Chief Delphi - Teach me?

Chief Delphi (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/index.php)

- Programming (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=51)

- - Teach me? (http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/showthread.php?t=58442)

Note : I have never used EasyC.

It seems like this is beginning to trend toward a "What is the One True Programming Language" thread. I am a firm believer that languages are tools, and the "OTPL" model leads to a very lonely tool-box.

Go ahead and learn EasyC. Get good and comfortable. Then learn Python. Then C. At this point, you will be able to pick up any imperative language in less than 2 weeks.

You won't be an expert in any of them, but that is just fine. I've never gotten a job that uses a language I already knew. Each time I took an internship, I needed to learn a new tool ( or 3 ).

So Ed, let me disagree with you. The CS/CE people should get familiar with EasyC, as it is a specific tool designed for a specific task, and it will help them learn harder tools quicker.

For quick reference, here are my favorite tools.
Python : Quick and simple, one person programming tool. LEARN THIS.
MATLAB : Darn good for matrix math.
C : Wish I didn't have to use this, but you really don't get a choice some times.
Verilog : Really slow to write, but wow FPGAs are cool.
LabVIEW: Just started on this one, but it is surprisingly intuitive.

I doubt we are really disagreeing. As I said, EasyC is good for teaching concepts and getting through a season.

And then a CS/CE would move onto other tools as their skill set progresses, like you said.

And yes it is true, the tools you use depends on what kinda nail you have to drive. For me today it is a full time job writing C for ARM9 processors and linux kernals.

A few years a go it was FORTRAN and the Oracle. so yeah.

Cheers,

I think the future of FIRST programming is using ROBOTC - carnegie-mellon's new software, which is compatible with the LEGOS NXT, VEX, and very-soon the FRC controller.

Aside from:

+real-time debugging (robotc can make the robot perform the highlighted line of code as you step-through your program) and

+real-time monitoring (a window automatically shows all variables current value in the program),

I was impressed with the simple little things that make programming much easier:

+A big X next to the line where the compiler is having problems (along with a very detailed explanation). No more scouring for semicolons...

+And as you're typing, the program suggests words in a drop-down box, just like you're using gmail...

You can download a 30-day trial at www.robotc.net, and seats are $100 less than EasyC. (ROBOTC may be included with the 2008 KOP.)

Either way, we'll be using ROBOTC to learn programming on our VEX kits, and look forward to our team using ROBOTC for the FRC comptetion in the coming season.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roger (Post 639187)

Can you guys point me in the right direction to do VEX with MPLAB? Is it the same MPLAB as the FRC robots but with VEX-specific code? I actually had some project ideas for the VEX and, yes, I could be using EasyC but... Well, we'll leave that debate alone.

It's the same IDE. I think when you program an FRC robot you have to link to a different library etc.

This tutorial I wrote might be helpful:

http://www.2008.huntingtonrobotics.o...ng_started.php

-Nathan