C or C++

[TimCraig]

It's amazing the misconceptions that have been posted here about the differences between C and C++. C++ code doesn't have to be bloated compared to equivalent C code. When using the advanced features you do have to know what you're doing if you don't want to pay a size or performance penalty.

I used C for years and then moved to C++. Moving back to C was an extreme shock. Having to jump through hoops to do reasonable encapsulation and using funky naming conventions to keep the code organized and readable is a roaring pain. The lack of proper const types is inhibiting.

Some here seem to think that using C++ entails a lot of new and free calls to create and destroy objects. If your C code isn't using a lot of malloc and free calls, there will be no difference. And for a FIRST robot you really don't need any dynamic memory allocation.

C++ is a much better language and with proper use can even produce smaller, faster code than C. Not to mention if the code is properly written, it's easier to understand, maintain, and more robust.