[Lord Byron]

I'm the programmer for 538, and I'm one of our drivers. This has worked well for us because I can both test the code and practice with the robot at the same time. I also get ideas of how to improve the code during matches, and can usually guess what went wrong whenever we have a problem. All the members of our drive team this year are very knowledgeable in some area of the robot (wiring, mechanics, etc.) so whenever we have a problem, we can usually immediately figure it out. It also keeps crowding in the pits down, because the drive team members and the ones improving the robot are the same. Bottom line, if your programmer can drive, then by all means let him.

As far as lack of time goes, my team went to DC a few weeks ago, and I did all of the programming modifications, next-match scouting, strategy with other teams, talking with judges, and still managed to eat well and spend time in the stands. As long as you don't have to completely redo the programming code, it should be fine.