Hardware Client for Linux/macOS?

[qwertychouskie]

I know this has been brought up before, but is there any ETA on a Linux (and Mac) release? Many programmers exclusively use Linux or macOS as the development environment is leagues better. Having to find an old Windows system just to update the OS/firmware of the Rev hardware is extremely sub-optimal. (For example, of the 3 programmers on our team, only 1 is still on Windows.)

[qwertychouskie]

Also, if you need any help testing, I'm happy to help (exclusive Linux user myself).

[ItsHarper]

Unfortunately we don't have an ETA, but it's still in the plans.

[ItsHarper]

It's worth noting that you don't need to use the REV Hardware Client to update the Control Hub OS, Driver Hub OS, or Expansion/Control Hub firmware. Since FTC teams are not required to use Windows for any reason (unlike FRC teams, unofficial tools aside), we've made sure that every single thing you can do to FTC hardware using the REV Hardware Client can also be done without it.

You can update the Control Hub OS from the Manage page.
You can update the Expansion/Control Hub Firmware from the Manage page or Advanced RC Settings in the Driver Station app.
You can update the Driver Hub OS from the built-in Software Manager app.
You can program your Control Hub using Android Studio, the Blocks page, or the OnBotJava page.

For FRC teams, you can technically even update the Power Distribution Hub, Pneumatic Hub, and SPARK MAX from Linux (and probably macOS) by putting the device in recovery mode and using dfu-util, but that's not officially supported.

[qwertychouskie]

This came up again recently with another student being unable to run the Hardware Client (https://www.reddit.com/r/FTC/comments/w748dn/support_rev_hardware_client_on_linux/)

Does there happen to be any ETA on this? Or even a source code repo for the Hardware Client, so the community can port it?

As Linux is extremely prevalent in development and STEM field, and also becoming more common in the mainstream with e.g. the Steam Deck, having the official Rev Hardware Client only work on Windows just feels like blocking a large portion of the community from being able to use the software. Also, Chromebooks are the de-facto standard in schools nowadays, and most Chromebooks can run desktop Linux apps, so a Linux app would also address most Chromebook users.

It's worth noting that you don't need to use the REV Hardware Client to update the Control Hub OS, Driver Hub OS, or Expansion/Control Hub firmware.

You can update the Control Hub OS from the Manage page. You can update the Expansion/Control Hub Firmware from the Manage page or Advanced RC Settings in the Driver Station app. You can update the Driver Hub OS from the built-in Software Manager app.

Technically, you can even update the Power Distribution Hub, Pneumatic Hub, and SPARK MAX from Linux (and probably macOS) by putting the device in recovery mode and using dfu-util, but that's not officially supported.

It is mostly the thing that in my team we are actually people with Macbooks or Linux laptops ( Yes we don't like windows for many reasons), and we cannot emulate the REV HARDWARE CLIENT and we also cannot port it, so the only way it to use an annoying VM or find a way to send our code to the control hub directly.

[Windwoes]

or find a way to send our code to the control hub directly.

You do not need the hardware client to program the Control Hub.

[KenwoodFox]

My team also is a linux/bsd focused team and i really like what you said about chromebooks too. Porting an app can be a lot of work, maybe adding a section to the docs to make dfu-util maybe not offical but, more well known. Using an external tool like that could be our community contribution

or find a way to send our code to the control hub directly.

You do not need the hardware client to program the Control Hub.

idk our coach said that we need the rev hardware client to create code ( with blocks or onbot java ) and send it to the robot.

[ItsHarper]

or find a way to send our code to the control hub directly.

You do not need the hardware client to program the Control Hub.

idk our coach said that we need the rev hardware client to create code ( with blocks or onbot java ) and send it to the robot.

You can also program in Blocks or OnBotJava by following these instructions to connect your computer to the Control Hub's web interface: https://docs.revrobotics.com/duo-control/control-hub-gs/connect-to-the-control-hub-robot-control-console#web-browser

[ErikSRoth]

So, our FRC team is doing all the coding from macbooks. I am hoping that a mac/linux version of the hardware client is still on the roadmap. The only windows machine we are using is for the drivestation since there is no FrC legal alternative for mac/linux (which I will be bugging FRC about). If this is still in the works, I would be willing to beta test for it as currently on a mac I use Parallels to run a virtual windows box for the Rev hardware client and a couple of the FRC tools. Currently we are using the Rev Spark Max controllers over CAN for the brushlees and PWM for the brushed. I was looking (and have not found) and documentation for a web interface for the Spark Max. If there is one a link would be appreciated. While the FRC is great for kids to learn and participate in, I feel that the lack of support for anything other than windows is not giving the kids a wide enough learning experience based on what they will face in the real job markets. Just my 2C ::sunglasses::

[KenwoodFox]

My team is 100% linux, we have a virtual machine running on one of the servers that runs windows so we can use stuff like the imaging tool and other NI tools, also the rev hw client. we use qemu for USB passthrough to the spark maxes and the rios.

[InfinityDevTech]

+1 Would love to see a linux client.

[qwertychouskie]

Just wanted to check in and see if there has been any progress on this front. Given that much of the client is built around open-source/cross-platform technologies (Chromium/Electron, JS, adb, libusb, etc), porting some, if not all, functionality to other platforms should definitely be viable.

I would love to try to port it myself, but unlike the old SPARK MAX Client, the Hardware Client sadly doesn't seem to have the source code publicly available. If you are interested having the hardware client ported, hit me up :)

[CamoCatX]

I would also like to see a port to *nix (meaning, UNIX and UNIX-like operating systems, such as chromebooks, Macs, and Linux) OS's. As a programmer I see a lot of other tools for the technical-savvy already on *nix. Or even, made for it. On other robotic tools, (such as ROS) it is literally for Linux. So a port (official or not) would be a favor for an already thriving community.

[xu-shawn]

+1