Frequently Asked Questions
(Note: please visit this page frequently as it will be updated constantly during the term)

How can I access books in O'Reilly's Safari Bookshelf outside the Pitt Campus?

Links to O'Reilly's Safari Online Bookshelf are only available within pitt.edu or from outside pitt.edu using the University's VPN service (https://sremote.pitt.edu). Please remember to sign out once you finished reading -- the University has a very limited number of concurrent user licenses.


How do I subscribe to the class mailing list?

You should have already been automatically added to the class mailing list. If for some reason you are not, please send an email to the instructor at with the following information:

Your full name:
Your pitt account:
Your email address:
  • You can use a non-Pitt email address if you want.
  • Please register as soon as possible! You will not be able to submit your homework until you register.


I have a question. What is the best way to get an answer?

  1. Attend class reqularly.

  2. Check the class web page at least twice a week.

  3. Go to the Recitation Sessions, where the TA will go over sample projects/exercices.

  4. Meet the TA during his office hours.

  5. Meet the instructor during his office hours.

  6. For assignments: use the Piazza system

  7. Send email to the instructor and the TAs at


What is permissible collaboration?

Please see some examples of permissible and prohibited collaborations: Collaboration vs. Cheating


I ran out of Disk Quota. What should I do?

Student accounts are initially allocated very little AFS disk quota on CIS machines. This is very limited, so, in order to be able to work on your assignments and projects, you should request from the CSSD Help Desk to increase your disk quota ASAP.