Bespoke automarker for C++ DSA coursework with test-case marking, resubmission, tolerance intervals and infinite-loop timer¶
Design · All designs
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 design),q2· 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study
Description¶
A purpose-built client–server automated assessment tool for C++ programming exercises in a second-year DSA course, written in PHP with MySQL storage under Apache/Linux, separate from the institutional LMS. Students upload code from a template; the server compiles with GCC and "executes the code over 10 test cases, while referencing a model solution supplied by the teacher", marking 0–10 with endless resubmission until the deadline. A parser tolerates text variation, tolerance intervals handle approximate answers, and a timer flags possible infinite loops.
Design Implications¶
Context¶
Requirements¶
- Students access the stand-alone server via the institutional network or the institution's VPN
- A well-defined code template is crucial since assignments are directly handled by the machine
Constraints¶
- The tool cannot analyse code directly to give a specific clue why code fails
- It is not possible to know if a program is truly in an infinite loop due to the undecidability of the halting problem
Target Learners¶
- second-year undergraduate computer science students
Learning Goals¶
- programming and algorithmic reasoning skills in data structures and algorithms
Claims¶
- Automarker Survey Favourable Formative Perceptions [+M]
- Automarker Clues Extremely Helpful 30 Responses [+M]
Related Designs¶
Examples¶
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Key Sources¶
- Andre L. C. Barczak, Anuradha Mathrani, Binglan Han, Napoleon H. Reyes. (2023). Automated assessment system for programming courses: a case study for teaching data structures and algorithms. Education Tech Research Dev. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11423-023-10277-2
Page metadata
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
type |
design |
id |
bespoke-dsa-automarker-tool |
title |
Bespoke automarker for C++ DSA coursework with test-case marking, resubmission, tolerance intervals and infinite-loop timer |
description |
A purpose-built client–server automated assessment tool for C++ programming exercises in a second-year DSA course, written in PHP with MySQL storage under Apache/Linux, separate from the institutional LMS. |
status |
review |
generated |
by process:settle-candidates on 2026-10-29 |
trust |
unverified — no one has confirmed this page's content |
sources |
1 — andre-l-c-barczak-2023 |
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