Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to common questions

Unanswered Questions

If you have a question that is not answered here, please let me know by sending me an e-mail to vlcek@beyondsimulations.com or by creating an issue on GitHub.

Contribution and Mistakes

If you have found a mistake in the course material or if you have any suggestion on how to improve the course, please let me know by sending me an e-mail to vlcek@beyondsimulations.com or by creating an issue on GitHub.

FAQs

How can I download PDF slides from the lecture?

  1. First, open the lecture you want to download the slides from.
  2. Then, click on the RevealJS button in the top right corner.
  3. Now, click on the three stacked bars in the lower left corner.
  4. Then, click on Tools in the upper left corner.
  5. Now you can select PDF Export Mode and then save the slides as a PDF.

Unfortunately, this method does not work perfectly on all browsers. If you have a Chrome based browser, you should be fine.

Can I upload my downloaded .py back into the browser?

No. This is a one-way door. The browser editor cannot open an uploaded file. Your download is for three things: submitting checkpoints, keeping a safety copy, and working locally in Part III of the course. If you want to keep working in the browser, reloading the page is fine, but treat the downloaded file as your real safety net (see the next question).

Where is my notebook work saved?

Your progress lives in the browser tab: reloading the page keeps it, but closing the tab and opening the course link again later starts you from a clean notebook. There is no cross-device sync in the browser, and clearing browser data or private mode also wipes it. The only guaranteed copy is menu → Download → Download Python code. Make that download a habit at the end of every session.

How are checkpoints graded?

The green ✅ checks inside a checkpoint are provisional: they tell you you’re on track. Final grading re-runs your submitted .py against a reference test suite on my side. Upload your download to the matching Moodle assignment before the 40 minutes are up; Moodle’s clock decides what is on time, so start the download a couple of minutes early. Session II has an ungraded 15-minute practice run (Checkpoint 0) before the lab, so the routine is familiar by Checkpoint 1.

How do I open and work on a lab notebook?

The lab is done in class, right after the lecture and a short break; whatever is left, you finish at home. Each session has a tutorial page (menu Tutorials). Click Open in browser: the notebook runs in that tab, nothing to install. A notebook is a page of cells; click into a cell and press Cmd/Ctrl+Enter (or the ▶ button) to run it, and the output appears below. The check cells under each exercise turn green when your answer is right. Before you leave: top-right notebook menu → Download → Download Python code.

What if I miss a checkpoint?

There are no make-ups, and the arithmetic is built for one miss: four checkpoints (48 points) plus the project (40 points) still clear the 60-point pass mark. A second miss makes passing hard, so tell us early if something is going wrong.

Where do the solutions appear?

On each tutorial page, as a read-only solutions notebook, published after the session.

How does the final project work?

Pairs are formed in Session X, in class (solo if the numbers don’t come out even). Each pair works in one private GitHub repository, submits its link on Moodle before the presentation session, and presents in Session XIII: 10 minutes plus 5 minutes of questions. Details and the exact date are on Moodle and in the Session X deck.

When can I ask questions?

In class, or by e-mail (address at the top of this page). There are no separate office hours.

How does the chatbot work?

The course AI is a chatbot that uses Mistral models and some custom code hosted on Hetzner in Germany. If you have any questions about the course, feel free to ask the AI. In Part I it explains and hints rather than handing you finished code; from Session VI on it gives full code on request. Note that the AI is not perfect and sometimes the answers might be incorrect. For more information about how the data is processed, please refer to the privacy policy.