How to Properly Credit Code I Want to Use for My Project?

Have you reached out to your professor for clarity? Considering it’s an academic project, their input could be invaluable in ensuring you follow proper protocol!

Definitely start by looking into the license included in their GitHub repo, usually found in a file called `license.txt`. It's vital you understand what’s permitted. Then, cite the repo like you would for an academic paper—include author name, repo name, URL, the date you accessed it, and describe what you used. This can be listed in your own `readme.txt` to ensure clarity.

First things first, you should check whether there's a license for the code. If it’s there, make sure to follow what it says. In addition, create a comment in your code itself like:

Also, include an acknowledgments section in your documentation, mentioning:
"Portions of the HTML/CSS/JavaScript were adapted from [AuthorName]'s project under the MIT license. I made changes to [give a brief overview] for my project." That's a solid way to show respect and clarity.

It does depend on your academic level—like if you're in a master's program, citations are usually more stringent. It's good practice to adhere to the original project's licensing, but a polite acknowledgment goes a long way. If you feel sketchy about using it, just make sure to document your own contributions clearly!

Make sure you clearly differentiate your work from theirs in your documentation. Place acknowledgments prominently, maybe even in the introduction or abstract, to avoid any potential plagiarism claims. A good phrase to include could be:
"This work is based on an open-source project published by the following authors with the respective licenses... See individual files for credits." Also, ensure you have a formal citation in your bibliography.