How did you learn to program?

[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.