Individual ZIP Download Activity

Maintained by Tangat Baktybergen, Ivan Volosyak

This Moodle plugin generates personalized zip templates by automatically replacing @author and student ID placeholders in C code with individual student data. It also modifies makefiles automatically based on the selected operating system.

Free

Download for free

Supports Moodle 4.1-5.0 See all versions

Latest release: 11 months ago

Installations: 13

Downloads (last 90 days): 55

Frankenstyle name: mod_zipdownload

Activities

Current version

v1.0 (2025072703)

Moodle 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 5.0

Uploaded on Thursday, 31 July 2025 at 06:03 (GMT+0)

Plugin type: Activities

Frankenstyle component name: mod_zipdownload

Version build number: 2025072703

Version release name: v1.0

Maturity: Stable

Supported Moodle versions: 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 5.0

Repository URL (Git): https://github.com/TangatBaktybergen/moodle-activity_zipdownload

Repository branch:

Repository tag:

Issue/bug tracker URL: https://github.com/TangatBaktybergen/moodle-activity_zipdownload/issues

ZIP Download Activity Plugin for Moodle

Personalized Code Distribution for Lab-Based Programming Courses

This Moodle activity plugin allows teachers to upload a ZIP template containing .c and .h files (including subfolders) and one or more Makefiles. When a student accesses the activity, a personalized ZIP file is generated and downloaded. The plugin automatically replaces placeholders like @author and 00000 with the student’s full name and ID.

It is ideal for courses that require distributing lab starter code, such as embedded systems, robotics, or microcontroller programming.

What It Does

Teachers upload a ZIP template when creating the activity.

The ZIP may include subfolders, .c/.h files, and one or more Makefiles.

On student access:
- @ Firstname Lastname is inserted where @Author TODO was used.
- "00000" is replaced with the student’s ID.
- Makefiles are modified based on the student’s platform selection.
- A personalized ZIP is generated instantly for download.

Platform Selection

When the student clicks the activity:

They are prompted to select their platform:
- Lab ' PORT=/dev/ttyUSB_MySmartUSB
- Windows ' PORT=COM3
- Mac ' PORT=/dev/tty.SLAB_USBtoUART

All Makefile files are automatically updated with the selected PORT value.

The generated ZIP file is renamed to reflect the student and platform:
- Templates-12345-Lab.zip
- Templates-12345-Win.zip
- Templates-12345-Mac.zip

Installation

Unzip this plugin into the mod directory of your Moodle installation: /path/to/moodle/mod/zipdownload

Visit Site Administration > Notifications to complete installation.

Creating the Activity

In your Moodle course, turn editing on and Add an activity.

Choose ZIP Download.

Upload your ZIP template containing .c/.h files and Makefiles.

Save and return to the course.

Student View

Students click the activity and select their platform.

The plugin processes the uploaded ZIP template:

Replaces author and ID placeholders

Edits Makefiles with platform-specific ports

A personalized ZIP file is downloaded immediately.

Authors

Ivan Volosyak

Tangat Baktybergen

License

GNU GPL v3 or later

Developed at Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences (HSRW), Kleve, Germany.

Show previous versions

Individual ZIP Download Activity

Versions

v1.0 (2025072703)