FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
CodeLab Access and Performance:
Q: I have the longest email address in the world. Why can't I have a shorter username?
A: You can! Go to PREFERENCES and choose a ÒNicknameÓ which you can use then as your username. DonÕt forget to click the Update Acct Info button.
Q: Can I change my password?
A: Yes. Go to the Preferences (top-level button) and change your password there.
Q: Why is CodeLab so slow?
A: There are many reasons CodeLab could be responding slowly from the speed of your machine or modem, to the current load on our servers, to the configuration of the network you are working on.
Q: How come I can't log on to CodeLab using my home computer? I have no problem at school.
A: This is most likely a configuration issue with the browser you are using at home. Or because you have a firewall program on your home computer that is preventing CodeLab from loading. Check this page for the browsers we support: http://www.turingscraft.com/browsers.html and make sure you donÕt have a pop-up blocker activated. If that doesnÕt work, send us an email with the details of your computer and browser.
Q: I know I did some exercises correctly and CodeLab claims that they haven't been done. What's wrong?
A: ItÕs probable that you have registered two accounts. Send an email to support@turingscraft.com with your username and section information.
Q: Is there a limit on the number of times I can submit a wrong answer to a single exercise?
A: No, there is no such limit.
CodeLab Navigation:
Q: How do I get to a specific exercise Ð fast?
A: There are a few ways to navigate through a course. The most convenient, perhaps, is to use the Table of Contents (TOC) on the left. (Read more about using the TOC in the Navigation section of the help system.) Keep opening up topics until you get to exercises, then click on the one that you need. Another way is to keep clicking the Next button on the main screen. This might not be the fastest way but you are not going to accidentally miss the exercise you want.
Q: How do I see the systemÕs correct solution to an exercise?
A: There should be a Solution tab above the main work area, on the green background. If it is not there, that means the correct solution is unavailable to you at present. It is up to your course instructor to set the correct solution viewable date and time.
Q: I have been doing exercises in no particular order. How do I find the ones I have not done yet?
A: Check the ÒHide CompletedÓ check box to hide the exercises that you have done already, so only the exercises you have not completed will be displayed on the screen.
Q: Can I see what exercises I have done already, and how many I have left?
A: Click on the Roster button above the Exit button.
Q: After I submit my code and it turns out to be wrong, the system sometimes tells me that I have ÒcompilationÓ errors, and other times Òlogic or runtimeÓ errors. What is the difference?
A: Compilation errors occur when your code does not compile. That means the computer cannot make an executable program out of your code, perhaps because you misspelled a keyword, did not use proper delimiters like parentheses, or for other reasons. Compilation errors need to be fixed before your code can run. On the other hand, logic or runtime errors occur after the computer has made a program out of your code and run it. Logic or runtime errors happen when your program does not produce the correct result. For example, a calculation was wrong, or your program did not display the right text on the screen, or your program hung in the middle of execution.
Q: CodeLab just says "Compilation Errors" and provides not analysis.
How can I know what's wrong?
A: Since there are infinite possible incorrect submissions to an exercise CodeLab can not always provide its own feedback on the errors. Programmers always have to use compilation errors to debug their code and CodeLab shows those errors so you can use them to help locate errors, a skill you will need to get good at if you want to be a programmer.
Q: CodeLab just says "Your code is wrong, please revise". Why can't CodeLab be more helpful?
A: CodeLab cannot always provide helpful feedback because there are just too many possible errors. Knowing your submission is wrong is helpful in the sense that CodeLab will not let you move on with a mistaken notion. Please use the FEEDBACK button to report cases in which CodeLab is not helpful and we will use that information to improve CodeLab for future students.
Q: I know my code is right, but CodeLab rejects it. Why?
A: Your code must meet EXACTLY the specifications of the exercise. This might sound harsh but computers are unforgiving. Just as you canÕt get to a web page if you misspell the URL, CodeLab will reject any answer that does not meet the specifications in the directions of the exercise.
Q: My code works on another system but CodeLab rejects it. Why?
A: Usually this because your code may compile on another system and may even appear to work. But if CodeLab rejects it, then your code is not meeting the specifications of the exercise instructions.
Q: I've tried everything and nothing works. What do I do now?
A: Often in programming you work so long on your piece of code that you stop seeing the forest for the trees, so to speak. If this happens, it is often good to clear your answer, move on to another exercise and come back to the exercise later. Rereading the section in your book that deals with the topic is not a bad idea either. When you come back to the exercise, start by reading the directions from the beginning very carefully. Then give it another shot.
Q: CodeLab is asking about things that are not in the book or in the lecture. How am I supposed to do answer those questions?
A: We at TuringÕs Craft work with your professor to make sure that CodeLab matches up with the topics covered in your lectures and course materials. Sometimes, exercises slip through. You might want to email your professor to notify him or her about this. You can also search the internet for tutorials on the topic. ThereÕs a lot of tutorials out there on the web.
Q: Why doesn't CodeLab explain how to do these exercises?
A: There are many ways to do the exercises correctly. CodeLab accepts any code that meets the specifications of the exercise. If you are stuck with an exercise, try clicking the hyper-linked terms in the directions, or referencing the textbook or your class notes. Then try out your best guess and use the systemÕs response and/or compiler errors to move yourself towards a correct submission.
Q: Why does CodeLab reject my submission for minor things like extra output?
A: In order for CodeLab to work, the system needs to be very picky about the submissions. Please stick to the specifications in the directions.
Q: What's the big deal about programming to specification? Why can't I write code that's more sophisticated than what CodeLab asks for?
A: You can and we hope that you will-- just not in CodeLab! CodeLab's purpose is to make sure you've mastered the basics. There's a great creative world beyond this and we hope you'll be part of it. You should also keep in mind that in the ÒrealÓ world, programmers are asked to write to specification all the time and there are no bonus points for getting all fancy. In fact your manager will probably get very mad at you. CodeLab, by forcing you to write to specification, gives you good practice in a skill you will need as a professional programmer.
Q: It took me a very long time to complete an exercise. Will my instructor be able to see all the incorrect answers I submitted to the system?
A: No, the instructor will only see the most recent submission (correct or incorrect), and the date and time of that submission. The instructor will not know how many incorrect submissions a student has made.
Q: I sent feedback requesting a reply a week ago and my deadline has passed! Why didn't you guys answer my request?
A: We support thousands of students each semester and are unable sometimes to give timely responses to your requests. You should not wait for our response to help you solve an exercise. While we take your feedback very seriously, we cannot offer on-demand tutoring assistance.