Hotpot (plugin)

Hi Ryan,
my understanding is that certain Moodle modules are disabled by default so as to simplify the initial user interface.

Also, as you may know, the HotPot module was originally not part of the core Moodle system, so there may be "legacy" reasons why it is currently "in" but initially hidden.

And finally, probably the most important reason that the HotPot module is disabled by default is that Hot Potatoes (the software that you use to make the quizzes) is not open-source software and so you need a license to use it to make Hot Potatoes quizzes and distribute them to your students.

Here's a relevant excerpt from the Hot Potates End User Agreement:

Hot Potatoes is free for use by state educational institutions which are non-profit making, on the condition that the material produced using the program is freely available to anyone via the WWW

Therefore, I think it is a good idea to require a deliberate act to enable the HotPot module.

A few points you should be aware of that people sometimes ask me about:

• none of the money you pay for a Hot Potatose license goes to me or Moodle HQ. It goes to the hard-working creators of Hot Potatoes, Martin Holmes and Stewart Arneil, and their employer, the University of Victoria, Canada.
  
  
• you may be able to use the Hot Potatoes software for free if you work for a "state educational institution" and make at least a copy of the quizzes "freely available to anyone via the WWW"
  
  
• if you work at a private educational institution, or your quizzes are password protected, for example within a Moodle course that does not have "guest" access, then you need to buy a commercial license
  
  
• the Hot Potatoes suite, comprising JCloze, JCross, JMatch, JMix and JQuiz, is a separate entity from the HotPot module for Moodle. As explained above, you may need a license to use Hot Potatoes to create quizzes, but you do not need a license to use the HotPot module to distribute those quizzes
  

In my experience, Martin and Stewart are very understanding about how long the "trial period" can be before you get a Hot Potatoes license. It can take several years to get to a point where you are able to fill out the license application form and pay the fee, especially if this involves negotiating with your institution's finance department. However, I encourage you to do so, because you will be supporting Martin and Stewart's on-going contribution to teachers around the world.

all the best
Gordon