What are you programming in?

[mikegrundvig]

IMO the entire software chain of the competition should be oss. But I guess those sponsors wont like that.

This would be my preference as well. I'd like to see it on the hardware side too. I recognize that this isn't going to change so I don't make a stink about it but I was surprised to see how dependent the competition is on licensed products that expire right after the competition is over.

-Mike

[shuhao]

Originally Posted by mikegrundvig

This would be my preference as well. I'd like to see it on the hardware side too. I recognize that this isn't going to change so I don't make a stink about it but I was surprised to see how dependent the competition is on licensed products that expire right after the competition is over.

-Mike

Yup, completely agree... You can always start your competing open source arduino robot competitions with just a post to their forums (and then a link on reddit).

Won't be high school level.. but..

[linuxboy]

Originally Posted by shuhao

IMO the entire software chain of the competition should be oss. But I guess those sponsors wont like that.

I agree, although, one thing that I think it teaches well, is the ability to deal with closed source restricted platforms, and licensing issues. From my summer job, I've found out how important it is to understand proper licensing, so I think some of it is good practice. That said, I would love to see the entire control system open sourced.

[shuhao]

Originally Posted by Greg McKaskle

Perhaps the discussion about open source should move to its own thread. I'll be happy to contribute my thoughts there, but this is a poll thread.

Greg McKaskle

Agreed

[Lalaland1125]

I would argue that C++/Java are also better languages than LabVIEW because knowledge learned during FRC season(we are supposed to be learning things you know) will actually be practical for outside applications. And so many other languages are very similar to C++/Java(such as C#, Python(in a sense), etc).

While LabVIEW might be easier for certain things I would much rather learn more about stuff we are going to have to learn about anyways for real life.

(I also think C++ and Java are both elegant in their own ways, but that's just opinion)

[shuhao]

Originally Posted by adrusi

LISP. It is a fundamental law of the universe that all robots are programmed in LISP.

Lol agreed.