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Re: Dumb question - Java?
Perhaps the one advantage to using Java in this situation is that it might make it easier to create an emulator for your robot. However, being interpreted, it would be considerably slower. C++ really is similar enough to Java that they should be able to read and understand it right off. Labview, while there isn't the excess of (free) resources to help you with it, is quite useful in that you don't have to look through a manual to learn it, and it handles a lot of datatype conversions automatically.
Sure, go ahead and use Java, but consider giving them the option of using another language as well.
The other option, of course, is just interpreting it when you compile. This could introduce some translation issues, but I doubt there'd be many, considering the similarities. For porting Java to the cRIO, you could start with a Linux OS, and then make it open up Konqueror and run everything as applets. The advantage of Java is that it can be used on any system. The advantage of programming for FRC is you know exactly the specifications of the computer you're dealing with, and you don't have to deal with any other systems.
Anyways, it's your choice if you want to put the work into it. Considering these are normally used for industrial applications, I'm pretty sure you'd be the first to do it.
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-- Marshal Horn
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