Should FIRST Release the 2009 Control System beta Libraries and information?

[Elliot Swart]

That's what I am trying to do. I just plan to let the poll sit for a couple of days, and if the % in favor of releaseing seems impressive enough, I'll write to FIRST asking them to release the information.

p.s. The public forum has very little information


I think one problem with the beta test are the group applications. Essentially, teams that applied together are getting access to all the information and code, even though they only have 1 compactRIO. Many more teams than the 18 beta testers have access to the code. Why shouldn't every team.

It is notable that many of the disenters are either from Beta Teams or in the beta testing groups. Your teams obviously feel themselves prepared to deal with the perils of beta code and information, why do you want to deprive that right from others.

While I think many people in the beta teams disagree with me about the release of information, please remember that FIRST is a competition, and they are being given an advantage. Thier programming and electronics people will be much better prepared at the start of the competition than the rest of the teams. While I don't resent them for being accepted into the beta tests, and I understand this test is necessary, as part of the FIRST community and pillars of the FIRST competition, they should be using thier influence to level the playing field, not fight against it.

When a beta tester says that he doesn't think the other teams are ready to see what his team is allowed to, he either being condesending, or trying to retain his teams competative advantage.