View Submissions In Collaboration Session: A Feature Request

Hey guys! Let's talk about a cool feature request for our CS3219-AY2526Sem1, cs3219-ay2526s1-project-g26 project. We're aiming to enhance the collaboration experience by allowing users to view submissions directly within the collaboration session. This will cover both Submit and Run attempts, keeping everyone in the loop and making it easier to track progress. This article describes in detail the features, solutions and alternatives considered.

Describe the Feature

The core idea is to provide a centralized submission list within the collaboration space. Imagine a dedicated tab or section where users can see all the Submit and Run attempts made during the collaboration session.

Why is this important? Well, it boosts transparency and makes it super easy for everyone involved to see the progress being made. No more digging through emails or chat logs to find the latest submission. This feature aims to streamline the workflow and keep everyone on the same page. Plus, we want to add notification alerts. Whenever a submission result is evaluated, the user who initiated the submission should get a notification. This alert will prompt them to head over to the submissions tab to check out the detailed results. Think of it like getting a notification on your phone when your food delivery arrives – you know exactly where to go to get your grub. The main keywords for this feature are submission list, collaboration space, submit attempts, run attempts, notification alerts, submission result, and submissions tab.

Having a clear view of all submissions directly within the collaboration environment fosters a sense of shared understanding and collective progress. Each team member can readily access the history of attempts, understand the iterative development process, and identify areas for improvement or further collaboration. This promotes active participation, enabling users to contribute effectively based on real-time insights into the project's evolution. By enhancing transparency and providing instant access to submission results, we aim to minimize delays, reduce redundancy in efforts, and improve overall productivity.

Moreover, this feature promotes a culture of continuous learning and improvement within the collaboration space. Team members can analyze past submissions, learn from mistakes, and iterate on their solutions more effectively. This feedback loop is essential for fostering innovation and ensuring that the team is constantly improving its approach to solving the problem at hand. The submission list serves as a valuable resource for understanding the team's problem-solving process, identifying patterns in errors, and developing strategies to overcome challenges. Ultimately, this enhances the team's ability to deliver high-quality solutions and achieve its project goals.

By implementing this feature, we are also addressing a crucial aspect of collaborative coding: the need for immediate feedback. When users receive prompt notifications about the evaluation of their submissions, they can quickly assess the impact of their changes and make necessary adjustments. This immediate feedback loop is essential for maintaining momentum and ensuring that the team stays on track. Moreover, it empowers users to take ownership of their work and contribute proactively to the project's success. The notification system acts as a catalyst, driving engagement and encouraging continuous refinement of solutions.

Describe the solution you'd like

Okay, so how do we actually make this happen? Here’s a breakdown of a potential solution:

1. Submissions Tab: Add a new tab within the collaboration session interface labeled “Submissions.” This will be the central hub for viewing all submission attempts.
2. Submission List: In the “Submissions” tab, display a list of all Submit and Run attempts. Each entry in the list should include:
   • Timestamp: When the submission was made.
   • User: Who made the submission.
   • Type: Whether it was a Submit or Run attempt.
   • Status: The current status of the submission (e.g., “Pending,” “Running,” “Accepted,” “Rejected”).
   • Results: A link or a brief summary of the results (e.g., score, passed test cases).
3. Detailed View: Clicking on a submission entry should open a detailed view with:
   • The code submitted.
   • The full results of the evaluation (e.g., test case outputs, error messages).
   • Any relevant logs or debugging information.
4. Notification System: Implement a real-time notification system. When a submission is evaluated, the user who made the submission receives an alert. This alert could be a pop-up notification within the collaboration interface or even an email notification.
5. Alert Details: The notification should include:
   • The submission ID or a brief description of the submission.
   • The status of the submission (e.g., “Accepted,” “Rejected”).
   • A link to the detailed results in the “Submissions” tab.

The main keywords for this solution are Submissions Tab, Submission List, Timestamp, User, Submission Type, Status, Submission Results, Detailed View, Code Submission, Evaluation Results, Notification System, Real-time Notification, Submission ID, and Alert Details.

To ensure a seamless user experience, the submission list should be sortable and filterable. Users should be able to sort submissions by timestamp, user, type, or status. Filters can be applied to view only Submit attempts, Run attempts, submissions from a specific user, or submissions with a particular status. This level of customization empowers users to quickly find the information they need, streamlining the analysis process and enhancing collaboration. Additionally, the interface should be designed to handle a large number of submissions without performance issues. Pagination or infinite scrolling can be implemented to manage the display of submissions efficiently. Clear visual cues and intuitive navigation elements should guide users through the submission list, ensuring that the feature is accessible and easy to use.

The notification system should be configurable, allowing users to customize the types of alerts they receive. For instance, users may choose to receive notifications only for rejected submissions or for all submission attempts. This level of control ensures that users are not overwhelmed with unnecessary notifications, while still staying informed about the critical events related to their submissions. The notification system should also be designed to handle concurrent evaluations efficiently, preventing delays and ensuring that users receive timely updates. Furthermore, the system should provide clear instructions on how to access the detailed results of a submission, guiding users directly to the information they need to take action.

Moreover, the solution should integrate seamlessly with the existing collaboration environment. The submission tab should be easily accessible and visually consistent with the overall interface. The notification system should respect the user's preferences and avoid disrupting their workflow. By ensuring a cohesive user experience, we can encourage widespread adoption of the feature and maximize its impact on collaboration. The solution should also be designed to be extensible, allowing for future enhancements and integrations with other tools or services. This future-proof design ensures that the submission viewing feature remains valuable and relevant as the collaboration environment evolves.

Describe alternatives you've considered

Okay, so what other options did we think about before landing on the solution above? Here are a few alternatives we considered:

1. External Submission Tracking: Instead of integrating the submission list directly into the collaboration space, we could use an external tool or service to track submissions. This would involve setting up a separate system and requiring users to switch between the collaboration environment and the external tool.
2. Email-Based Notifications: Relying solely on email notifications to inform users about submission results. This would mean no in-app notifications or a dedicated submissions tab. Users would have to rely on their email inbox to stay updated.
3. Manual Submission Logging: Having users manually log their submissions and results in a shared document or spreadsheet. This would be a low-tech solution but would require a lot of manual effort and could be prone to errors.

The main keywords for this section are External Submission Tracking, Email-Based Notifications, Manual Submission Logging, External Tool, Separate System, Email Inbox, Shared Document, and Spreadsheet.

While each of these alternatives has its merits, they ultimately fall short compared to the proposed solution. External submission tracking introduces additional complexity and friction into the workflow, requiring users to switch between multiple tools. This can disrupt their focus and hinder collaboration. Email-based notifications, while useful, can easily get lost in the shuffle of a busy inbox, leading to delays and missed updates. Manual submission logging is prone to errors and inefficiencies, as it relies on users to accurately record their submissions and results. The proposed solution offers a more integrated, streamlined, and reliable approach to tracking and viewing submissions within the collaboration environment. By centralizing the submission list and providing real-time notifications, we can enhance transparency, improve communication, and foster a more collaborative development process.

Additionally, the proposed solution is more scalable and maintainable than the alternatives. External submission tracking requires ongoing integration and maintenance of a separate system. Email-based notifications rely on the reliability of the email infrastructure and can be difficult to manage at scale. Manual submission logging is not scalable and becomes increasingly challenging to maintain as the number of submissions grows. The proposed solution is designed to be scalable and maintainable, leveraging the existing infrastructure of the collaboration environment. This ensures that the submission viewing feature remains reliable and efficient as the project evolves.

Ultimately, the decision to integrate the submission list directly into the collaboration space reflects our commitment to providing a seamless and intuitive user experience. By minimizing the need to switch between tools and providing real-time notifications, we can empower users to stay informed, collaborate effectively, and deliver high-quality solutions. The proposed solution is not only the most efficient and reliable but also the most user-friendly option, ensuring that the submission viewing feature is widely adopted and contributes to the overall success of the project.

Additional context

We believe this feature will significantly improve the collaboration experience by providing a clear and accessible view of submission attempts and results. This will lead to better communication, faster feedback loops, and ultimately, a more productive and enjoyable collaboration environment for everyone involved. Let me know what you think!