Set Up Accounts

This Handbook is your go-to guide for Foundations. It's designed to guide you through this learning journey. Follow instructions closely and in sequential order (especially for file/folder names). A couple of things to help us along:

Usernames need to include your first name and last name, separated by a hyphen - e.g. firstname-lastname
Open links in new tabs. External links from this Student Handbook should open in new tabs by default, but elsewhere (like GitHub), there can be a lot of links, and it's hard to get back to where you started. We recommend right-clicking (or holding the command key (mac) / control key (win) when clicking) to open links in new tabs. Try to avoid "tab hell". Limit yourself to ten tabs at most.

Accounts you need

Discord
GitHub (please do not use GitHub Desktop)
Toggl
Zoom
Slack

Discord

Discord is an instant messaging and digital distribution platform. Users can communicate with voice calls, video calls, text messaging, media and files in private chats or as part of communities called "servers". Essentially, it is a collection of chat rooms for us all to work together effectively.

The Dev Academy Discord community is where most of our communications happen in Foundations. You must join Discord and our server as soon as possible for Foundations Staff to get in touch with you.

Please follow the Dev Academy naming convention to help us find you on Discord:

Full name - Your preferred first name and last name
Display name - firstname-lastname-cohort-year e.g. kiri-tipene-whai-25, oscar-smith-piwakawaka-25. (Note if you already belong to another server in Discord change your nickname in the DA server to be firstname-lastname-cohort-year)

Download the Discord desktop app for your operating system.
Create your account, claim your account and verify your phone number.
Join our Discord server by clicking this link. Unsure of this step? Here is a how to guide.
Add a profile picture of yourself so staff and your cohort members can see who you are. To do this, open the Discord app, click the gear icon at the bottom-left of your screen and edit your user profile.
On the left hand side, you'll see a #foundations-welcome channel. Pop a message in there so staff know you've joined and then we can give you access to the entire Foundations channel.

Foundations Text Channels

These are for Full time students. For Part time students, you will have access to foundations text channels within your Homegroup category.

Within the Foundations category, you have access to the following text channels:

#foundations: This channel is for all students making the journey through foundations to share their work. Examples of things you can expect to see in this channel are personal introductions and links to blog posts weekly as you create content and share it with your peers.
#announcements: This channel is for Dev Academy staff to post general information that students need to know. For example, a new facilitator starting or updates to a challenge.
#foundations-help-desk: This is where you should ask your peers and Facilitators for help with code-related issues. It's a great resource to use to get unblocked. This is the place to practice asking clarifying questions and applying your learning by helping others.
#tips-and-tricks: Share cool things you're learning or useful tips. This way helpful info can be accessed outside of the help channels, making it easier to find later.
#random-stuff: This channel is literally where all Dev Academy students, graduates and staff can post random bits of information. Remember to exercise empathy and consideration for others when thinking of posting information here.
#computer-set-up: This channel is for all Dev Academy students who need help with setting up their computers for Foundations and Bootcamp. Drop a message in the channel to book a time for help with your set-up.
#cohort-name-2025: (i.e: karaka-2025, harakeke-2025): A place for you to learn, hang out, and code together with other students in your cohort. This is more of a connection and bonding platform for the entire cohort. If you need a reminder on the purpose of a specific text channel, simply enter the channel and you’ll see a wee blurb at the top next to the name.

Foundations Voice Channels

These are your voice channels:

Co-working Space 1 - 6: Spaces to meet with each other or facilitators to practice peer programming.

Your Homegroup category is set up similarly with the main updates text channel and some optional pairing rooms for you to work in and practice pair programming, or meet with a facilitator to discuss your course work.

Discord Guidelines

Anytime you work on foundations material you should have the Discord app open. You can hang out in the Common Area if you'd like other students to get in touch and socialise as you're working. It is also helpful to install the Discord App for iOS or Android on your smartphone.

You can see who is in a channel by clicking the member list icon (silhouette of a figure) next to the search bar. If you have a specific question for someone you can direct message them. Please remember that others in the community might know the answer, so don't cut yourself off from the pool of community knowledge by posting unnecessary private messages.

You can tag someone in your post by putting an @ in front of their username. This will then send them a notification about the message. You can also tag voice channels by putting #! before the room name. This will allow facilitators and other students can find you easily for pair programming.

To get to know the basics of Discord, see Discord's official docs.

GitHub

GitHub is where all of the technical challenges in the Dev Academy curriculum are and will be where you keep all of your code from Dev Academy. It can also serve as a technical resume when applying for positions - so make sure your username sends the right message (is something you'll be happy for employers to see).

Create a GitHub account
Choose a username that:
- includes your first and last name
- all lowercase letters with words separated by hyphens e.g. firstname-lastname
Add a photo and name in account settings
Check your email and click the validation link

Toggl

Toggl is a timekeeping app that we recommend you to use during Foundations. Its purpose is to help you strengthen your programmer skillset and keep within the recommended time allotments for each activity.

Sign up for a new account with Toggl Track
Download the desktop app

Zoom

Zoom is a video conferencing app we use for homegroup check-ins and live workshop sessions during Foundations and is a core tool for the Online Campus.

A microphone is mandatory. A webcam also is required for online students and is strongly recommended for all other students.

Sign up for Zoom
Download the desktop app (Zoom Client for Meetings)

Slack

Slack is a "cloud-based set of team collaboration tools and services". Essentially, it is a collection of chat rooms for us all to work together effectively.

The name, SLACK, is an acronym for "Searchable Log of All Conversation and Knowledge".

The Dev Academy Slack community is where most of our graduate communications happen. Your Careers Skills content will be delivered via Discord, but you can still join Slack to connect with other Dev Academy grads and here about job openings in the industry.

Please follow the Dev Academy naming convention to help us find you on Slack:

Full name - Your preferred first name and last name
Display name - firstname-lastname-cohort-year e.g. kiri-tipene-whai-25.

Join our Slack chat
Respond to the verification email (check spam if you can't see it) and follow the instructions
Download the Slack desktop app
Use the Slack desktop app to sign into the dev-academy-aotearoa workspace.
Add a picture of yourself so staff and your cohort members can see who you are (dropdown at the top left of the app, under 'profile and account')

Slack Channels

When you join, you will be added automatically to our core channels. However, you will need to search for a few more if you're interested.

Here is a list and a brief description of the core channels you should join

Click the word channels (in the menu on the left side of the app) to reveal available channels.

#general: Stuff everyone in the Dev Academy community should know about. For example, events, announcements, and congratulating people.
Either #auckland or #wellington: Site-specific news, meetups, "I'm locked out", "Who owns the car that's parked me in?" etc.
The Online Campus doesn't have a physical space, so there isn't a site-specific channel for online.
There are also a few #community channels for specific locations, see optional below!

Optional Channels:

#community-: Take a look at any channels starting with #community- to find location-specific communities of grads and students across Aotearoa, New Zealand!
#random-stuff: Web development jokes, cat GIFs, xkcd. This one is optional but highly recommended.

Slack Guidelines

You can see who is in a channel by clicking the number icon in the top right corner (below the help button). If you have a specific question for someone you can direct message them. Please remember that others in the community might know the answer, so don't cut yourself off from the pool of community knowledge by posting unnecessary private messages.

You can tag someone in your post by putting an @ in front of their username. This will then send them a notification about the message. If you want the whole group to know something, you can use @channel. This will send a notification to everyone in the channel, so refrain from using @channel for channels that are not the foundation's channel.

For the full tour, see Slack's official tour.

Course Requirements

Install Software