Formgrader/nbgrader: We continue to support for assignment creation, distribution, and auto-grading.
Otter-Grader is an auto-grader available to instructors/TAs that enables grades to be uploaded to your course assignments in Canvas, via Gradescope. (Otter-Grader documentation)
Please see the grading tool comparison table for more information. IT Service staff are available for consultation on grading tool selection/help, as well as putting you in contact with other instructors about which grading tools they use.
Distinction \ Product |
Gradescope Autograder (vanilla) |
Otter-grader using Gradescope Autograder | |
Service Provider |
Gradescope |
Gradescope |
DataHub |
Support Provider |
Gradescope |
Gradescope / community |
ETS |
Documentation | |||
Assignment and grading user interface in datahub |
No |
Yes | |
Assignment Creation |
Gradescope |
DataHub | |
Custom Grading environment |
Docker image built by Gradescope with instructor customization |
Docker image built by Gradescope with instructor customization |
Docker image built by ETS |
Python unit-test |
Yes |
Yes, can be done within cells | |
Jupyter Notebook unit-test |
No |
Yes (generated by otter-grader) |
Yes |
Other programming languages unit-tests (C/C#, Java, MySQL, etc) |
Native support |
No |
No |
Instructor unit-test development |
Local environment through code |
Local environment through code (okpy templates) |
Native support (web interface / Jupyter) |
Unit-tests run on |
Gradescope’s infrastructure on AWS |
DataHub cluster | |
Manual grading (e.g. short-response) |
No (but could run as a separate assignment) |
Yes (PDF generation) |
Yes (web/feedback interface) |
Manual grading happens on |
Gradescope (separate non-autograder assignment, manual) |
Gradescope (separate non-autograder assignment, automatic) |
DataHub |
Instructor Feedback |
Only for (non-autograder assignment) |
Yes (use manual grading) | |
Student Feedback before submission |
Test-run with public tests |
Validate (public/visible assert cells) | |
Student Feedback after grades release |
Score breakdown with visibility customization; Email |
Score breakdown in notebook for assert cells | |
Location where students complete assignments |
Anywhere (usually a local setup) |
Anywhere (usually a local setup or DataHub) |
DataHub |
What do students submit |
Code artifact through Gradescope |
Jupyter notebook through Gradescope |
Jupyter notebook through DataHub |
Canvas Course Integration |
Yes (by Gradescope) |
Yes (by ETS) | |
Grades Import to Canvas |
Yes, via Gradescope |
No |
If you still have questions or need additional assistance, please email datahub@ucsd.edu.