Academic Information Management System Using Open Source Programming Tools and Technologies

Open source refers to a computer program in which the source code is available to the general public for use and/or modification from its original design. Open source tools may be viable alternatives to popular closed-source applications and some open source tools offer features or performance benefits that surpass their commercial counterparts (http://​www.​webopedia.​com/​TERM/​O/​open_​source.​html, http://​en.​wikipedia.​org/​wiki/​Open-source_​software). We at BVBCET (BV Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology, Hubli) developed a wide range of Software Applications using Open Source Programming Tools and Technologies to meet the requirements of managing the Academic Information for autonomous engineering colleges. The applications developed using open source technologies include (i) Student Information Management System (SIMS), (ii) Student Assessment Management and Examination System (SAMS), and (iii) Examination Results (eResults). Brief overviews of these applications along with the benefits are presented in this paper. These tools were found to be very useful for managing and administering the information in an autonomous engineering college and well appreciated and used by the stakeholders for the last few years.