Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

For Maintainers

1. Why don’t we use a real database like Firebase or MongoDB?

Because the IT Department website operates on a $0 budget. Traditional databases incur monthly cloud costs and require maintenance. By using Google Drive as a “headless database”, we get unlimited storage (via institutional accounts) and a visual UI (the Drive app) for faculty to manage files, entirely for free.

2. Can I use Tailwind CSS instead of Vanilla CSS?

No. To ensure long-term maintainability by students who may only have basic web development knowledge, we strictly adhere to Vanilla CSS and Bootstrap 5 utilities. Introducing Node.js build steps (like Tailwind or Webpack) breaks the simplicity of the Jekyll setup.

3. How do I change the API key?

Follow the detailed guide in Google Services. You must generate a new key in the Google Cloud Console and update _data/site_config.yml.

4. Why are the docs/archived/ files still here?

The previous maintainers specifically requested they be kept as historical artifacts. Do not use them as a source of truth for current system architecture.

For Users / Students

1. Why isn’t my certificate downloading?

Ensure you are typing the Certificate ID exactly as it was provided (e.g., GPG092025001). If it still fails, the system might be experiencing a temporary Google API quota limit. Try again in a few hours.

2. The study materials page is blank. What do I do?

Your browser’s sessionStorage might be corrupted. Try hard-refreshing the page (Ctrl+Shift+R on Windows, Cmd+Shift+R on Mac) or opening the site in an Incognito window.