Quick Start Guide

Get your PitCrew site live and get oriented as a new team member.

On this page: Set Up Your Website · Joining the Team · Subteams · Resources

Set Up Your Website

The first thing to do as a new site maintainer is run the Setup Wizard. It configures your colors, team data, and site features — no coding needed.

Using the Setup Wizard

Visit /wizard/ on your site — or it launches automatically the first time anyone visits if startup_wizard: true is set in _config.yml.

Estimated time: 2–3 hours. Have this ready before you start:

Category What you need
Team Info Team name, number, program (FTC/FRC/VEX/FLL), current season
Brand Primary and secondary colors (hex codes, or use the picker)
Online Instagram, GitHub, YouTube, Twitter URLs · contact email
People Each member: name, role, grade, grad year, bio · Each mentor: name, role, org, bio
Season Sponsors (name, tier, URL) · Awards (name, event, season) · Events (name, date, location, type)

Photos and logos are referenced by file path (e.g. /assets/images/photo.jpg). Upload the actual image files to your project separately. Fields left blank use a placeholder automatically.

The wizard walks you through 11 steps:

  1. Team Identity — name, number, program, season
  2. Brand Colors — primary and secondary, with a live preview
  3. Features — toggle blog, docs, CAD viewer, search, and more on or off
  4. Social Links — Instagram, GitHub, YouTube, Twitter, email
  5. Navigation — page order and labels
  6. Team Members — add, edit, remove
  7. Mentors — add, edit, remove
  8. Sponsors — add, edit, remove
  9. Awards — add, edit, remove
  10. Events — add, edit, remove
  11. Review & Download

Saving Progress

A Save Progress button is in the footer on every step. Use it if you need to stop partway through.

  • Downloads pitcrew-progress.zip with all data entered so far
  • Upload those files to your project and commit — your data is preserved
  • When you return to /wizard/, it starts from Step 1, but all saved data is already in place

Finishing Up

On the Review & Download step:

  • Check the “Skip wizard on startup” box (recommended) so visitors aren’t auto-redirected once you go live
  • Click Download pitcrew-config.zip

Then deploy the changes:

# 1. Extract the zip and overwrite files in your project
# 2. Preview locally
bundle exec jekyll serve

# 3. Push to GitHub
git add -A
git commit -m "Initial site setup via wizard"
git push

Manual Configuration (No Wizard)

Prefer editing files directly? Everything the wizard does maps to two places:

  • _config.yml — colors, features, navigation, social links, team identity
  • _data/*.yml — team.yml, mentors.yml, sponsors.yml, awards.yml, events.yml

See the Site Configuration guide for a full reference.

Joining the Team

New to the robotics team? Here’s how your first week typically goes.

Your First Week

Day 1 — Orientation

  • Meet the team and mentors
  • Tour the workspace
  • Review safety guidelines
  • Get added to communication channels

Days 2–3 — Training

  • Complete safety training (required before touching any tools)
  • Learn basic tool and equipment usage
  • Shadow experienced members
  • Start a beginner task or project

Days 4–5 — Integration

  • Join a subteam based on your interests
  • Start contributing to real tasks
  • Ask lots of questions — that’s what this phase is for

Subteams

Choose a subteam based on what excites you. Most members specialize in one or two areas.

Mechanical

Build and maintain the robot’s physical structure.

  • What you’ll do: Fabricate parts, assemble mechanisms, iterate on designs
  • Skills gained: CAD, machining, 3D printing, hand tools
  • Tools: Drills, saws, 3D printers, CNC machines

Programming

Write the software that makes the robot move and think.

  • What you’ll do: Control systems, autonomous routines, driver assist features
  • Skills gained: Java or Python, version control (Git), debugging, computer vision
  • Tools: VS Code, GitHub, Android Studio (FTC)

Electrical

Design and build the robot’s wiring and electronics.

  • What you’ll do: Wire motors and sensors, manage power distribution, troubleshoot circuits
  • Skills gained: Wiring, soldering, multimeter usage, circuit design
  • Tools: Multimeter, crimping tools, wire strippers

Business

Handle the behind-the-scenes work that keeps the team funded and recognized.

  • What you’ll do: Reach out to sponsors, write award submissions, run social media, organize outreach events
  • Skills gained: Communication, writing, graphic design, project management
  • Tools: Presentation software, Canva, social media platforms

Resources

Resource Link
Team Calendar [Link to calendar]
Communication (Slack/Discord) [Link to channel]
Code Repository [Link to GitHub]
Game Manual [Link to current season manual]

Questions? Every team member and mentor is here to help. If something isn’t in the docs, just ask.