GSOC: Web-based upgrade and plugins interface

GSOC: Web-based upgrade and plugins interface

Dinishika Nuwangi發表於
Number of replies: 3
Hi Moodle community,

I'm interesting in developing a Web-based plugin installation system for Moodle. I have gone through GSoC 2007 projects which were mentored by Moodle and there I found a project called 'Command line installer and upgrader'[1]. It is a very good project and my congratulations for the best effort.

But it is good to use web interfaces because it increase the convenience of users rather than a command interface. There are many thought about this are available in forums also[2] and tracker ticket[3].

In Gallery2, there is a good system for plugin management. They use web interfaces for manage plugins[4].

I have developed an abstract initial mockup for Moodle to manage plugins and themes[5]. This is a basic idea of the system and have to develop further with Moodle community. Welcome to any thoughts/comment/suggest.

BTW, I'm a undergraduate of university of Moratuwa[6], Sri Lanka, hope to spend this summer with moodle hacking...

[1] http://code.google.com/soc/2007/moodle/appinfo.html?csaid=B521296333AD3097
[2] http://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=92558&parent=408584
[3] http://tracker.moodle.org/browse/MDL-13941
[4] http://dinishi.com/soc/2008/moodle/upgrade_and_plugins_interface/gallery2/
[5] http://dinishi.com/soc/2008/moodle/upgrade_and_plugins_interface/mockup_v_1_1/
[6] http://www.mrt.ac.lk/

Cheers.
Dinishika.

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In reply to Dinishika Nuwangi

Re: GSOC: Web-based upgrade and plugins interface

Martin Dougiamas發表於
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Hi,

I think a major problem with this is that you can't do it as point-and-click in Moodle without opening up some pretty major security holes. Gallery owners may not care so much as Universities. 微笑

We do want to encourage admins to know what they are installing and where.

However, it would be useful to see something that at least tells you what is out of date and then walks you through the process of installing the new scripts as easily as possible. That will involve building a complete process from moodle.org to Moodle admin page and could be a project.
In reply to Martin Dougiamas

Re: GSOC: Web-based upgrade and plugins interface

Dinishika Nuwangi發表於
Hi Martin,

Thanks for the comment. 微笑

As you have mentioned, I also agree on the point that its not a recommended solution to make directory writable by Apache. It may result in scripting attacks or SQL injection like attacks.

I think project scope may be,

1) Determine a XML based Interface for Moodle.org modules and plugins database to search modules and plugins.
2) Write documentation for module/plugin developers on how they should organize and store their meta data in the Moodle.org module/plugin database.
3) Implement module/plugin update notification feature.
4) Implement module/plugin searching feature.

By the way, the similar kind of projects have been listed on the SoC ideas page in this year, which are based on the Drupal[1] and Joomla[2] CMSs that enables file transfer facility from server to server.

[1] http://drupal.org/node/237532
[2] http://forum.joomla.org/viewtopic.php?f=526&t=277288

Cheers,
Dinishika.