Very New and Very Clueless!

[sarah_storer]

Hello everyone!

This is my first year in FIRST and I'm looking forward to learning what its about this season

In my FRC team (of about 15 people) I am one of only two people interested in programming...and our head programmer is a rookie too. our veteran programmer graduated last year and failed to teach him anything about LabVIEW...so we're pretty clueless.

Our current head programmer has previous programming experience so we're not completely lost...but we're pretty close:/

While the head programmer is focusing on learning LabVIEW, I'm trying to teach myself C++ (I have had ZERO previous programming experience before day after the start of the season...). However, once I grasp C++ I will try to learn LabVIEW as well.
I'm pretty good at teaching myself things so I hope it won't be too hard!

I was wondering if anyone had any pointers about how to go about learning C++ and LabVIEW without any previous experience or anything that might help a beginning programmer

Thank you so much!!

[Tom Line]

www.frcmastery.com

[sarah_storer]

Originally Posted by Tom Line

www.frcmastery.com

Thanks for the links!

[ming08108]

I would suggest LABview, it seems easer. Take this with a grain of salt we are a rookie team too.

[EricH]

2 members of a programming team learning different languages isn't a bad thing, per se. However, when you have 6 weeks to learn and apply, and one project... You might want to reconsider your strategy.

First, what languages does the other programmer already know? If one of them is C++ or Java, then use that one. If not, I would strongly suggest that both of you learn LABView for now. I took a semester of C++ in college... and I think I might have a chance of making a robot move if I'm lucky (or someone held a gun to my head).

LABView is easier, as I understand it. Go with it. Then learn C++ later, when you aren't working under as tight a deadline.

[sarah_storer]

Originally Posted by EricH

2 members of a programming team learning different languages isn't a bad thing, per se. However, when you have 6 weeks to learn and apply, and one project... You might want to reconsider your strategy.

First, what languages does the other programmer already know? If one of them is C++ or Java, then use that one. If not, I would strongly suggest that both of you learn LABView for now. I took a semester of C++ in college... and I think I might have a chance of making a robot move if I'm lucky (or someone held a gun to my head).

LABView is easier, as I understand it. Go with it. Then learn C++ later, when you aren't working under as tight a deadline.

He currently knows a little of Java but mostly C++ and wants to learn LabVIEW but that isn't going very well....he is considering switching to C++ but doesn't know it well enough to completely program the robot.

I took a look at LabVIEW this afternoon and it looks VERY simple. So I'm going to try and get that down this season.

But the reason I'm learning C++ is to learn how to program (and also because he knows it already)...because LabVIEW is pretty visual instead of using code.

[TheNewCode]

Haha, your going between mine and your posts, that made me laugh. i was wondering what is LabView. sorry for asking such a simple question, i am also new to programming.

[vhcook]

Most of the same basic constructs you'd find in a text-based language are present in Labview, they're just more visual. I recommend learning one language at a time so you don't get confused by different terminology. Once you get the basics of programming down in one language, they transfer pretty well. For example, a Select block in Labview is the functional equivalent of an if/then/else statement in C. The only weird thing about Labview is using dataflow through the wires rather than passing variables around explicitly.

The frcmastery videos start pretty basic and work up. NI.com also has a lot of good resources for Labview.

[TheNewCode]

Sorry for posting this again, but i was wondering what LabView focus is in programming like visual or something as i am a new at programming, so please help with links and resources for either C++, Java, or LabView as i hear it is a simple language.

[sarah_storer]

Originally Posted by TheNewCode

Sorry for posting this again, but i was wondering what LabView focus is in programming like visual or something as i am a new at programming, so please help with links and resources for either C++, Java, or LabView as i hear it is a simple language.

I've been referred to www.frcmastery.com and it seems pretty helpful

[TheNewCode]

Originally Posted by thetimemachine

I've been referred to www.frcmastery.com and it seems pretty helpful

Thank you, i guess. lol

[sarah_storer]

This might help too

http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprogr...ical-Resources

[shank948]

In my opinion (perhaps a little biased because we use Java) a text based language is much easier to use. I tried helping another team with Labview at the last competition and had no idea what I was doing, but I got it to work in the end. If you or the person you work are familiar with C++, I would suggest going with that. There are some new resources to support that here: http://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/3120/m/7913

On the other hand, if you have a general knowledge of programming concepts, Labview is very easy to learn, and FIRST (with it's partnership with NI) seems to have a lot more support for using Labview than for using C++ or Java, i.e. the virtual cRIO which only has support for Labview.

[sarah_storer]

Originally Posted by shank948

In my opinion (perhaps a little biased because we use Java) a text based language is much easier to use. I tried helping another team with Labview at the last competition and had no idea what I was doing, but I got it to work in the end. If you or the person you work are familiar with C++, I would suggest going with that. There are some new resources to support that here: http://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/3120/m/7913

On the other hand, if you have a general knowledge of programming concepts, Labview is very easy to learn, and FIRST (with it's partnership with NI) seems to have a lot more support for using Labview than for using C++ or Java, i.e. the virtual cRIO which only has support for Labview.

I *have* realized that LabVIEW has more support.......that helps alot

[bhsrobotics1671]

Don't forget about the RobotBuilder Java Applet tool available this year. As coach of a team and 0 robot programming knowledge, but knowledge of the concept, RobotBuilder should be a great asset to your team this year. This works for C++ and Java and is included with the installation of Netbeans or Windriver.

I forget which directory the files is in, but a search for "RobotBuilder-r608.jar" on your computer should find it.

Here is a great video introducing the software

Good luck this year!