Tools and Setup

Preface: For programming in this class, you will want to have good tools. Good tools make programming easier, and let you focus on the (more fun and interesting) content. You will also need to have tools to work with GIT for source control as this will be our mechanism for handing in assignments.

We recommend using Visual Studio Code (VSCode) for doing the programming assignments in CS559.

In CS559 this semester, we will use GitHub as a mechanism for distributing framework code (the starter code for assignments) as well as to have students hand in their assignments.

If you’ve never used Git, some of this might not make sense yet, since we are using Git terminology. See Learning Git and GitHub below for help in getting started.

In order to complete your assignments in CS559, you will need to use Git to send files back and forth to GitHub. We recommend that you install proper tools and use SSH authentication - it takes some time to set up, but it makes everything so much easier.

Instructions on how to get Copilot Pro for free as a student.

Instructions on how to setup GitHub Copilot so that it gives suggestions in VS Code.

Overview

All workbook submissions in CS559 are managed through UW GitLab:

https://git.doit.wisc.edu

Unlike GitHub Classroom, you do not need to accept an assignment invitation and you do not create your own repository.

Instead:

1. Course staff create a private GitLab subgroup for each student.
2. Course staff create workbook repositories for each assignment.
3. Students clone their workbook repository, complete the assignment, and push their changes back to GitLab.

Before the First Workbook

1. Log in to UW GitLab:

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