CoderLabs: A cloud‐based platform for real‐time online labs with user collaboration. (9th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Touhafi, Abdellah; Braeken, An; Tahiri, Abderrahim; Zbakh, Mostapha
• Other Names: Delgado Olabarriaga Sílvia guestEditor.; Krefting Dagmar guestEditor.; Glatard Tristan guestEditor.; Zbakh Mostapha guestEditor.; Bakhouya Mohamed guestEditor.; Essaaidi Mohamed guestEditor.; Manneback Pierre guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Concurrency and computation. Volume 30:Number 12(2018)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2018-01-09
• Subjects: component; Real‐Time Online Labs -- Google Coder -- Lab Server -- Node.js, FabLab -- REDIS -- Relay Server; Parallel processing (Electronic computers) -- Periodicals; Parallel computers -- Periodicals; 004.35
• DOI: 10.1002/cpe.4377
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1532-0626

Abstract

Abstract : In this paper, we describe the architecture of a collaborative and real‐time environment for remote experiments. We also introduce a web‐based remote lab composer, which allows the interconnection and exchange of data between remote laboratories. The environment is created with web standards as HTML5 such that no plug‐in needs to be installed by the user. Users are able to use the remote lab simultaneously and in collaboration. This collaboration between users is made feasible by adopting a message broker. We will discuss how Google Coder is used to develop, change, or create a user interface for a remote experiment and how the labs can be shared in the cloud. Our newest addition to this research consists of a drag and drop lab composer, which allows Lab‐developers to use standard widgets, data‐visualization tools, and data‐ports to compose complex remote labs. A lab‐composer engine is developed to automate the coupling of the physical instances and collect the data to be visualized. The principles behind our lab‐composer engine are explained in the last part of the paper.