EasyC
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easyC is an integrated development environment by Intelitek for Microsoft Windows designed to employ a simple drag-and-drop interface similar to that used in Lego Mindstorms to assist new programmers in creating on-robot software for the FIRST robotics competition. It uses the WPIlib to allow programmers to send debug data from the robot to the integrated on-screen terminal, control actuators, and read sensor data. easyC allows access to most of the standard C constructs. The program also includes a hex loader, which is used to send the program to the microcontroller over a 9-pin serial connection, but it lacks conventional tools like version control, refactoring, regression testing, and tracing.
Prior to easyC Pro, Intelitek released two distinct easyC versions for the FIRST Robotics Competition, and another for the Vex competition. As of 2007, the current versions of easyC are easyC Pro and easyC V2. The previous versions of easyC no longer in distribution are easyC 1.1 and easyC for FRC.
Although easyC contains a variety of constructs from the C language, the standard C library is not used. For instance, the printf function has been replaced by the comparable PrintToScreen function, which is used to send debug information to those testing the software. Additionally, while not all the C constructs (such as switch-case) are exposed by the menu interface, the User Code block allows programmers to drag and drop lines of custom code one by one.
EasyC utilizes Microchip's MPLAB compiler and linker to build the PIC binaries it transfers to the controller.
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[edit] Hardware Configuration
easyC can configure the microcontroller by changing analog ports to digital inputs, for the VEX controller.
[edit] easyC Programming Capabilities (Vex Edition)
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[edit] Input
- Bumper Switch
- Light Sensor
- Limit Switch
- Line Follower
- Optical Shaft Encoder
- Ultrasonic Sensor
[edit] Output
- Motor Module
- Servo Module
[edit] Program Flow
- If
- Else-If
- Else
- While-Loop
- For-Loop
- Timer
- Wait
- Assignment
- Break
- Continue
- Return
- Print to Screen
- Comment
[edit] RC Control
- Arcade 2/4 Motor
- Tank 2/4 Motor
- Motor Module RX
- Servo Module RX
[edit] easyC Pro
Intelitek released easyC Pro to teams for the 2007-2008 FRC and FVC competition. This version targets both Vex and FRC controllers, allowing FRC teams to prototype the code for their FRC robot with Vex.
New to easyC Pro, is better C integration, syntax editor for those who wish to type C code instead of dragging blocks, improved online window and device labeling system and a "graphic display" feature which can be used to create form-like representations of debug data.
