Automated ATmega Lab Evaluation Toolkit

This repository provides example code templates and sample solutions for ATmega-based lab exercises, intended for use with automated lab submission plugins or manual student practice in microcontroller programming courses. It also includes a Moodle plugin for ATmega microcontroller lab submissions that checks file naming conventions and ensures all required .hex files are included in the submission.

Features

• 
  

  Submission Rules

  
  
  
  
  • Only one PDF and one ZIP file per submission.
  
  
  • Both filenames must match the required pattern:
    
    LabX_studentID_semester.pdf and LabX_studentID_semester.zip.
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  File Type and Size Validation

  
  
  
  
  • Only .pdf and .zip files are accepted (max 1MB each).
  
  
  • ZIP archives are checked for forbidden files (such as .exe, scripts, and nested ZIPs).
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  ZIP Structure Checks

  
  
  
  
  • Each folder containing .c or .h source files must also contain at least one .hex file.
    
    
    
    • Folders missing a .hex file trigger a clear error message:
      
      Folder <folder> contains no hex file. Please recompile or amend your submission.
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  .hex File Verification

  
  
  
  
  • Enforces a minimum number of .hex files per assignment (configurable).
  
  
  • Checks for empty .hex files.
  
  
  • Detects "uncompiled" .hex files (containing placeholder content).
  
  
  • Verifies that the student ID is present (in ASCII hex) inside each .hex file.
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Timestamp Comparison

  
  
  
  
  • Flags if .c or .h source files are newer than corresponding .hex files, indicating missing re-compilation.
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Teacher-Only Flags

  
  
  
  
  • Student ID mismatches and potential cheating are flagged and visible only to teachers.
  
  
  
  


• 
  

  Clear, Color-Coded Error Messages

  
  
  
  
  • All feedback is displayed to students with clear explanations and color highlights for easy correction.
  
  
  
  

This plugin streamlines ATmega lab submissions, automates checks, and improves feedback for both students and instructors.

Folder Structure

/

"── atmegacode/               # Moodle plugin code

│   "── lang/en

│      └── assignsubmission_atmegacode.php

│   "── db

│      └── upgrade.php

│      └── install.xml

│      └── access.php

│   "── backup

│      "── moodle2

│         └── restore_assignsubmission_atmegacode_subplugin.class.php

│         └── backup_assignsubmission_atmegacode_subplugin.class.php

│   "── classes

│      "── privacy

│         └── provider

│   "── version.php

│   "── settings.php

│   "── lib.php

│   "── locallib.php

│   "── Readme.md

"── examples/Led_tasks # Test files for ATmegacode submission plugin

│   "── Task1    #Test case: .c source file is newer then compiled .hex file

│   "── Task2    #Test case: .hex file is missing in the folder

│

"── sample_output/ # Pre-check output warnings from Led_tasks files tested

│ └── Precheck_output.png # Snapshot of plugin check of test files. Warnings are showed.

│ └──Led_tasks    # correct folder without errors.

│

└── README.md

How to Use

• Templates:
  
  Use the code templates in Task1/ and Task2/ as a starting point for your own ATmega lab projects.


• Sample Solutions:
  
  The sample_solutions/ folder contains correct code for reference or plugin demonstration.
  
  These solutions are provided as source only, without compiled .hex files.

File Descriptions

• main.c – Main program file for the task


• init.c, init.h – Port and hardware initialization code


• Makefile – Makefile for building the project using avr-gcc

Authors

• Ivan Volosyak


• Tangat Baktybergen

License

GNU GPL v3 or later

Developed for ATmega microcontroller programming coursework and automated lab submission testing at Hochschule Rhein-Waal.