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Terms of Service

Last updated: September 2, 2026

These terms cover the CodeRunner software and any instance of it you use. By signing in to a CodeRunner instance, you agree to them.

1. What CodeRunner is​

CodeRunner is open-source software for teaching FRC robot programming: a browser-based Java editor, a per-student workspace, a simulator, telemetry, and a path-planning tool. It is self-hosted — schools and robotics teams install it and run it on their own hardware.

The organization running your instance sets its own rules for use, decides who may sign in, and controls the server. Their rules apply in addition to these terms. Where the two conflict for that instance, theirs govern.

2. Who may use it​

CodeRunner is intended for educational use by FRC teams and similar programs. Many users are minors; they use it under the supervision of the school or robotics program operating the instance. You may only sign in to an instance you have been granted access to — access is controlled by an allowlist the operator maintains.

3. Acceptable use​

Use CodeRunner for learning and building robot code. Do not:

  • attempt to escape your workspace container, reach other students' workspaces or data, or gain administrative access you were not granted
  • attack, probe, or disrupt the host machine or its network
  • use your workspace for cryptocurrency mining, hosting unrelated services, distributed computing, or anything else that consumes shared compute at other students' expense
  • run deliberately abusive workloads intended to exhaust CPU, memory, or disk
  • upload, run, or distribute malware, or content that is illegal or that violates the operator's policies
  • share your account credentials, or sign in as someone else

Workspaces run with resource limits. Working around them is a violation of these terms.

4. Your code​

You own what you write. Nothing in these terms transfers ownership of your code to the CodeRunner project or, by default, to your instance's operator. Your school or team may have its own policies about work produced in its programs.

The CodeRunner software itself is licensed under the MIT License, and the lesson content and starter projects it ships carry their own licenses. See Licenses.

5. Your data can be discarded — use Git​

Some ordinary actions intentionally and permanently replace the contents of your workspace:

  • switching to a different lesson module
  • resetting your current lesson
  • importing a GitHub repository

There is no server-side undo and no per-action backup. This is by design. Commit and push work you want to keep. Team projects imported from GitHub keep their .git directory precisely so Git can serve as the safety net.

Administrators may also delete workspaces, and instances may be shut down or rebuilt.

6. Availability​

CodeRunner instances are typically run on modest hardware by volunteers. There is no uptime guarantee, no service level commitment, and no promise that your workspace will still exist tomorrow. Instances may go down for maintenance, at the end of a season, or permanently.

7. Termination​

Your instance's operator may suspend or remove your access at any time, including for violating these terms or their own policies. You may stop using CodeRunner at any time and ask your administrator to delete your account and workspace.

8. No warranty​

CodeRunner is provided "as is," without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and noninfringement. This mirrors the disclaimer in the MIT License the software is released under.

The simulator approximates robot behavior for teaching purposes. Do not rely on it as proof that code is safe to run on physical hardware. Always follow FIRST safety rules and test on a real robot under proper supervision.

9. Limitation of liability​

To the maximum extent permitted by law, the CodeRunner authors and copyright holders are not liable for any claim, damages, or other liability — including lost work, lost data, or interrupted use — arising from the software or its use, whether in contract, tort, or otherwise.

The maintainers do not operate your instance and are not responsible for how an operator runs it or for the data on it.

10. Third-party software​

CodeRunner bundles third-party software, including AdvantageScope, PathPlanner, VSCodium, WPILib, and the Java toolchain, each under its own license. Your use of those components is subject to their terms. See Licenses. None of those projects endorse or are affiliated with CodeRunner.

11. Changes to these terms​

Changes will be posted here with an updated date above. The full revision history is public in the project repository. Continuing to use CodeRunner after a change means you accept the revised terms.

12. Governing law​

These terms are governed by the laws of the Province of Ontario, Canada, and the federal laws of Canada applicable there, without regard to conflict-of-law rules. This does not deprive you of protections under the mandatory law of your own place of residence.

13. Contact​

Questions about these terms or the software: open an issue at github.com/mathewdunne/CodeRunner/issues.

Questions about a specific installation: contact the school, team, or mentor operating it.