How did you learn to program?

[vivek16]

well the thing is, we are a rookie team and we have one really good programmer that can work magic with c and it does not take him very long so there is no need for anyone else to learn it.

and we also do not have a shop and the robot is usually stored at a parents house(his garage comes fully stocked with lots of tools and stuff).

and i live in an apartment so if i took the robot i would probably prevent someone else from working on it.

i think i will learn in the summer if they let me have the robot. (i was planning on building myself a smaller robot during spring break from the same parts in the robot that is has a 12"x12" foot print and is about 6 inches high so i can practice programming and play around)

[Cuog]

I learned to program with my TI 83 in 8th grade, the I took a class at my high school freshmen year, where I learned JAVA and C# which really helped me learn about programming logic. That summer I read through all of the default code trying to understand as much as possible and to figure out as much of the differences in C, then when Kevin's camera code came out last year, I did the same thing again. Once you read through and understand it try and make your own. I do that now in my web design class when the teacher gives us code that we can modify to fit our system, I read it and try to make one myself that is simpler.

[cmptrgy412]

In fourth grade, I really became obsessed with wanting my own website, but the hard way with html, so I got a few books from the library, looked at some source, and learned like that. In websites, I started to want to make more advanced stuff, so I began learning php and javascript, both of which are similar to c and c++ in a lot of ways. After that, I wanted to design my own programs for the computer which is how I got into c/c++ and other languages which all came naturally after php and javascript, so basically start small, build your way up. The more advanced programs you make, the more rewarding you find it so challenge yourself. Sometimes I found that doing a project that is far too advanced for me and struggling through it to finish it helps me with all the smaller projects.

Read, read, read books and source code!

[MrForbes]

Originally Posted by vivek16

i think i will learn in the summer if they let me have the robot. (i was planning on building myself a smaller robot during spring break from the same parts in the robot that is has a 12"x12" foot print and is about 6 inches high so i can practice programming and play around)

sounds like you need a VEX kit and the programming kit for it.....any chance your team would buy one?

[vivek16]

it depends on how much a vex kit costs

[Cuog]

I think that the Vex kit is around 300 USD but you may be able to get just the controller and program kit from another team for cheaper if they have one they aren't really using.

[vivek16]

hmm not sure we have that much money lying around.

lets see we had 10000 dollars that sponsors gave us.
-cost of the KOP which was ~6000 dollars i believe.
-cost of all the stuff we bought ~1000 dollars mehaps. (not too sure on this.)
-cost of regionals which was around 1000 dollars.
and we have less than 2000 dollars...

hmm ill ask.

[EHaskins]

I say you should get a VEX kit, learn EasyC, and then take a look at C(if EasyC doesn't do what you need).

you can also look here<http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...nt.aspx?id=482>

[Tom Bottiglieri]

Originally Posted by EHaskins

I say you should get a VEX kit, learn EasyC, and then take a look at C(if EasyC doesn't do what you need).

you can also look here<http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...nt.aspx?id=482>

I agree. I used those power points in 2004 when I was new to programming. Now I'm a computer engineering major

[Rich Ross]

Now, im not exactly a programming wizard (as Karthik1 will attest), but i can write a program that will control a robot simply, and write an auto mode that will get by.

The best way to learn is to immerse yourself in it. Just like learning anything else. So, i say just start doing it, and when you know what you want the logic to do and dont know how to convey that into C, read a book or check the internet. That way you learn the important functions and capabilities of C through their application in a real world situation instead of just words on a page

I started programming because nobody else on my team knew very much about it, and it seemed interesting. I knew nothing at all and struggled with a short amount of time before ship to test my program, but we did well and the code worked like a charm (we didnt use auto mode too extensively).

I say go with Nike on this one. Just Do It. :-D

[Kingofl337]

You should check out ebay you might be able to buy a Vex controller for cheap. Then you just need a programming kit and your good to go. You can use a victor and some cheap POTs, Kit Gyro, and Gear Tooth Sensors for feedback and your off and running.

Every FRC team has one seat of easyC Pro that we gave out in the KOP.

[Eric Finn]

I started to learn how to program by getting a Java book and teaching myself. The following 2 summers, I went to a computer camp (Emagination, to be exact) and took a class in C++ and a class in Java. After that, when I joined the FIRST team, we had pre-season training where I learned how to program the robot and how to do pointers, etc. I've been learning many other things since then from one of our software mentors.

My suggestion is to just get a book on C, get Dev-C++, and teach yourself.
EDIT:
Oh, and if your team doesn't offer it already, try to get them to do training. That is how I learned how to program the robot, and how our new additions to the software team this year learned how to program the robot. If not, try to get people on your team (members and mentors) to teach you.