How should teams document their programming processes?

Documenting programming processes is essential for several reasons, including communication, collaboration, and learning. Including code comments, design decisions, and changes made provides a comprehensive view of the development journey. This practice not only makes it easier for team members to understand each other’s work but also facilitates future enhancements and troubleshooting.

Code comments help clarify the purpose and functionality of specific sections of the code, while documenting design decisions gives insight into the rationale behind choices made during development. Additionally, noting changes allows teams to track progress and understand the evolution of their project. This thorough documentation can be invaluable during competition, as it demonstrates the team’s work process and planning skills, which are often evaluated.

In contrast, submitting only the final code does not provide necessary context and can limit opportunities for reflection and iterative improvement. Keeping designs secret contradicts the collaborative and educational goals of robotics competitions, as sharing knowledge can enhance the learning experience. Oral presentations alone may not capture the intricacies of the coding process and may miss key technical details that written documentation can effectively convey.