Help needed for getting started!

[chantilly_team]

Hey guys,
I am a team member of the Chantilly Robotics team(team # 612). We needed some help from you guys to get started in programming. Last year I was in the mechanical team, so I don't know about programming. This year we do not have anyone experienced in out team for programming.
The thing is we have many people expert in C language. They know how to program well. But we don't know how to get started. Like simple questions - Where do you get basic programming code from, or how to download programs from computer to the robot controller, or which IDE to use,...
So I was wondering if you guys can tell me the basic. We can figure out the actual programming stuff, but we need to get started first.
Last year I got very good help from you guys in mechanics. So I hope I will receive the same kind of help this year. You can reply to this post, or email me on suchitligade@hotmail.com
Thanks,
Chantilly Team Member.

[Billfred]

Pretty much the best bet is to read through http://www.innovationfirst.com. There's so much information there, it makes my head spin.

[wun]

I'm assuming you have installed the IDE, compiler, and IFI_Loader (the CD with the horrible green interface). If you havent, then do that.
When thats all done and the code is all downloaded, open it up and go to the "user_routines.c" file. From there, find the function "process_data_from_master_up" (or something like that). It has a call to "default_routine" in it.
That would be the best place to start looking.
If you have any more questions, post away!

PS: I hope the names are right, I'm just doing it from memory...

[Anthony Kesich]

Also, make sure to upgrade the IFI loader from version 1.05 to 1.07. You will skirt many a problem if you do this right away. I believe the upgrade is available at the Innovations First link in the post above.

[Mark McLeod]

To sort of condense things ...

Beginners need the following to program the FIRST robot:
v FRC RC Default Code
v Microchip MPLAB & C compiler
v IFI_Loader
v A standard serial cable
v A computer with a serial port or USB-to-serial converter

1. All default code, updates, documentation, and support information is available at the Innovation FIRST (IFI) website (http://innovationfirst.com/FIRSTRobotics/documentation.htm). The default code “FRC RC Default Code” comes ready for basic driving and with a variety of sample I/O usages. See especially the “FRC RC Default Code Reference Guide.”
2. MPLAB is the FIRST supplied Windows based development environment that runs on your desktop computer and is usually provided to each team on a compact disk in the Robovation kit. If you don't have the CD then MPLAB is free on-line at the Microchip website (http://www.microchip.com), but the C compiler is not free and is only available online as a trial copy. Manuals for using MPLAB come on the FIRST CD or can be picked up online.
3. IFI_Loader (from the IFI website above) is used to download the compiled code into the RC via a serial cable from your desktop or laptop computer.

The IFI website has all the documentation you need to get started.