Programming, Controls & SensorsModule 1 of 13

Foundations: Tools, Languages, and Your First Robot Program

Set up the full FRC software toolchain and understand the big picture. You will install WPILib and the Game Tools, learn which languages FRC supports, and write and deploy your first robot program to a roboRIO.

Foundations: Tools, Languages, and Your First Robot Program is module 1 of 13 in the Programming, Controls & Sensors guide. It picks up where Programming Foundations: A Java Primer left off and hands over to The Robot Program: Lifecycle and Command-Based Architecture. Its 4 lessons are about 140 minutes of the guide's ~30 hours.

4 lessons~140 min51 lessons in this guide

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In this module

4 lessons

01The FRC Software Stack: What Runs WhereA map of the software pieces in an FRC robot — from your laptop to the roboRIO — and how they talk to each other.30 min read

02Choosing a Language: Java, C++, or PythonWPILib officially supports three text-based languages — Java, C++, and Python (RobotPy). Learn the tradeoffs and where LabVIEW fits today.25 min read

03Installing the Toolchain: WPILib, Game Tools, and Driver StationInstall WPILib (VS Code + extension) and the NI FRC Game Tools (Driver Station + roboRIO Imaging Tool), then image a roboRIO.45 min read

04VS Code, the WPILib Extension, and Deploying CodeCreate a project from a template, then build and deploy it to the roboRIO using the WPILib extension.40 min read

Previous moduleProgramming Foundations: A Java Primer

Next moduleThe Robot Program: Lifecycle and Command-Based Architecture

Jargon check

FRC terms used in Foundations: Tools, Languages, and Your First Robot Program

Longer reads

Articles that go deeper on this

Installing WPILib and VS Code for FRC (Step by Step)Learn how to install WPILib and VS Code for FRC step by step: download the installer, create a robot project, add vendordeps, and deploy to the roboRIO.20 min read

FRC Programming Tutorial: Getting Started with WPILibA beginner-friendly guide to programming an FRC robot with WPILib: pick a language, install the tools, write your first robot program, and deploy it.5 min read

All 13 modules in Programming, Controls & Sensors

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