Overview
The software is supported on both Mac and Windows.
Step 1 – Create a GitHub Account
If you don't already have a GitHub account, create one at: https://github.com/signup.
Note: If you configure two-factor authentication (2FA), make sure it’s tied to a phone or email you can regularly access.
Step 2 – Install Required Software
Two main software installations are required:
-
GitHub Desktop
Follow Step 1 of the GitHub Desktop Getting Started guide to install and authenticate GitHub Desktop to your GitHub account.
You only need to complete “Part 1: Installing and authenticating.” -
WPILib and VS Code
Install from: WPILib Installation Guide .VS Code is the main programming environment we will use. WPILib is the code library used for FRC. The WPILib installer includes VS Code automatically.
There are several supported languages. This course uses Java, so you do not need to complete the “Additional C++ Installation for Simulation” step.
Special Note About VS Code
If you already have VS Code installed, you cannot use that version for FRC. You must use the version that comes with WPILib.
- You can install the WPILib version alongside your existing VS Code, but you must know which one to run.
- If you’re not confident identifying the right version, uninstall your existing VS Code first and then install WPILib’s version. That will leave you with only the FRC-compatible one.
Next Steps
After installation:
- Confirm you can launch GitHub Desktop and sign in.
- Open the WPILib version of VS Code to verify it starts correctly.