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Installation

BLine has two pieces: the GUI for designing paths on a desktop, and the Java library that runs path-following on your robot. They are independent — install whichever pieces your workflow needs.

Which do I install?

  • Visual workflow → install both the GUI and the library.
  • JSON-only workflow → install only the library and hand-author JSON in deploy/autos/paths/.
  • Code-only workflow → install only the library and build Path objects in Java.

BLine-GUI

Download the latest release for your platform from the BLine-GUI Releases page.

BLine-GUI publishes both an installer and a portable ZIP.

Installer

  1. Download BLine-{version}-Setup.exe.
  2. Run it and follow the wizard.
  3. Launch BLine from the Start Menu.

Portable

  1. Download BLine-{version}-Windows-Portable.zip.
  2. Extract anywhere.
  3. Run BLine.exe.

The bundles are fully self-contained — no Python install required.

Windows Defender / antivirus

The current Windows binaries are unsigned. On a clean Defender install they have not been flagged in testing, but third-party AV may occasionally false-positive. If that happens, either whitelist BLine or install from source instead (see Option 2).

DMG (Apple Silicon)

  1. Download BLine-{version}-macOS-arm64.dmg.
  2. Open the DMG and drag BLine to your Applications folder.
  3. Launch BLine from Applications.

macOS builds were added in BLine-GUI v0.5.0. If you are on older Intel Macs or want the very latest main, install from source (Option 2) instead.

AppImage (all distributions)

  1. Download BLine-x86_64.AppImage.
  2. Make it executable and run it: 
    chmod +x BLine-x86_64.AppImage
./BLine-x86_64.AppImage

No system dependencies required.

Option 2: Install from Source (Python package)

Use this if you want the latest main, need an unsupported platform/architecture, or prefer a pip-managed install.

Quick install (any platform with pipx):

pipx install git+https://github.com/edanliahovetsky/BLine-GUI.git
bline

To create a desktop shortcut with the BLine icon after installation:

bline --create-shortcut
Don't have pipx yet? Platform-specific setup 
pip install pipx
pipx ensurepath
# restart your terminal
pipx install git+https://github.com/edanliahovetsky/BLine-GUI.git

PySide6 build error? Install Python 3.11 or 3.12 from python.org and specify it:

py -3.12 -m pip install --upgrade pip pipx
py -3.12 -m pipx ensurepath
py -3.12 -m pipx install git+https://github.com/edanliahovetsky/BLine-GUI.git

brew install pipx
pipx ensurepath
pipx install git+https://github.com/edanliahovetsky/BLine-GUI.git

# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt install pipx
# Fedora
sudo dnf install pipx
# Arch
sudo pacman -S python-pipx

pipx ensurepath
pipx install git+https://github.com/edanliahovetsky/BLine-GUI.git

PySide6 build error? Pin Python 3.11 or 3.12:

pipx install --python python3.12 git+https://github.com/edanliahovetsky/BLine-GUI.git

Updating the GUI

# If you installed via a prebuilt binary:
# download the latest release and reinstall.

# If you installed via pipx:
pipx upgrade bline

# If you installed via pip in a venv:
pip install --upgrade git+https://github.com/edanliahovetsky/BLine-GUI.git
pipx upgrade bline fails on Windows

This happens when pipx is pointing at a moved/updated Python install. Recreate the venv:

pipx reinstall bline
# or
pipx uninstall bline
pipx install git+https://github.com/edanliahovetsky/BLine-GUI.git

Uninstalling the GUI

# pipx
pipx uninstall bline

# pip: just delete the venv / folder you created

BLine-Lib

BLine-Lib is distributed as a WPILib vendor library via JitPack. The current release is v0.8.4.

  1. Open VS Code with your FRC robot project.
  2. Press Ctrl+Shift+P (Cmd+Shift+P on macOS).
  3. Run WPILib: Manage Vendor Libraries.
  4. Select Install new libraries (online).

  5. Paste:

    https://raw.githubusercontent.com/edanliahovetsky/BLine-Lib/main/BLine-Lib.json

WPILib will download the vendor JSON and pin it to your project. To update to a newer version later, re-run the command and paste the same URL.

Option 2: Gradle (JitPack)

If you prefer explicit Gradle configuration, add JitPack and pin the version in build.gradle:

repositories {
    maven { url 'https://jitpack.io' }
}

dependencies {
    implementation 'com.github.edanliahovetsky:BLine-Lib:v0.8.4'
}

Pin an exact version tag in a season. Using main-SNAPSHOT is only appropriate during off-season experimentation.

Verifying the install

After the vendor JSON is picked up (it can take a Gradle sync), the following import should resolve:

import frc.robot.lib.BLine.*;

If you see Unresolved dependency: com.github.edanliahovetsky:BLine-Lib:…, refresh Gradle. If it still fails, double-check the version tag exists on the releases page.

Requirements

  • Java 17 (the current WPILib toolchain)
  • WPILib 2026.x
  • A holonomic drivetrain (swerve, mecanum, etc.). BLine expects robot-relative ChassisSpeeds in and out; any holonomic chassis exposing those primitives will work.

Next Steps