What is 
CrocoDocs?
CrocoDocs is your powerful, student-led guide to robotics programming! 🚀
We're here to share tips, tricks, and insights for FIRST Tech Challenge (FTC) and FIRST Global Challenge (FGC). All content is created by students who live and breathe robotics competitions. Let's make coding fun and accessible for everyone! ✨
This site is not officially affiliated with FIRST. It is also made in the assumption that all users have an understanding of what FIRST, FTC, and FGC are.
The information shared here is based on both factual sources and firsthand experience. Even if an issue only occurs one out of ten times, it will still be documented, as in robotics, the edge cases matter.
Some pages may recompile and rephrase information from various sources to make it more accessible or relevant. However, if an existing resource already covers a topic thoroughly and clearly, we will link to it directly instead of rewriting it. Additionally, sources and references used in each page will be listed where applicable.
Note
Throughout this handbook, only FTC will be referenced by name. Unless otherwise noted, all information applies equally to both FTC and FGC.
FTC primarily uses Java (and occasionally Kotlin) for programming, whereas FGC relies mainly on JavaBlocks, with some teams using OnBotJava. References to Challenge relies mainly on JavaBlocks, with some teams using OnBotJava. References to external hardware not included in the official FGC kit may therefore not apply to that competition.
Philosophy
The goal of CrocoDocs is to make technical knowledge in FIRST robotics more accessible, accurate, and student-driven. Many programming concepts are scattered across forums, videos, and codebases. This site aims to unify them into a single, structured reference.
Maintainers
The site is currently maintained by:
- Matthew Williams (FGC Jamaica, FTC 16075)
Navigation
Explore key sections of the site below:
Getting Started
New to programming robots? Learn the basics of FTC and FGC development, from setup to writing your first lines of code.
Libraries
Explore and compare popular robotics libraries like Road Runner and EasyOpenCV. Find the best tools for your needs.
Sensors and Vision
Understand how to work with encoders, IMUs, and vision systems like AprilTags and TFOD to give your robot awareness.
Control Systems
Master the fundamentals of robot control — from joystick mapping and motor commands to PID tuning and feedback loops.
Autonomous
Learn to create reliable autonomous routines using path planning, localization, and sensor-driven decision-making.
Codebase Etiquette and Good Practices
Keep your code clean and collaborative. Learn best practices for structure, naming, abstraction, and teamwork.