Options for Extending the Open edX Platform#
There are several options for extending the Open edX Platform to provide useful and innovative educational content in your courses.
This section of the developers’ documentation lists and explains the different ways to extend the platform, starting with the following table.
Custom |
LTI |
External |
XBlocks |
Platform |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Development Cost |
Low |
Low |
Medium |
Medium |
High |
Language |
JavaScript |
Any |
Any |
Python |
Python |
Development Environment Needed |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Self-hosting Needed |
No |
Yes, if building a new LTI unit. Many LTI tools are hosted elsewhere. |
Yes |
No |
No |
Requires Sysadmin Installation on Your Open edX Instance |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Clean UI Integration |
Yes |
No (see About the LTI Component) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Mobile enabled |
Possibly |
Possibly |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Server Side Grading |
Possibly (See Custom JavaScript) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Usage Data |
No (See Custom JavaScript) |
No |
Limited |
Yes |
Yes |
Provision in Studio |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Learner Data Privacy Loss? |
No |
Possibly (Depends on LTI tool used) |
Possibly (Depends on external grader implementation) |
No |
No |
Maintenance chart
Review Date |
Working Group Reviewer |
Release |
Test situation |