What are you programming in?

[zaphodp.jensen]

Originally Posted by RyanN

We simply use LabVIEW due to the ease of use, abundance of debugging tools, and the quick speed of development.

Being able to probe and trace values while the code is running really gives the students the ability to understand what their code is doing.

Exactly. Being an advanced programmer, it is easy for me and the rookies to understand it, and easy for the other programmers to learn.

Also, the fact that we have an NI certified mentor helps there to.

[theprgramerdude]

Originally Posted by shuhao

Tbh both Java and c++ are bloated languages that's really not ideal in a high-school robot competition.

What's bloated about them? They're very simple and powerful languages, especially with the library support given (although I'm unhappy about Java ME).

[linuxboy]

Originally Posted by shuhao

IMO the entire software chain of the competition should be oss. But I guess those sponsors wont like that.

I agree, although, one thing that I think it teaches well, is the ability to deal with closed source restricted platforms, and licensing issues. From my summer job, I've found out how important it is to understand proper licensing, so I think some of it is good practice. That said, I would love to see the entire control system open sourced.

[shuhao]

Originally Posted by theprgramerdude

What's bloated about them? They're very simple and powerful languages, especially with the library support given (although I'm unhappy about Java ME).

C++ is hardly a simple language... try dealing with template code... then crazy preprocessor macros.. then its messed up class system. I agree it has its uses (for writing amazingly complex projects that would benefit from having OOP support but still need fast speed)

Java... well. This language seems to spark a flame war every single time its name is mentioned in certain IRC chatrooms.. so I'll leave it there..

I agree, although, one thing that I think it teaches well, is the ability to deal with closed source restricted platforms, and licensing issues. From my summer job, I've found out how important it is to understand proper licensing, so I think some of it is good practice. That said, I would love to see the entire control system open sourced.

This is why we even need to teach open source MORE. A lot of software out there should NOT be closed source. (example: pacemaker) We need to teach "the next generation of scientists and engineers" to do open source, to contribute to the society, rather than closing, patenting, and privatizing their findings. The best way to do that is by examples.

[apalrd]

I've found C (not C++) to be one of the most basic yet powerful languages ever. There are also C compilers for basically every modern platform. You can't really say it's less bloated than something like Python, which is itself written in C and interpreted.

[Greg McKaskle]

Perhaps the discussion about open source should move to its own thread. I'll be happy to contribute my thoughts there, but this is a poll thread.

Greg McKaskle

[shuhao]

Originally Posted by Greg McKaskle

Perhaps the discussion about open source should move to its own thread. I'll be happy to contribute my thoughts there, but this is a poll thread.

Greg McKaskle

Agreed

[Lalaland1125]

I would argue that C++/Java are also better languages than LabVIEW because knowledge learned during FRC season(we are supposed to be learning things you know) will actually be practical for outside applications. And so many other languages are very similar to C++/Java(such as C#, Python(in a sense), etc).

While LabVIEW might be easier for certain things I would much rather learn more about stuff we are going to have to learn about anyways for real life.

(I also think C++ and Java are both elegant in their own ways, but that's just opinion)

[adrusi]

LISP. It is a fundamental law of the universe that all robots are programmed in LISP.

[shuhao]

Originally Posted by adrusi

LISP. It is a fundamental law of the universe that all robots are programmed in LISP.

Lol agreed.