When you head back to school, you may notice VEXcode looking a bit different! As part of our ongoing push to ensure VEXcode is accessible for all learners, we are implementing some changes to make the experience of coding with VEXcode more user-friendly and efficient.

High Contrast Colors

One of these changes is new high contrast colorization that meets the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) AAA contrast standards for accessibility. If you have coded using VEXcode AIM, you will be familiar with this update, but now it will apply to all VEXcode platforms by default. High contrast colors support learners with visual impairments while enhancing the coding experience in VEXcode for all learners by improving readability.

Toolbox Category Organization

We have also reorganized the Toolbox to be more logical and intuitive.

Blocks

Currently, blocks are organized in the Toolbox by block shape. In this update, they will be organized according to the device, or part of the robot you are coding. For example, if you want to use VEXcode IQ to code the Controller in the current organization, you would need to know to look for the needed blocks in the Events category and in the ‘Controller Sensing’ subcategory of the Sensing category.

In the newly organized VEXcode Blocks Toolbox, all the blocks needed to to code the Controller can be found in the ‘Controller’ category. This new organization prevents students from having to memorize where to find certain blocks. This makes it easier to find the blocks needed and encourages exploration of the various blocks that can be used to code specific aspects of a robot.

Python and C++

The reorganization also applies to text-based coding in Python and C++. Additionally, colorful icons have been added to each category, and colorization has been added to commands, improving overall readability and usability. The Python toolbox is now also screen reader and keyboard navigation friendly.

In the future, we plan to ensure the order of the blocks and commands in the VEXcode API reference will follow the same organization as seen in VEXcode, making it easy for students to find the information they need about how to use each block or command in a project.

Beta Sites Now Available

Although these changes won’t be released until mid-to-late-August, you can get a sneak peek at these changes right now! As a PD+ subscriber, you can visit the beta site for the platform of your choice to experience these upcoming changes firsthand.  The beta sites are fully functional, so you can create projects, download them to your robot, and test them out! The beta sites can be accessed using these links:

• VEXcode 123: https://beta-code123.vex.com/
• VEXcode GO: https://beta-codego.vex.com/
• VEXcode AIM: https://beta-codeaim.vex.com/
• VEXcode IQ: https://beta-codeiq.vex.com/
• VEXcode EXP: https://beta-codeexp.vex.com/
• VEXcode V5: https://beta-codev5.vex.com/
• VEXcode VR: https://beta-vr.vex.com/

For more information about WCAG 2.1, the legal requirements around accessibility, and the ways in which VEX is working to ensure an equitable experience for all learners, see Jason McKenna’s keynote presentation from the 2025 VEX Educator Conference.