FRC (FIRST Robotics Challenge) is switching from Java ME 1.4 to Java SE 8 along with switching from NetBeans to Eclipse for the 2014-2015 school year. I gave this presentation to representatives from teams 2601 (Townsend Harris) and 694 (Stuyvesant) today. Team 2601 recorded my presentation which is available on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgreKkRjFgU&feature=youtu.be) and at the end of my presentation on slideshare.

1. Intro to Java 5-8 and Eclipse
6/8/14
Jeanne Boyarsky
Programming Mentor FRC Team 694
Twitter @jeanneboyarsky
Blog: http://www.selikoff.net
Moderator on Java forums at:
http://www.coderanch.com

2. Java – “New” Features
 This presentation is not a complete list.
 Features most likely needed for FRC programming.
 Includes:
– Non-micro APIs from Java 1.4 (and below)
– Java 5 new features
– Java 7 new features
– Java 8 new features
– (Java 6 didn't have much)

3. Java 1.4 non-Micro APIs
 java.util.ArrayList – like an array, but grows dynamically
(faster than a Vector)
 java.lang.Math – more methods
 java.util.Properties – read file in format key=value
(example in Java 7 section)

4. Java 5 – Generics/Autoboxing
 Generics – you specify the type of the ArrayList and the
compiler tells you if you use it wrong
 Autoboxing – Java converts primitives (int, double, etc) to
Objects and back for you

5. Java 5 – Enhanced for loop
 Which is easier to read/write?
 Can use for array, ArrayList and more

6. Java 5 – Static imports
 Don't have to write Ports.X over and over and ...

7. Java 7 – Diamond Operator
 Less typing:

8. Java 7 - Underscores
 Make long numbers easier to read during the rush to
change code between matches:

9. Java 7 – Reading a file
 NIO.2 makes reading a file (or network connection or the
like) easier.
Also, now that we are on Java Standard Edition you
can use open source APIs such as
http://commons.apache.org/proper/commons-io/
Which lets you code:
String s = FileUtils.readFileToString(file);

10. Java 7 – try with resources
 Which is easier to read/write?

11. Java 8
 Lambdas and functional programming (way too much to
cover in one slide)
 Will likely not work with FRC APIs at least in 2015
 Consider whether you want to use this style of
programming when training your new team members.
 Like Groovy – might be less clear at first.
 Examples:
new Thread(() -> System.out.println(“foo”))
words.sort ((a,b) -> a.length() – b.length())

12. Multi-threading
 Remember we have 2 CPUs now.
 What can the second one do?
– Vision
– Logging
– Long running calculations
– Poll a sensor until some event happens
– Use your imagination!

13. Installing Java
 Java Platform (JDK) 8
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/i
ndex.html
(Or)
Not the micro
edition anymore!

14. Java Version Q&A
 Why doesn't Java know how to count? The
versions go 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Blame marketing!
 What's the difference between Java Micro
Edition (used by FRC until 2014) and the
“small memory” version (used by FRC starting
in 2015)?
Java Micro Edition didn't have a lot of the built in
Java functions that you can now use.

15. Installing Eclipse
 Eclipse Luna 4.4
https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/ (after 6/25/14)
https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/index-developer.php
(release candidate if trying before 6/25/14)
Eclipse is used more
“in the real world”
than NetBeans
Either the Eclipse Standard or
Eclipse IDE for Java
Developers is ok.
Standard uses less memory
and has everything we need
for FIRST

16. Eclipse Version Q&A
 Can I use an older version of Eclipse?
Yes, but it will not support Java 8 syntax
additions.
 What happens on 6/25/14?
Eclipse releases come out on the fourth
Wednesday of June.
Release Name Version Java supported
June 2012 Juno 4.2 Java 6 (also known as 1.6)
June 2013 Kepler 4.3 Java 7 (also known as 1.7)
June 2014 Luna 4.4 Java 8 (also known as 1.8)

17. Eclipse - Perspectives
 Eclipse has different “perspectives” (sets of views)
 Java and Resource
 Git/Svn and Team Synchronization
 FRC? (don't know if will be in 2015 plugin)

18. Eclipse - Views
 Views are screen elements
 Package explorer
 Problems
 Tasks – used for code with //TODO
 Console - output
 To add:
 Window > Show view > Console

19. Tip: Configure contents

20. Tip: Save launch configuration
 Run as > ___ …. lets you enter options
 On common tab can save those options
 Can even put them in SVN/Git because just a file

21. Tip: Variables
 Use a classpath variable for the FRC libraries so no
changes to project on different computers

22. Eclipse – Autocomplete
 Control + space

23. Warnings about FRC Eclipse plugin
 This is NOT the official plugin we will use in the 2014-
2015 season.
 It is the experimental version from 2011.
 I don't recommend installing it; this is just to get an idea of
the process

24. Installing the FRC Eclipse Plugin
 Help > Install New Software
 Enter URL http://first.wpi.edu/FRC/java/eclipse/update/
 Click add button
 Give it a name. I used “FRC-old” so I remember to
uninstall it before the season starts.
 Check FRC box
 Click next/accept license/next/finish. Restart Eclipse when
finishes download (This step uses the internet to
download the plugin)

26. Configuring FRC Eclipse Plugin
 Enter your team number in Eclipse global preferences
 Windows > Preferences on Windows/Linux
 Eclipse > Preferences on Mac
 Note difference between global and project
preferences

27. Creating a new project
 Just like NetBeans, create a new project

28. Creating a new component
 Right click where you want to add something

29. Running the Ant script
 Run As > FRC …
Note: Eclipse projects do not build using Ant automatically,
they have a .classpath file for the classpath

30. How to migrate NetBeans project?
 There isn't a generic way
 I recommend:
– Create a new Eclipse FRC project
– Copy the source code from the
NetBeans source directory

31. Questions
 About Java or Eclipse:
– Friendly forums for those new (or not
new) to Java
– http://www.coderanch.com
 For FRC specific questions:
– After the 2014-2015 plugins launch
– http://www.chiefdelphi.com

32. References
 Blog posts from Championships:
 http://www.selikoff.net/2014/04/25/first-wpilib-in-2015/
 How to get around the problem launching
Eclipse on a Mac:
http://www.selikoff.net/2013/06/29/eclipse-kepler-4-3-mac/
 Old plugin docs:
 https://subversion.assembla.com/svn/blue-
cheese/branches/2012/docs/Tutorials/FRCEclipsePluginS
etup.pdf