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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/Holden9607/FRC-Academy/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

FRC Academy is available in two forms: an instant web app that runs in any modern browser with zero configuration, and a downloadable Windows .exe for teams who prefer an offline or desktop experience. Most users should start with the web version — it is always up to date and requires no Java installation. The web version of FRC Academy requires no installation, no Java, and no account. Open your browser and start learning immediately.
1

Open FRC Academy in your browser

Navigate to https://holden9607.github.io/FRC-Academy/ in any modern browser — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and Safari are all supported.
2

Start a learning path

Click Motors or Controllers from the main menu to begin your first lesson. No sign-in, no download, no configuration required.
The web version is always up to date with the latest lessons and bug fixes. It does not require Java to be installed on your machine. This is the recommended way to use FRC Academy for most students and mentors.

Desktop App

The desktop app is a downloadable Windows .exe that runs FRC Academy locally on your machine. This is useful for environments with restricted internet access or for students who prefer a native window experience.
1

Go to the GitHub Releases page

Open https://github.com/Holden9607/FRC-Academy/releases/latest in your browser. This always links to the most recent stable release.
2

Download the latest .zip release

Under the Assets section of the release, click the .zip file to download it to your computer.
3

Extract the archive

Right-click the downloaded .zip file and select “Extract All”. Choose a destination folder (your Desktop or Documents folder works well) and click Extract.
4

Launch the app

Open the extracted folder and double-click FRC-Academy.exe to start the application. The main menu will appear and you can begin a lesson immediately.
Most antivirus software will scan the .exe file when you first open it. This is expected behavior for unsigned executables — the file is completely safe. If your antivirus blocks it, you can add an exclusion for the file or simply use the web version at https://holden9607.github.io/FRC-Academy/ instead.

Java Requirements

Because FRC Academy compiles and runs real robot code logic locally, the desktop app requires Java to be installed on your machine. The required Java version depends on which release you are running:
FRC Academy VersionRequired Java Version
v1.1.0 or lowerJava 8 or higher
v2.0.0 or higherJava 21 or higher
If the correct version of Java is not installed, the application will not open. Download Java from https://www.java.com/en/download/ if you are missing it. For Java 21, you can also download it directly from Adoptium or Oracle.

Troubleshooting

The most common cause is a missing or outdated Java installation. Check which version of Java you have by opening a terminal or Command Prompt and running:
java -version
Compare the output to the version requirements in the table above. If you need to install or upgrade Java, download it from https://www.java.com/en/download/ (for Java 8) or https://adoptium.net/ (for Java 21). After installing, restart your computer and try launching the app again.
FRC Academy is a student-made open-source project and the .exe is completely safe. Antivirus tools sometimes flag unsigned executables from independent developers. To resolve this:
  1. Check your antivirus quarantine and restore the file if it was removed
  2. Add an exclusion for the FRC-Academy.exe file in your antivirus settings
  3. Alternatively, switch to the web version at https://holden9607.github.io/FRC-Academy/ — it runs entirely in your browser and requires no executable download
The desktop app may lag behind the web version while updates are being packaged into a new release. If you notice missing lessons, UI differences, or bugs that seem fixed online, use the web version instead:https://holden9607.github.io/FRC-Academy/The web version is always in sync with the latest codebase and requires no reinstallation to get updates.

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