Help

All questions of potential general interest should be posted through Ed (follow the link from the navigation bar). You can even ask questions anonymously on Ed!

As a courtesy, before asking for help, please check Ed as well as the pages under “Help” to see if your question has already been addressed previously.

Office Hours

All office hours will be in North 232 or through this zoom link where noted. Peak office hours will be posted on Ed, not here.
* Jun will be walking from Griffith to North following the lecture. You can have your questions answered after the lecture and while he walks to North. If you head to North directly, expect a ~20-minute delay in his arrival.

• Sundays:
  • 2 – 4pm Jeevan
  • 4 – 6pm Florence
  • 4 – 6pm Adam – zoom
• Mondays:
  • 8:30-11am Rich (GTA)
  • 1 – 3pm Kevin
  • 3 – 4pm Yihao (GTA) – zoom
• Tuesdays:
  • 3 – 4pm Jun (instructor)*
  • 4 – 5:30pm Xiao (instructor)
  • 5:30 – 7pm Caleb
• Wednesdays:
  • 4 – 5pm Xiao (Instructor)
  • 5 – 6pm Frank
• Thursdays:
  • 3 – 4:30pm Jun (instructor)*
  • 3 – 5pm Jay Don
  • 5 – 7pm Raj T – zoom
  • 5 – 7pm Himanshu – zoom
• Fridays:
  • 1 – 3pm Aneesh – zoom
  • 3:05 – 4:05pm Frank
  • 3:30 – 5pm Caleb
• Saturdays:
  • 2 – 3pm Aneesh – zoom
  • 2 – 4pm Yihao (GTA)

Check announcements in lecture slides and Ed for any changes/updates!

Technical Documentation

Assignment-related:

• Getting Started with Gradiance
• Submitting Non-Gradiance Work

VM-related:

1. Start here to set up your VM! The course staff supports the following two options:
   • Use VirtualBox/Vagrant: This option is recommended if you have a Mac with Intel chip (instead of the newest Apple M1 chip), if you are an adventurous Windows user. Here, the VM will run on your own computer (“host”). It provides the convenience of sharing files between your computer and the VM transparently, as well as a GUI in case you want it.
   • Use Google Cloud: This option is available to everybody. Here, the VM runs remotely on Google Cloud. You should choose this option if VirtualBox is not supported by your computer (such as a Mac with M1 chip) or if VirtualBox is too slow on your computer. You might also want to consider this option if you want to access your VM from any computer. However, you won’t be able to work offline without an Internet connection, and it will be a bit more difficult to access GUI-based programs on your VM.
2. Once you have created your fresh VM, you need to get it ready for the course. Follow these instructions: Readying VM for the Course
3. It may be helpful to look over some Linux Basics.

Relational data:

• RA: A Relational Algebra Interpreter
• PostgreSQL Tips

Semi-structured data:

• XML Tips
• MongoDB Tips

“Big” data:

• Spark Tips

Web/mobile application development:

• Skeleton codebase for the standard Mini-Amazon option of the course project.
• Flask/Python Tips
• Duke OIT offers a wealth of relevant Roots courses/tutorials/workshops, e.g., Build Your First iPhone or iPad App, Making Your Website Interactive, Intro to React.js, Introduction to Linux, etc. Advance registration required.
• Duke Co-Lab offers office hours on full-stack web development

Additional Help

Both your academics and your health and wellness are of primary importance at Duke, and the university offers additional resources to help you both academically and in managing your daily stress and self-care:

• The Academic Resource Center (ARC) offers services to support students academically during their undergraduate careers at Duke. The ARC can provide support with time management, academic skills and strategies, unique learning styles, peer tutoring, learning consultations, learning communities, and more. ARC services are available free to any Duke undergraduate student, in any year, studying in any discipline. (919) 6845917, theARC@duke.edu.
• DuWell: (919) 681-8421, duwell@studentaffairs.duke.edu.

Specifically, if your mental health concerns and/or stressful events negatively affect your daily emotional state, academic performance, or ability to participate in your daily activities, many resources are available to help you through difficult times. Duke encourages all students to access these resources:

• DukeReach Provides comprehensive outreach services to identify and support students in managing all aspects of well-being.
• Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) include individual, group, and couples counseling services, health coaching, psychiatric services, and workshops and discussions. (919) 660-1000.
• Blue Devils Care is a convenient and cost-effective way for Duke students to receive 24/7 mental health support through TalkNow and scheduled counseling.
• Two-Click Support is a Duke Student Government and DukeReach partnership that connects students to help in just two clicks.