[sjspry]

Yeah, it kinda bugs me I can't program the cRIO from my Linux computer with C++ (I have to use Java, which I guess isn't that bad).


FIRST probably doesn't have a good reason for the choice. When FIRST was created or as it progressed, companies would jump at the chance to get people -- not working for a profit -- to use their products. There's also some people who actually believe anything 3rd party is not to be trusted.

I think part of your question, though, deals with what the cRIO can be... er... fundamentally programmed(?) with. I just tried looking really quick, but it seems like VxWorks is what is locked on there as per National Instruments. This is probably the big stumbling block on the road to using other compilers, as it would make sense to believe there's a few libraries that need to be linked in (you could probably get it working, though, it might just be "illegal").

I do not, however, assume FIRST and the competition could be possible without the cRIO. I haven't found a good platform to substitute in for it, and as long as we're using the cRIO, provided by National Instruments, we're probably going to have to use a whole lot of other proprietary software.

On a personal note, I myself am rather irked by how closed the cRIO and the general development process seems. I've had a hell of a time getting around NIVision (and had to end up connecting the Camera to the bridge to get anything done...).