= Welcome to Software! =

== Gear Needed
To start developing robot software for team 2537 you will need the following
   * A laptop running Windows 7 or Windows 10
   * USB A-B cable
   * USB Joystick or X-Box controller
   * Optional: USB webcam
   * One of:
       * A robot 
       * A RoboRIO (the computer that controls the robot) and a 12v power supply 

== Setup your laptop:
   1. Install the Java JDK
   2. Install Microsoft [https://code.visualstudio.com/download VSCode] and the [https://github.com/wpilibsuite/vscode-wpilib/releases latest WPILib] extension.  Detailed instructions are [https://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/currentCS/m/79833/l/932382-installing-vs-code here]
   3. Install the National Instruments (NI) FRC 2018 Update Suite [http://www.ni.com/download/first-robotics-software-2015/5112/en/ here].  Detailed instructions are [https://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/4485/m/getting_started/l/599670-installing-the-frc-update-suite-all-languages here]

== Start with an example
The best way to learn about robot programming a robot is to start with a simple example program, run it, study what it does, and incrementally expand its functionality.  The WPILib software you installed includes example programs that you can compile and run on a RoboRIO.  Review [https://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/currentCS/m/79833/l/941601-vs-code-basics-and-wpilib-in-vs-code how to use VSCode] and then try [https://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/currentCS/m/79833/l/932465-creating-a-new-wpilib-project-in-vs-code creating a new robot project].

WPILib provides [https://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/currentCS/m/java/l/599697-choosing-a-base-class 3 frameworks] for building robot programs.  Build your first program using the iterative robot framework as described [https://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/currentCS/m/java/l/145307-creating-your-benchtop-test-program here].

   * Connect your laptop to the RoboRIO USB port
   * Use Microsoft Internet Explorer (not Chrome or Firefox) to connect to the RoboRIO's web interface (usually at http://172.22.11.2).
   * Launch the NI Driver Station Software.  For details see [https://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/4485/m/24192/l/144976-frc-driver-station-powered-by-ni-labview here]
   * Create a test project and follow [https://wpilib.screenstepslive.com/s/currentCS/m/79833/l/932465-creating-a-new-wpilib-project-in-vs-code these instructions] to build, load, and run it on your RoboRIO/Robot