Open edX: Tutor vs Native Installation

As I've been tinkering with Open edX recently, I want to share some experiences working on this platform, and which path you should choose to install if you want to have your own instance.

Open edX is a massively powerful online course management system that lets you create and offer interactive courses to learners across the globe. Whether you're an educator, institution, or just a curious individual looking to share knowledge, Open edX provides the tools necessary to make education accessible to anyone, anywhere. But before you can start changing the world, you need to get your Open edX platform up and running. That's where installation methods come in, and today, we're comparing two popular ones: Tutor and the native installation.

What's the Deal with Tutor?

Tutor is like the friendly neighborhood guide for setting up Open edX. It's a docker-based Open edX distribution designed to make the installation and management process as headache-free as possible. Think of Tutor as the simplified, streamlined way to get your Open edX platform off the ground without needing to dive deep into the technicalities.

Pros of Tutor:

• User-friendly: Perfect for those who might not have a deep technical background.
• Quick setup: Get your Open edX instance running in less time than it takes to watch a movie.
• Portability: Docker containers mean you can run your Open edX instance across different environments with ease.
• Lower resource requirements: Compared to native installation, Tutor generally demands less from your hardware.

Cons of Tutor:

• Limited customization: If you're looking to get down and dirty with deep customizations, Tutor might feel a bit restrictive.
• Dependency on Docker: You need to be comfortable with Docker and container management.

Going Native

The native installation is the old-school, roll-up-your-sleeves method of setting up Open edX. It involves installing all the components of Open edX directly onto your server, without the abstraction layer of containers. This approach is suited for those who want full control over their installation and are comfortable navigating the complexities of server management.

Pros of Native Installation:

• Full control: Customize every aspect of your Open edX platform to your heart's content.
• Direct access to components: No middleman means you can tweak, tune, and troubleshoot directly.
• Ideal for large-scale deployments: If you're planning to support a large number of users, native gives you the flexibility to optimize for that.

Cons of Native Installation:

• Complex setup: Not for the faint of heart or those short on technical expertise. Seriously, it's super complex. The scripts contain close to 35k lines of code spread over 780 files. They are really hard to understand, debug, and modify, and they are extremely slow.
• Higher resource requirements: You'll need a beefier server to handle everything smoothly. The server requirements are Ubuntu 16.04 amd64, minimum 8GB of memory, at least one 2.00GHz CPU or EC2 compute unit, and minimum 25GB of free disk, 50GB recommended for production servers.
• Maintenance: With great power comes great responsibility, including keeping everything updated and secure.

Which One Should You Choose?

Choosing between Tutor and the native installation method boils down to your specific needs, technical comfort level, and the scale at which you plan to operate your Open edX platform.

• Go with Tutor if: You're looking for a quick, relatively easy setup and don't need deep customization options.
• Choose native installation if: You crave full control, have the technical chops to manage it, and are planning for a large-scale deployment.

A Third Contender: One-Click Marketplace Installations

Aside from the Tutor and native installation methods, there's a third player in the game that's worth mentioning: the One-Click Marketplace Installations. This method is as straightforward as it sounds, offering a seamless, one-click installation process through various cloud service marketplaces. When you deploy a server through these services, you can choose to have Open edX installed automatically, saving you the trouble of manual setup.

Advantages of One-Click Marketplace Installations:

• Effortless setup: Just a few clicks and you're good to go, making this the easiest method by far.
• Speed: Your Open edX platform can be up and running in minutes.
• Simplified management: These services often come with additional tools for monitoring and managing your Open edX instance.

Disadvantages of One-Click Marketplace Installations:

• Potentially higher costs: Convenience comes at a price, and marketplace options might carry higher costs than DIY setups.
• Limited customization options: Similar to Tutor, this method might not offer the level of customization that a native installation would.
• Dependency on the provider: You're at the mercy of the marketplace provider's support and infrastructure.

Regardless of the path you choose, all methods mentioned above will ultimately lead you to the same destination: a fully functional Open edX platform ready to host your courses. The journey, however, will look quite different. Consider your options carefully and choose the one that aligns best with your skills, resources, and goals.

Happy teaching!