Libraries

What are FTC Libraries?

FTC libraries are pre-built code packages that make complex tasks easier. Instead of writing everything from scratch, you can use tested, optimized code written by experienced teams and community members.

Think of libraries like power tools — you could build furniture with just a hand saw, but a power saw makes the job faster, cleaner, and more professional.

Why Use Libraries?

Save Time:

• Don't reinvent the wheel
• Focus on your robot's unique features
• Spend more time testing and driving

Better Performance:

• Libraries are optimized and tested by many teams
• Benefit from community improvements and bug fixes
• Get features that would take months to build yourself

Learn From Experts:

• Study well-written code
• Understand advanced concepts through examples
• Build on proven solutions

Popular FTC Libraries

We'll cover the most widely-used libraries in FTC:

Path Planning & Autonomous

• Pedro Pathing - Modern path following system with smooth curves and easy setup
• Road Runner - Advanced motion planning library (industry standard)

Development & Debugging

• FTC Dashboard - Real-time telemetry, configuration, and debugging tool
• NextFTC - Command-based framework with built-in control systems and gamepad bindings

Vision Processing

• EasyOpenCV - Simplified computer vision with pipeline support for color detection and object recognition

Control & Math

• FTC Lib - Utility library with geometry, control, and hardware abstractions
• Road Runner Core - Standalone trajectory math and kinematics

Choosing the Right Libraries

For Beginners:

• Start with FTC Dashboard for debugging
• Try Pedro Pathing for autonomous
• Use EasyOpenCV for simple vision tasks

For Advanced Teams:

• Road Runner for complex autonomous
• Custom control systems with FTC Lib
• Multiple cameras with advanced pipelines

Things to Consider:

• ✅ How much time do you have to learn?
• ✅ Does it fit your robot's design?
• ✅ Is there good documentation?
• ✅ Is the library actively maintained?
• ✅ Do other teams use it? (community support)

Installing Libraries

Most FTC libraries use Gradle for installation. You'll typically:

1. Add repository to your build.gradle
2. Add dependency line for the library
3. Sync your project
4. Import and use in your code

We'll show exact steps for each library in their individual pages.

Getting Help

Documentation:

• Each library has its own documentation site
• Read the README files on GitHub
• Check example code in the repository

Community:

• FTC Discord servers
• Reddit r/FTC
• Chief Delphi forums
• Team websites and blogs

Next Steps

Explore the individual library pages to learn how to install and use each one. Start with the tools that solve your biggest problems first — if autonomous is your struggle, try Pedro Pathing or Road Runner. If debugging is hard, start with FTC Dashboard.