FRC Blogged - One Day to Go, FIRST Choice Maintenance and Game Piece Availability, NA

[MechEng83]

Originally Posted by gabrielau23

Could you just download the encrypted version, stick it on a pendrive or something and then just type in the password when it comes up? Makes the whole website crashing thing kinda moot.

I believe that is the intent. Download it now, so you're not clogging the servers on Saturday. The problem is with HOSTING the files where others can download it in an uncontrolled copy well into the future.

[gabrielau23]

Originally Posted by MechEng83

I believe that is the intent. Download it now, so you're not clogging the servers on Saturday. The problem is with HOSTING the files where others can download it in an uncontrolled copy well into the future.

Well, I know our school has a "Hand Out" folder that teachers use to hand out to kids. Our sponsor (a tech ed teacher) just downloads it and sticks it in there, ensuring any computer connected to the school network is able to reach the document.
Or a team could use the Google drive, Dropbox, Box.com, there's a lot of file sharing options.

[Akash Rastogi]

Originally Posted by gabrielau23

Could you just download the encrypted version, stick it on a pendrive or something and then just type in the password when it comes up? Makes the whole website crashing thing kinda moot.

Yes.

[Basel A]

Originally Posted by MechEng83

FIRST's reply regarding a comment about their website crashing and being unreliable on kickoff day

That's encouraging. I used the excrypted manual last year and am doing so again this year, but I'm not sure how wide usage is. I do know I had to pass around copies after Kickoff last year because many people didn't download it beforehand.

I do want to commend FIRST for their quick replying. It seems like ever since Frank took over we've seen prompt responses to comments on the blog.

[cgmv123]

Originally Posted by gabrielau23

Well, I know our school has a "Hand Out" folder that teachers use to hand out to kids. Our sponsor (a tech ed teacher) just downloads it and sticks it in there, ensuring any computer connected to the school network is able to reach the document.
Or a team could use the Google drive, Dropbox, Box.com, there's a lot of file sharing options.

FIRST doesn't care how your team distributes the manual internally. They just care if you put it in a place that the general public can get at it. (A few solutions may overlap between internal distribution and public access, so be careful.)

[Donut]

Originally Posted by Nemo

If the kickoff is really less than an hour long, that might indicate a new golden era of making the speeches shorter and sweeter and thus more effective.

Perhaps this is the year that the Championship finally finishes in the allotted time on NASA TV? That teams get food at the after party that hasn't been sitting there for an hour plus?

[DonRotolo]

You know, one year we need to stake out the AndyMark building for several weeks before Kickoff so we can see what the game pieces will be. Hidden webcam?

[Richard Wallace]

Originally Posted by DonRotolo

You know, one year we need to stake out the AndyMark building...

Good luck getting a peek at AM during the run-up to FRC kickoff. Driving past their Kokomo headquarters last week, I noticed this. Maybe an indication of new drivetrain developments, or maybe just beefed-up security.