Inspiration

We’ve all been stuck on code and had no idea why it was throwing errors. Most tools just fix the problem for you, so you never learn why it broke. We wanted something that helps people solve problems on their own, the way a good office hours visit does.

What it does

Duck Hours is a beginner-friendly coding workspace in the browser. You write and run code in eight languages (Python, JavaScript, TypeScript, Ruby, Go, Java, C and C++), and you can describe what your program should do, set the output you expect, and set limits on run time and memory. A code helper built into the app, powered by the Meta API, points you toward what’s wrong instead of silently rewriting your code, so you find the fix yourself.

How we built it

We built Duck Hours in VS Code with Python and used Codex to help write the code. The in-app code helper uses the Meta API to give learners guidance as they work.

Challenges we ran into

Getting the Meta API to work inside the website was our biggest challenge. Connecting the in-app helper to the page took a lot of trial and error. Gemini API integration was a another challenge but we didn't let that stop us from progressing towards a minimum viable product.

Accomplishments that we’re proud of

We built a working coding workspace where the helper guides learners instead of just handing over answers. (Edit as needed.)

What we learned

Every small part of a webpage has to be tested to make sure it works properly, and that takes a lot more time than writing the code.

What’s next for Duck Hours

We’d like to add saved workspaces, better hints that adapt to the learner’s mistakes, and a way for TAs to see where students get stuck.

Built With

• codex
• css
• fastapi
• html
• javascript
• metaapi
• python
• uvicorn