11Choosing a Programming Tool
22============================
3- You will need to select a programming tool to be able to write op modes
4- for your competition robot. *FIRST * strongly recommends that *all users *
3+
4+ You need to select a programming tool to be able to create op modes
5+ for your competition robot.
6+ An Op Mode or Operational Mode is program that tells the robot what to do.
7+ There are three programming tools that are available for you to use.
8+
9+ *FIRST * strongly recommends that **all users **
510begin by learning how to use the :ref: `Blocks programming
611tool <programming_resources/blocks/blocks-tutorial:blocks programming tutorial>`.
712
8- There are currently three programming tools that are available for the
9- teams to use:
13+ The Blocks Programming Tool
14+ ---------------------------
15+
16+ A visual programming tool that
17+ lets programmers use a web browser to create, edit and save their op
18+ modes. This tool is recommended for novice programmers and for users
19+ who prefer to design their op modes visually, using a drag-and-drop
20+ interface.
1021
11- 1. **The Blocks Programming Tool ** - A visual, programming tool that
12- lets programmers use a web browser to create, edit and save their op
13- modes. This tool is recommended for novice programmers and for users
14- who prefer to design their op modes visually, using a drag-and-drop
15- interface.
22+ .. figure :: images/BlocksPicture1.jpg
23+ :alt:
24+ :width: 75%
25+ :class: no-scaled-link
26+
27+ Blocks Programming Tool showing a graphical Blocks program.
1628
17- .. image :: images/BlocksPicture1.jpg
18- :alt: Screenshot of the Blocks Programming Tool showing a graphical Blocks program.
29+ The OnBot Java Programming Tool
30+ -------------------------------
31+ A text-based programming
32+ tool that lets programmers use a web browser to create, edit and save
33+ their Java op modes. This tool is recommended for programmers who
34+ have basic to advanced Java skills and who would like to write
35+ text-based op modes.
1936
20- 2. **The OnBot Java Programming Tool ** - A text-based programming
21- tool that lets programmers use a web browser to create, edit and save
22- their Java op modes. This tool is recommended for programmers who
23- have basic to advanced Java skills and who would like to write
24- text-based op modes.
37+ .. figure :: images/onBotJavaScreen.jpg
38+ :alt:
39+ :width: 75%
40+ :class: no-scaled-link
41+
42+ OnBot Java Programming Tool showing Java source code.
2543
26- .. image :: images/onBotJavaScreen.jpg
27- :alt: Screenshot of the OnBot Java Programming Tool showing some Java source code.
44+ Android Studio
45+ --------------
46+ An advanced integrated development environment
47+ for creating Android apps. This tool is the same tool that
48+ professional Android app developers use. Android Studio is only
49+ recommended for advanced users who have extensive Java programming
50+ experience.
2851
29- 3. **Android Studio ** - An advanced integrated development environment
30- for creating Android apps. This tool is the same tool that
31- professional Android app developers use. Android Studio is only
32- recommended for advanced users who have extensive Java programming
33- experience.
52+ .. figure :: images/androidStudioScreen.jpg
53+ :alt:
54+ :width: 50%
55+ :class: no-scaled-link
56+
57+ Android Studio showing Java source code.
3458
35- .. image :: images/androidStudioScreen.jpg
36- :alt: Screenshot of Android Studio showing some Java source code.
59+ Recommendations
60+ ---------------
3761
3862Each tool has its own merits and weaknesses. For many users (especially
3963rookies and novice programmers), **the Blocks Programming Tool is
@@ -45,8 +69,12 @@ The OnBot Java Programming Tool is similar to the Blocks Programming
4569Tool. However, OnBot Java is a text-based tool and it requires that the
4670user have a sound understanding of the Java programming language.
4771
48- .. image :: images/ipadPhoneChromebook.jpg
49- :alt: A tablet, a phone, and a laptop each showing the programming tools in use.
72+ .. figure :: images/ipadPhoneChromebook.jpg
73+ :alt:
74+ :width: 50%
75+ :class: no-scaled-link
76+
77+ A tablet, phone, and laptop each showing the programming tools in use.
5078
5179It is important to note that with the Blocks Programming Tool and the
5280OnBot Java Programming Tool, a user only needs a web browser to create,
@@ -57,6 +85,7 @@ Android Studio is a powerful development tool. However, it requires
5785extensive Java programming knowledge. It also needs a dedicated laptop
5886to run the Android Studio software. Android Studio offers enhanced
5987editing and debugging features that are not available on the OnBot Java
60- Programming Tool. However, it is a more complicated tool and is only
61- recommended for advanced users.
88+ Programming Tool. However, it is a more complicated tool and you must
89+ spend time learning how to use it.
90+ It is only recommended for advanced users.
6291
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