Lesson 1
What Do We Do?
We are the team of programmers responsible for coding and technical tasks other than the robot in our robotics team.
Here are the 3 main things that we are responsible for:
- Team websites 🌐
- Team servers ⚙️
- Scouting and strategy apps 📱
What is listed above may be familiar or completely new to you. And it’s okay! If you follow this guide thoroughly and ask questions along the way, you will have a great amount of knowledge on all of this by build season!
0. Programming Languages
Unlike the robot-programming team, which uses one language (Java) the majority of the time, we use many different programming languages.
So, What Are Programming Languages?
Programming languages are sets of instructions that we give to a computer so that it can do what we ask.
What Are Some Examples of Programming Languages?
Some of the most popular programming languages are:
- Python
- Java
- C++
What Languages Do We Use the Most?
The languages we use the most are:
- Dart
- HTML
- JavaScript
- CSS
Why Do We Need Multiple Languages?
I like to think of programming languages as tools in a toolbox 🧰⚒️.
- We use hammers to drive nails.
- We use screwdrivers to tighten screws.
- We use wrenches to tighten nuts and bolts.
Now, think of programming languages like tools:
- Dart for making apps
- HTML for the structure of a website 🏗️
- JavaScript for the behavior of a website 🏃
- CSS for the design of a website 🎨
Now that we know why there are multiple languages, let’s look at what these codes look like!
Dart
HTML
JavaScript
CSS
What Do You Notice?
Some key things to take away are:
- They look similar but are not the same.
- Some of them use similar symbols like
(),{}, and;.
All of the languages above share a common quality: They all have what is known as syntax.
What Is Syntax?
The syntax of a language means the set of grammatical rules used to arrange symbols and words so that the computer can understand the code.
For example, if you say:
“I like programming.”
to someone, they will understand you.
However, if you say:
“I programming.like”
they will not know what you are saying.
The same thing goes for programming languages. If you don’t follow the grammatical rules, the computer will not understand your code and cannot do what you want it to do.
Another thing is that syntax is different for all languages.
The grammar for English is different from the grammar for Spanish and French.
Similarly, the syntax for Dart is different from HTML, JavaScript, and CSS.
Quiz
Now, if you think you understand the difference between programming languages, take this quiz to move on to the next section.
Quiz Link: [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScZfKZFoADIVWSTFvVMCMhzaXyrcpQAEtNyUytQIyDftjMw2g/viewform?usp=publish-editor ]
If you did not get a score of 9/10 or better, you may retry whenever you want, but I would recommend reviewing the lesson since this is not a graded test and is purely made for you to improve your skills.