Online Assignment Submission System

A complete web-based assignment management system for Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic, Hadejia.

Features

For Students

• 📤 Submit assignments online from anywhere
• 📊 Track assignment status and grades
• 💬 Receive feedback from instructors
• 🔄 Resubmit assignments if needed

For Instructors

• 📝 Create and manage assignments
• 📥 View and download student submissions
• ✍️ Grade assignments and provide feedback
• 📚 Manage multiple courses

For Administrators

• 👥 Manage users (students and instructors)
• 📚 Create and assign courses
• 📊 View system statistics
• 🔧 System oversight

Technology Stack

• Backend: Python Flask
• Database: SQLite (easy to deploy, no setup needed)
• Frontend: HTML5, CSS3, JavaScript
• File Storage: Local file system

Installation & Setup

Local Development

1. Clone or download the project

   cd assignment-system

2. Install Python dependencies

   pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Run the application

   python app.py

4. Access the application Open your browser and go to: http://localhost:5000

Default Admin Account

• Username: admin
• Password: admin123
• ⚠️ Important: Change this password after first login!

Quick Start Guide

For Students

1. Register a new account (select "Student" role)
2. Login with your credentials
3. View available assignments on your dashboard
4. Click "Submit Assignment" to upload your work
5. Check back for grades and feedback

For Instructors

1. Register a new account (select "Instructor" role)
2. Contact admin to be assigned to courses
3. Create assignments for your courses
4. View submissions and grade student work
5. Provide detailed feedback

For Administrators

1. Login with admin credentials
2. Create courses and assign instructors
3. Monitor system usage and statistics
4. Manage users if needed

Deployment Options

Option 1: Deploy on Render (Recommended - FREE)

1. Create a Render account at https://render.com

2. Create a new Web Service

   • Connect your GitHub repository (or upload files)
   • Choose "Python" as the environment
   • Build Command: pip install -r requirements.txt
   • Start Command: gunicorn app:app

3. Add environment variables (optional)

   • SECRET_KEY: Your secret key for sessions

4. Deploy! Render will automatically deploy your app

Option 2: Deploy on PythonAnywhere (FREE)

1. Create account at https://www.pythonanywhere.com

2. Upload your files using the Files tab

3. Install requirements in a Bash console:

   pip install --user -r requirements.txt

4. Configure Web App

   • Go to Web tab
   • Add a new web app (Flask)
   • Point to your app.py file
   • Set working directory

5. Reload your web app

Option 3: Deploy on Heroku

1. Install Heroku CLI and login

2. Create a Procfile:

   web: gunicorn app:app
   

3. Deploy:

   heroku create your-app-name
   git push heroku main

Option 4: Deploy on Local Server (e.g., School Server)

1. Install Python 3.8+ on the server

2. Copy project files to the server

3. Install dependencies:

   pip install -r requirements.txt
   pip install gunicorn

4. Run with Gunicorn:

   gunicorn -w 4 -b 0.0.0.0:5000 app:app

5. Use a reverse proxy (nginx recommended) for production

Project Structure

assignment-system/
├── app.py                      # Main Flask application
├── requirements.txt            # Python dependencies
├── assignment_system.db        # SQLite database (auto-created)
├── uploads/                    # Student submissions (auto-created)
├── templates/                  # HTML templates
│   ├── base.html
│   ├── index.html
│   ├── login.html
│   ├── register.html
│   ├── student_dashboard.html
│   ├── submit_assignment.html
│   ├── instructor_dashboard.html
│   ├── create_assignment.html
│   ├── view_submissions.html
│   ├── grade_submission.html
│   ├── admin_dashboard.html
│   └── create_course.html
└── static/
    └── css/
        └── style.css           # Styling

Configuration

Change Secret Key (Production)

Edit app.py and change:

app.secret_key = 'your-secret-key-change-this-in-production'

Change Upload Limits

Edit app.py:

app.config['MAX_CONTENT_LENGTH'] = 16 * 1024 * 1024  # 16MB

Allowed File Types

Edit app.py:

ALLOWED_EXTENSIONS = {'pdf', 'doc', 'docx', 'txt', 'zip'}

Security Considerations

✅ Implemented:

• Password hashing using Werkzeug
• File upload validation
• Session management
• SQL injection protection (parameterized queries)

⚠️ For Production:

• Change default admin password immediately
• Use strong secret key
• Enable HTTPS
• Implement rate limiting
• Regular backups of database
• Secure file storage

Troubleshooting

Database Not Found

The database is created automatically on first run. If you have issues:

python -c "from app import init_db; init_db()"

Permission Errors

Ensure the uploads directory is writable:

chmod 755 uploads/

Port Already in Use

Change the port in app.py:

app.run(debug=True, host='0.0.0.0', port=8000)

Support & Contact

For issues or questions:

• Review the documentation
• Check the troubleshooting section
• Contact system administrator

License

This project is developed for Binyaminu Usman Polytechnic, Hadejia.

Acknowledgments

Developed to streamline assignment submission and management at BUPH, eliminating paper-based processes and improving efficiency for both students and instructors.