012 how-to: get started on macOS

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Put the robot’s code on a Mac and build it. After this, every lesson starts in Android Studio with the project open.

the steps

H012S010: install Android Studio

The robot’s code is written in Android Studio. The team uses one version of it, Quail 4, so everyone sees the same screens. It is not the newest, so it comes from the page of older versions.

Chip. Click the Apple menu, then About This Mac. It shows whether the Mac has an Apple chip or an Intel chip. The files below differ for each.

Download.

  • Open https://developer.android.com/studio/archive and click I agree under the terms.

  • Click Android Studio Quail 4 | 2026.1.4 Patch 1 to open it.

  • Click the file for your Mac: android-studio-quail4-patch1-mac_arm.dmg for an Apple chip, or android-studio-quail4-patch1-mac.dmg for an Intel chip. It is about 1.5 GB. If Safari asks to allow downloads, click Allow.

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Install.

  • Open the downloaded file.

  • Drag Android Studio onto the Applications folder.

  • Start Android Studio from Applications. If macOS says it came from the internet, click Open.

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Check.

  • Android Studio starts and asks to Help improve Android Studio. Click Don’t send.

H012S020: let Android Studio fetch what it needs

The first time it starts, Android Studio’s setup wizard downloads the Android tools the code is built with.

Setup.

  • Click Next on Welcome.

  • Pick Standard and click Next.

  • Click Next on Verify Settings.

  • Click each license on the left, pick Accept, and click Next.

  • Wait while it downloads, then click Finish.

../_images/fig-l012-wizard-standard.png

Check.

  • The last page of the wizard reads Android SDK is up to date.

  • Welcome to Android Studio opens, with New Project, Open and Clone Repository.

If a note says Rabbit 1 available, leave it. The team stays on Quail 4.

H012S030: install AdvantageScope

AdvantageScope draws what the robot is doing: where it is on the field, and graphs of its numbers.

Download. Open https://github.com/Mechanical-Advantage/AdvantageScope/releases/tag/v26.0.2. Under Assets, click the file for your Mac:

  • an Apple chip: advantagescope-mac-arm64-v26.0.2.dmg

  • an Intel chip: advantagescope-mac-x64-v26.0.2.dmg

Install. Open the file. Drag AdvantageScope onto the Applications folder. Start it from there. If macOS asks, click Open.

Check.

  • AdvantageScope opens on its Line Graph tab, with No data available on the left.

../_images/fig-l012-advantagescope.png

H012S040: get the project

The robot’s code lives on GitHub. Android Studio copies it to the laptop with a tool called git.

Git.

  • On Welcome to Android Studio, click Clone Repository. It says Git is not installed.

  • macOS asks whether to install the command line developer tools. Click Install, then Agree, and wait for it to finish.

  • Quit Android Studio with ⌘Q, and start it again from Applications.

../_images/fig-l012-tools.png

Clone.

  • On Welcome to Android Studio, click Clone Repository.

  • Into URL, type https://github.com/msb-stitt/ftc31459-26-27-biobuzz. Leave Directory as it is.

  • Click Clone.

Trust. When it asks Trust and Open Project, click Trust Project.

../_images/fig-l012-trust.png

Check.

  • The project opens, and the Project window lists FtcRobotController and TeamCode.

H012S050: answer what Android Studio offers

While the project loads, Android Studio reads it with Gradle, the tool that builds the code. This is called a sync. The first sync downloads Java 17 and more, and takes a few minutes.

Answer. Notes pop up in the bottom right while it works. Answer each one like this:

  • Agent Mode now available: click Do not show again. The lessons do not use an AI helper.

  • Project update recommended, Android Gradle plugin version 8.13.2 has an upgrade available: click More, then Don’t ask for this project. The project needs version 8.13.2, so do not upgrade it.

  • If macOS asks whether Android Studio may find devices on the local network, click Allow.

../_images/fig-l012-offers.png
../_images/fig-l012-agp-more.png

Check.

  • The Build window’s Sync tab has a green tick beside the project.

  • Open Android Studio → Settings. Type Gradle in its search box and click Gradle under Build Tools. Under Gradle JVM criteria, Version reads 17.

../_images/fig-l012-gradle-jvm.png

H012S060: build the code

Build. Click Build → Assemble Project. The first build takes a few minutes.

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Check.

  • The Build window’s Build Output tab ends with BUILD SUCCESSFUL and 63 actionable tasks: 63 executed.