[David Brinza]

FIRST Q&A addresses the question of writing code for the practice robot:

http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=733

02-22-2006, 12:44am
FRC1293
Junior Member

Fix-It Windows, software development, and second robots
Suppose we build two robots that are functionally identical. During the time between ship date and a competition, we work on the second robot (which wouldn't even darken the doorway of a competition). Due to their identicalness, software development for the second robot would seem to be functionally the same as software development for the competition robot. Should programming for the second robot be considered open season, or does it fall under the control of a Fix-It Window?

Yesterday, 05:22 PM
GDC
Senior Member

Re: Fix-It Windows, software development, and second robots
You may develop all the software that you want for your second robot. There are no restrictions on developing practice code for practice robots. However, if even one line of the code is developed after the primary robot has shippped and outside of the Fix-It-Window, then none of the code may be used on the competition robot. All software used on the competition robot (whether it was developed on a practice robot or not) must be developed during the build season, during the Fix-It-Windows, or at the competition site.

Now all I need is a clear definition of practice code and how to distinguish it from competition code. If I code and test an algorithm on my practice bot and then change variable names for the code used in the competition robot, is that OK?

I think not - wouldn't this violate the intent of a related Q&A response? See:

http://forums.usfirst.org/showthread.php?t=647