Chips’nCode
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Using VEXcode

YEAR 9 DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES • VEXCODE REFERENCE

VEXcode Setup and Help

Use this page whenever you need help getting VEXcode working, configuring your robot, finding the right coding mode, or checking what a command actually does.

Use this page first before going searching around the internet. The goal is to keep your setup help, coding help, and reference tools in one place inside QLearn.

🎯 WHAT THIS PAGE HELPS YOU DO
  • install or open VEXcode
  • choose between Blocks and Text
  • connect the Brain and download a project
  • configure your drivetrain, claw, and sensors
  • find help for commands and functions
  • troubleshoot common setup problems
📌 IMPORTANT

Do not wait until a lesson is half over to discover that your robot is not connected or your devices are not configured.

Check your setup before you start coding.

1️⃣ Install or open VEXcode

Before you can code the robot, you need VEXcode working on your device. Use the setup guide and keep using the same version during the term.

💻 OPEN VEXCODE

The web version is the main version we use in this course. Open that first. Only download the installer if your teacher tells you to or if the web version is not suitable on your device.

Which one should I use?

  • Use VEXcode Web first. This is the main version for class.
  • Use Windows only if you need the installed version on a Windows device.
  • Use Mac only if you need the installed version on a Mac.
✅ FIRST-TIME SETUP CHECK
  • VEXcode opens properly
  • your device can connect to the robot Brain
  • you can open a project template
  • you can see the Devices window
  • you can download and run a project

2️⃣ Choose the right coding mode

VEXcode gives you more than one way to represent robot behaviour. This does not mean the robot is changing. It means the same ideas can be shown in different forms.

🟦 BLOCKS

Open the VEXcode Blocks guide

Use Blocks when you want to see structure clearly, prototype quickly, or test behaviour step by step.

🐍 PYTHON

Open the VEXcode Python guide

Use Text when you want to work directly with function calls, arguments, and code structure in Python.

Important: Blocks and Python are not two separate robots. They are two ways of controlling the same robot. You should be able to explain what your code is doing in either mode.

3️⃣ Connect the Brain and download a project

Before your code can run on the robot, your device and the Brain need to be connected properly.

🔧 WHAT TO DO
  1. Open VEXcode.
  2. Turn the robot Brain on.
  3. Connect your device to the Brain using the method shown in the setup guide for your device.
  4. Open the correct project template.
  5. Make sure your robot devices are configured correctly.
  6. Download the project to the Brain.
  7. Run the project and watch what actually happens.
✅ BEFORE YOU SAY “IT DOESN’T WORK”
  • Is the Brain on?
  • Is the battery charged?
  • Is the correct project open?
  • Did you actually download the latest version?
  • Did you run the project after downloading?
⚠️ COMMON MISTAKES
  • running an old version of the project
  • forgetting to configure devices
  • assuming the cable or wireless connection is working when it is not
  • testing before checking the starting position

4️⃣ Configure your robot devices properly

A lot of coding problems are actually configuration problems. If your drivetrain, claw, or sensors are not configured properly, the robot will not behave the way you expect.

🚗 DRIVETRAIN

The drivetrain lets you code the robot to drive and turn without coding each wheel motor separately.

  • Open the Devices window.
  • Select Add a Device.
  • Choose 2 Motor Drivetrain or 4 Motor Drivetrain to match your robot.
  • Select the ports for the left and right motors.
  • Select Done.
🦀 CLAW / OTHER MOTORS

Individual motors or motor groups can be configured and labelled so your code is clearer. For example, a claw motor can be labelled with directions such as open and close.

This matters because your code will be easier to read and much easier to debug.

Need sensor setup help?

When you start using sensors, you also need to configure them in the Devices window. For example, the Optical Sensor needs to be added in the correct port before you can use its sensing blocks or Python commands.

Blocks view

Once configured, Optical Sensing blocks appear in the toolbox.

Python view

Once configured, Optical Sensor commands become available in Text mode.

5️⃣ Use Help and reference tools properly

VEXcode includes built-in Help, and you also have access to documentation that explains what commands and functions are available. Use these tools instead of guessing command names.

📘 BUILT-IN HELP

Use the Help inside VEXcode when you need to know what a block or command does. This is one of the fastest ways to check meaning, arguments, and intended use.

📚 API REFERENCE

Open the VEX IQ Python API reference

Use this when you want to check what function names exist, what arguments they take, and how robot features are controlled in Python.

📝 GOOD HABIT

When you find a useful function or block, add it to your notes. This term you are gradually building your own usable reference library instead of waiting until the end to start learning function calls.

6️⃣ Troubleshooting checklist

Work through this properly before asking for help.

1. Check setup
  • Brain on
  • battery charged
  • device connected
  • correct project open
2. Check configuration
  • drivetrain added
  • correct motor ports
  • claw motor labelled properly
  • sensor port correct
3. Check the code
  • read it top to bottom
  • run a simpler test first
  • change one thing at a time
  • download again after editing
When asking for help, do not just say: “It doesn’t work.”
Say: what you expected, what actually happened, and what you have already checked.
🔗 Quick links (Coming soon)

As more support pages are built, the links below will go live.

Internal help page for VEXcode setup, coding modes, configuration, and troubleshooting