← Back to portfolio
Education Technology

Virtual Programming Lab (VPL)

A professional-grade coding and evaluation suite integrated into Moodle, with a secure Jail Server backend executing student code in an isolated environment.

Project overview

The HSUHK Virtual Programming Lab embeds a professional coding and automated-evaluation environment directly into the university’s Moodle workflow. Instructors can create and deploy programming assignments through a familiar interface, much like standard Moodle quizzes.

Student submissions are passed to a dedicated Jail Server, where code is compiled and executed inside an isolated environment. This separation protects the primary Moodle server from unstable or unsafe code while maintaining a smooth experience for students and teaching staff.

The platform supports repeatable assessment, faster feedback and centralized management of programming exercises, giving the university a scalable foundation for practical computing education.