Cross-platform open-source alternative to the FRC Driver Station for operating FRC robots on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
QDriverStation is a cross-platform, open-source alternative to the official FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Driver Station software. It enables teams to operate FRC robots from 2009-2017 on Windows, macOS, and GNU/Linux systems, with 2020 support in development. This provides a flexible, community-driven tool for robotics teams that need an accessible solution beyond the official Windows-only software.
FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) teams and robotics educators who need to control FRC robots on non-Windows operating systems like macOS or Linux. It also targets developers interested in customizing robot communication protocols through its underlying LibDS library.
Developers choose QDriverStation because it offers a free, open-source, and cross-platform alternative to the proprietary FRC Driver Station, allowing teams to use their preferred operating systems. Its modular design with the separate LibDS library enables customization and integration with other systems like ROS, providing flexibility beyond standard FRC tools.
Cross-platform clone of the FRC Driver Station
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Runs on Windows, macOS, and GNU/Linux, providing a viable alternative to the official Windows-only FRC Driver Station, as explicitly stated in the README.
Supports FRC robots from 2009 to 2017, with 2020 support in development, offering broad compatibility for older hardware without platform restrictions.
Uses the separate LibDS C library, allowing developers to customize communication protocols or integrate with systems like ROS, as mentioned in the README for flexibility.
Provides AppImage packages for Linux, enabling simple execution without complex installation steps, detailed in the install notes with terminal commands.
Support for 2020 and newer FRC robots is still in development, limiting its use for teams with the latest hardware and requiring patience for updates.
On macOS, additional drivers are required for Xbox 360 controllers, and on Linux, some devices may be incorrectly detected as joysticks, necessitating manual intervention as warned in the README.
As an open-source project, it lacks the formal support and frequent updates of the official FIRST software, which could lead to compatibility gaps or slower bug fixes in critical scenarios.
QDriverStation is an open-source alternative to the following products: