How to choose programmers?

[pyroslev]

Originally Posted by Andrew Schreiber

You interested in programming?

Sure

Ok.

+10

Let them learn the basics. They'll need some instruction so a mentor of some capacity will help them to learn. If they learn well, then keep them on the learning path. Any student who has the will to learn to program or learn to do anything on the team, I would never turn them away.

But if you insist on a test before competition to see if they're ready, try this one on for size.

1. Put them in a room with a robot, robot control system not even imaged. (Simulating swapped C/RoboRIO)
2. Give them laptop with the IDE on it with the most basic template for the language you're using. (Simulate programming laptop having died)
3. Give them one hour. (About the average time between matches at competition)

To completely pass it, they must reprogram said robot to be as close to competition ready as possible. If a student programmer can complete the above and the possible drive team be able to be competitive with the robot, then that student has earned their weight in pizza.