[EricVanWyk]

I think it is a fantastic idea to create your own control system(s). I learned a heck of a lot working on the 2009/2010FRC one. Please do not interpret any of the rest of this post as a suggestion that you shouldn't go for it: You Should Make Your Own Control System.

But, please examine your reasons for doing so carefully. If one of those reasons is "I want to fix something", please consider instead contributing to WPIlib! I believe that the system is nearing a point that it fundamentally can not improve beyond without direct, explicit user input. We all know what the bugs in the implementation are, and they are being worked on. What is hidden is the bugs in the underlying design of the user experience.

Several people have already submitted patches, and some of those have been accepted and put into the main line. Submit your own today! Go to the developers with specific and detailed information. They'd love to see things like: I was doing {use case description} and found myself doing {awkward work around description} because of { design flaw} , when really I should have been able to do { more intuitive user experience }.

You can not polish a design by starting over, no matter how many times you try. Quite the opposite happens.


Now, if your reason is either "The current system is fundamentally incapable of {X}" or "Dude, making our own system is going to be [fun / educational / totally wicked hawtsome ]", Rock On. I suggest talking to Squirrel or Keen101 - They have some really cool stuff in the pipeline already.