Choosing a Language: Java, C++, or Python

The three officially supported text-based languages#

WPILib has three officially supported text-based languages, all with full WPILib bindings:

• Java (WPILibJ) — by far the most popular FRC language. Great balance of safety, readability, and a huge community. Most tutorials, example code, and Chief Delphi posts are in Java. Recommended for new teams and beginners.
• C++ (WPILibC) — used by teams that want maximum performance or lower-level control. More powerful but less forgiving (manual memory concerns, longer compile times). Modern WPILib C++ uses smart pointers and a units library, which helps a lot.
• Python (RobotPy) — Python became an officially supported FRC language for the 2024 season (after years as a community project). RobotPy provides Python bindings to WPILib. Excellent if your team already knows Python; a smaller but growing ecosystem of FRC-specific examples.

These three were chosen because they hit the right level of abstraction and are common in both industry and high-school CS classes.

What about LabVIEW?#

LabVIEW still exists for FRC and is technically still offered by NI, but it is a graphical (not text-based) language, is Windows-only, and its community support, examples, and momentum have declined sharply. WPILib's own docs list the three text-based languages first, and the vast majority of vendor examples (CTRE, REV, PathPlanner, Choreo) target Java/C++/Python. For these reasons, new teams should not start in LabVIEW — choose Java, C++, or Python instead. (Note: even text-language teams still install part of NI's tooling, because the Driver Station and roboRIO Imaging Tool ship in the NI FRC Game Tools.)

How to decide#

The concepts in this guide (command-based programming, PID, odometry, trajectories) are identical across all three text languages — only the syntax changes. WPILib's documentation shows Java, C++, and Python side-by-side for nearly every example, so you can switch later without relearning the ideas.

Java vs. the others, concretely#

A tiny example — setting a motor to half power — looks like:

• Java: motor.set(0.5);
• C++: motor.Set(0.5);
• Python: motor.set(0.5)

The shapes are nearly identical. C++ method names are PascalCase; Java/Python use camelCase. The deeper differences (memory management, the build) rarely affect day-one learning.

Bottom line#

If you have no strong reason otherwise, use Java. It has the most learning resources, the largest community, and the gentlest on-ramp, while still being powerful enough to win championships. This guide uses Java in its examples, but the lessons apply to all three text languages.