on perhaps unloading modules?

[Hope Rouselle]

Greg Ewing <greg.ewing at canterbury.ac.nz> writes:

> On 21/08/21 1:36 pm, Hope Rouselle wrote:
>> I wish I could restrict their syntax too, though, but I fear that's
>> not possible.  For instance, it would be very useful if I could
>> remove loops.
>
> Actually you could, using ast.parse to get an AST and then walk
> it looking for things you don't want to allow.

Very interesting!  Thanks very much.  That would let me block them,
though the ideal would be a certain python.exe binary that simply blows
a helpful syntax error when they use something the course doesn't allow.
But surely the course could provide students with a certain module or
procedure which would validate their work.  (Don't turn in unless you
pass these verifications.)

> You could also play around with giving them a custom set of
> builtins and restricting what they can import. Just be aware
> that such things are not foolproof, and a sufficiently smart
> student could find ways around them. (Although if they know
> that much they probably deserve to pass the course anyway!)

So true!  If they can get around such verifications, they should present
their work at an extra-curricular sessions.