VEX Programming
There are a number of different ways to program the VEX microcontroller.
Contents
MPLabs
MicroChip gives away to students and sells the MPLabs IDE. The IDE supports programming in both C and assembly.
Easy-C
Easy-C and Easy-C Pro is the best drag and drop VEX programming tool out there. It allows beginning roboteers to drag motors, sensors and transmitters to the code stream. There is a pretty decent interactive debugger.
RobotC
In 2008 RobotC was released. It is positioned between the MPLab compiler and the drag and drop of Easy-C. The advantage of RobotC is the interactive debugger. It's far more detailed and has more features than Easy-C.
RobotC also works with the Lego Mindstorms system.
WPILibrary
At the center of Easy-C is a linkable library that can be used to do robot functions. The library makes the MPLabs C compiler easier to develop code with. The WPILibrary has extensive documentation and samples.
Cortex
The latest Cortex User's Guide, it has all of the color codes for the status lights
You must have EasyC Pro or RobotC for Cortex to program the Cortex.