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Meeting Summary for CS 486-686 Lecture/Lab Spring 2025

Date & Time: January 29, 2025, 4:45 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)
Meeting ID: 893 0161 6954

Quick Recap

  • Upcoming Lab Section:
    • The lab will focus on building a chat assistant using General AI.
    • Deployment of applications on render.com was discussed.
  • Demonstration of Roo Code:
    • The demonstration covered Roo Code, a VS Code extension designed for AI-assisted coding.
    • Functionality and potential issues of Roo Code were reviewed.
  • General Encouragement:
    • Students are encouraged to experiment with the system, brainstorm new ideas, and set up a repository to practice their skills.

Next Steps

  • For All Students:
    • Install and experiment with Roo Code during the interactive review session.
    • Consider innovative approaches to make the chat assistant more interesting or domain-specific for Lab 2.
    • Prepare for Lab 2, which involves:
      • Building a chat assistant with a JavaScript front-end.
      • Developing a Python FastAPI back-end.
  • For Instructors:
    • Create a sprint for Lab 1 in Canvas.
    • Conduct interactive reviews of Lab 1 submissions with the students.
    • Provide detailed information on deploying applications using render.com for Lab 2.
  • Additional Actions:
    • Students are invited to research alternative deployment options to render.com, if desired.

Detailed Summary

Building Chat Assistant with General AI

  • Lab 2 Focus:
    • The upcoming lab will involve building a chat assistant using General AI.
    • Emphasis was placed on managing the interface for long-running conversations.
    • It is critical to maintain and build up a messages array for subsequent interactions with the language model.
  • Technical Components:
    • The front-end may use tools such as Aider or Roo Code.
    • The back-end will be powered by a Python FastAPI server to handle light API calls to the language model.
  • Additional Remarks:
    • The team is encouraged to explore creative ways to enhance the functionality and user experience of chat assistants.
    • Offices will be set up in a designated corner for one-on-one walkthroughs and tutorial sessions.

Render.com Deployment and API Integration

  • Deployment Experience:
    • The discussion highlighted the ease of use of render.com for deploying applications.
    • Render.com offers the benefit of creating new open router API keys with defined usage limits.
  • Integration and Flexibility:
    • The integration of API keys into the environment managed by render.com was demonstrated.
    • Although render.com was commended, alternative options such as GitHub and Netlify are also worth exploring.

Exploring Roo Code and AI Coding Tools

  • Roo Code Demonstration:
    • Roo Code, a VS Code extension for AI-assisted coding, was showcased.
    • Compared to Aider, Roo Code does not perform automatic git commits but provides better configuration options for API keys and model selection.
  • Configuration and Real-Time Editing:
    • Different AI profiles can be set up in Roo Code.
    • The demonstration included real-time editing, file reading, planning, and user-approved code changes.
    • Preference was noted for using Claude among various AI model combinations.

Exploring New System Capabilities and Chat

  • System Update:
    • Recent updates to a new system were discussed, with surprising and previously unseen capabilities highlighted.
  • Future Directions:
    • There is potential for making the chat assistant more interesting and domain-specific.
    • The team is encouraged to experiment and form small groups for brainstorming.
    • Reminder to set up a repository and consider using VS Code or another preferred code editor for development.

This summary captures the key points discussed during the meeting and outlines the action items and next steps for both students and instructors as they prepare for upcoming lab sessions.

References