edX development questions

[Robert Mundkowsky]

Hi,

 

If I want to develop customized course content.  For example, capture student input and send that input to web service over internet that returns student insights based on their data.

 

Can I do that by developing an xBlock?

 

If so, is developing an xBlock considered as extending edX?  Or is extending edX a more in depth process I do not need to do?

 

Also am I able to use any Python libraries in my xBlock?

 

The xblock examples, do not seem to use any Python imports.

 

If so, are there any restrictions on things I can do?

               For example, can my xblock talk to a REST based web service that uses XML?

[s.mo...@raccoongang.com]

Hi Robert,

1. your idea can be implemented in several ways: xblock, custom grader (what is normally used for code evaluations, but why not just evaluate the text or audio or image or anything), LTI component. 

2. when creating the dxblock you are free to use any python lib - regular "import XXX" does the job

3. xblock is just a plugin so you don't have to modify the platform code. so it is extending of open edx in terms of features, and it's not in terms of the platform code.

4. talking to REST (or actually doing literally anything) is ok. The restrictions are just common sense - you don't want to cause some CPU/IO load on the instance where your platform runs. 

Hope this helps. 

(and as an advertising - Raccoon Gang can help you with xblock development or open edx customization)

[Robert Mundkowsky]

thanks!