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Unread 14-02-2006, 00:20
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Re: cease all software development?

Quote:
Originally Posted by David Brinza
Here is the 2005 rule:
<R14> Prior to the competitions: After the close of the “FIX-IT WINDOW” and prior to the competition, the team must put down their tools, cease fabrication of robot parts, and cease all software development. Take this opportunity to rest, recover from the build season, and relax. Teams may scout other teams, gather and exchange information, develop game-playing strategies, collect raw materials, prepare tool kits, plan how to make repairs, etc. in preparation for the upcoming competitions. But no construction or fabrication is allowed.
Compare with the 2006 rule:
<R18> Prior to the competitions: After the close of the “FIX-IT WINDOWS” and prior to the competition, the
team must put down their tools, cease fabrication of robot parts, and cease all software development. Take
this opportunity to rest, recover from the build season, and relax. Teams may scout other teams, gather and
exchange information, develop game-playing strategies, collect raw materials, prepare tool kits, plan how to
make repairs, etc. in preparation for the upcoming competitions. But no construction or fabrication of any
hardware, or development of any software, is allowed.
The difference is in the last sentence, where the phrase "or development of any software" now appears.

So, as was discussed last year, there needs to be some clarification about what constitutes software development (i.e. conceptual design, flowchart, algorithm, coding, test, any or all of these). Since "any software" is stated, dashboard code may also be subject to this restriction.


Time for a new Q&A post!
Both state you must cease all software development. Perhaps FIRST will interpret the rules differently this year, but to me it appears to be the same rule which FIRST clarified last year. I'd be interested in seeing additional clarification this year, but it seemed pretty clear to me after the Q and A last year.