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WPILib Installation

The WPI Robotics Library (WPILib) is the standard software library provided for teams to write code for their FRC robots. You will spend most of the time working with it.

Installation​

Click on here to download

WPILib supports Windows, MacOS and Linux, but be aware that Windows 10 support might be ended in 2027 due to the release of new control system. You also want to make sure that you are using the correct version according to the control system we will use in 2027.

Windows 10+ users can right click on the downloaded disk image and select Mount to open it. Then launch WPILibInstaller.exe. Upon opening the installer, you’ll be presented with the below screen. Go ahead and press Start.

If this is your first time using WPILib, Everything is recommended. Choose Install for this User if you do not want your WPILib to be used by other users of this device. Otherwise, choose Install for all Users

If this is your first time using WPILib, Download for this computer only is recommended.

Wait for the Installation to complete.

After installation is complete, you will be presented with the finished screen. Click on Finish to quit the installer.

What is installed​

  • Visual Studio Code - The supported IDE for 2019 and later robot code development. The offline installer sets up a separate copy of VS Code for WPILib development, even if you already have VS Code on your machine. This is done because some of the settings that make the WPILib setup work may break existing workflows if you use VS Code for other projects.

  • C++ Compiler - The toolchains for building C++ code for the roboRIO

  • Gradle - The specific version of Gradle used for building/deploying C++ or Java robot code

  • Java JDK/JRE - A specific version of the Java JDK/JRE that is used to build Java robot code and to run any of the Java based Tools (Dashboards, etc.). This exists side by side with any existing JDK installs and does not overwrite the JAVA_HOME variable

  • WPILib Tools - SmartDashboard, Shuffleboard, RobotBuilder, OutlineViewer, PathWeaver, Glass, SysId, Data Log Tool, roboRIO Team Number Setter, AdvantageScope, Elastic, WPIcal

  • WPILib Dependencies - OpenCV, etc.

  • VS Code Extensions - WPILib and Java/C++/Python extensions for robot code development in VS Code

  • Documentation - Offline copies of this frc-docs documentation and Java/C++/Python APIs

Uninstalling​

  1. Delete the appropriate wpilib folder (C:\Users\Public\wpilib\YYYY where YYYY is the year to uninstall)

  2. Delete the desktop icons at C:\Users\Public\Public Desktop

Congratulations! Now you have taken your first step into FRC programming.