through simple rules. Remember the file cards and tape measures last year.

I also like the idea of having a BOM and a total spending limit. Not in the interest of leveling the playing field, but in the interest of making the competition a little more "real world" by providing some cost constraints.I would also recommend that the limits be applied to everything on the robot: extra wheels, extra speed controllers, basic raw materials, etc.

Clearly, some teams can bypass limits by buying raw materials and making things out of them rather than buying the finished part. However, those teams have to allocate resources to these tasks rather than to other, potentially higher priority, tasks.

This also provides an incentive for teams to improve their fabrication resources. Since we've joined FIRST, we have, year by year, increased our machine shop capabilities with strategic tool purchases. Maybe teams that have just a drill press and a band saw will have the incentive to go out into the community and form a partnership with a local machine shop.

I guess we will find out in a couple of days exactly how this thing is going to be managed.
Andrew
Team 356

Re: Re: MSC and FIRST/Banner Sensors
 

Yeah, The newest version I have on my desk is the one from 98-99 and it has 4459 pgs to it. And it's printed on the same paper as a phone book, very thin paper!!!

There has to be some kind of restrictions as to what we can get, I'm sure we'll ;earn about that soon enough!!!