Programming Exercises Overview

Portal: /lms · Desk: Learning workspace

Overview

LMS Programming Exercise brings coding assessments to Smooth LMS. Learners write code in a browser editor; submissions run against test cases server-side to determine pass/fail. Use programming exercises for technical training—API usage, scripting automation, data skills—not for general HR policy quizzes.

Enable the feature in LMS Settings → Programming Exercises section before creating exercises. Exercises attach to courses, lessons, and cohort assessments like quizzes and assignments.

Architecture

Submissions store code and link to test case results in child rows. API methods in lms.lms.api execute code in a sandboxed environment and update submission Status (Pass/Fail/In Progress).

The portal exposes Programming Exercises and Programming Exercise Submissions pages for learners and reviewers.

Creating an exercise

1. Confirm Programming Exercises enabled in LMS Settings.
2. Open /app/lms-programming-exercise → New.
3. Enter Title and problem description (rich text).
4. Select programming Language supported by the runner.
5. Provide Starter Code template learners begin from.
6. Define Test Cases child table:
   • Input values
   • Expected output
   • Hidden vs visible (visible help debugging; hidden prevent hard-coding)
7. Link Course and optionally embed in Course Lesson.
8. Save and publish parent course.

Test thoroughly with a moderator account before assigning to employees.

Learner experience

1. Open exercise from course lesson or Programming Exercises list in /lms.
2. Read problem statement; starter code loads in editor.
3. Write solution; click Run for sample tests or Submit for full evaluation.
4. View pass/fail per test case; iterate until all pass (if attempts allowed).

Failed hidden tests show count but not details—encourages robust solutions rather than output matching.

Reviewing submissions

Trainers open /app/lms-programming-exercise-submission or portal Programming Exercise Submissions:

• Filter by exercise, member, status
• Inspect submitted Code
• Override status if manual review needed (edge cases, partial credit policies)

Cohort Assessments with type LMS Programming Exercise appear on batch dashboards with completion counts.

When to use programming exercises

Ideal for:

• Engineering onboarding labs
• Data analyst SQL/Python modules
• IT automation certification prep

Not ideal for:

• General HR compliance (use quizzes)
• Document collection (use assignments)
• Non-technical roles without IDE comfort

Most HR-led mandatory training programs rely on quizzes and assignments; programming exercises serve specialized L&D tracks.

HR integration notes

Technical certification completion may still produce LMS Certificate records when tied to course completion. File PDF proof in Employee Document when external accreditation requires code assessment records—export submission details from desk or custom reports.

Employee Compliance tracks regulatory items separately; map internal engineering competency programs to custom compliance types if renewal applies.

Security considerations

Code execution runs server-side with sandbox restrictions. System Managers should:

• Keep LMS app updated for security patches
• Limit exercise creation to trusted Course Creator roles
• Avoid exercises that prompt learners to embed secrets or production credentials
• Monitor resource usage on peak usage during large cohort submissions

Tips

• Start with visible test cases; add hidden cases after pilot.
• Provide starter code with function signatures documented.
• Link exercises to prerequisite reading lessons.
• Use cohort assessments for deadline-driven technical bootcamps.

Troubleshooting

Frequently asked questions

Does LMS training completion automatically update Employee Compliance?

No. Smooth LMS tracks learning progress, quiz scores, and certificates. Smooth HR Employee Compliance is updated separately by HR when a regulatory or policy requirement is satisfied. Download LMS PDFs and attach them to Employee Document, then mark the matching compliance row Complete with the correct renewal date.

Where should quiz PDFs be stored for audits?

Use Employee Document on the employee record with an appropriate Employee Document Type (for example Training Record or Policy Acknowledgment). Include the Quiz Submission Report PDF exported from LMS. For organization-wide retention policies, align document type expiry settings with Employee Compliance renewal periods.

Which desk workspace manages LMS content?

Open the Learning workspace from the app switcher. Desk paths use /app/list name slugs—for example /app/lms-quiz and /app/lms-enrollment. Learners consume training at /lms on the same site.

How do new hires get enrolled in mandatory training?

When Employee Onboarding is created in HRMS, the LMS integration enrolls the employee user in every published Mandatory course and creates LMS Training Assignment rows with default due dates. Ensure the Employee record has a linked User with the LMS Student role.

What is the difference between an LMS Certificate and HR compliance?

An LMS Certificate proves course completion inside Smooth LMS. Employee Compliance in Smooth HR tracks regulatory obligations (training renewals, I-9, background checks) with scheduled expiry alerts. Course certificates do not automatically appear on the HR compliance ledger—HR attaches LMS PDFs to Employee Document and updates Employee Compliance when policy requires.

Can managers view their team's quiz scores?

Managers with Moderator or Course Creator roles can open LMS Quiz Submission list views filtered by course and member. The Statistics dashboard summarizes average assessment scores by course. For official personnel files, export PDFs and store under the employee's HR documents rather than sharing desk login credentials.

Glossary

Smooth LMS + Smooth HR capability map

Use Smooth LMS for training delivery and assessments, and Smooth HR for employee files and compliance records — both on the same account.

Course completion certificates from LMS are separate from HR compliance records until HR explicitly files them. Attach LMS PDFs to Employee Document or update Employee Compliance when a training record must appear on the official employee file for audits.

LMS roles reference

HR users without LMS roles can still manage Employee Document and Employee Compliance records when L&D provides exported PDFs.

Connecting training records to Smooth HR

Smooth LMS and Smooth HR share one account. Completing a course does not automatically update HR compliance—you connect the two when your policy requires it.

Recommended workflow: When an employee completes mandatory training and passes required assessments, download the LMS certificate or quiz PDF from the Learning portal or desk, then attach it to an Employee Document or update the corresponding Employee Compliance record. HR Managers can configure Compliance Type with renewal periods so expiring certifications trigger scheduled reminders—complementing LMS Training Assignment due dates.

New hires enrolled via Employee Onboarding may receive automatic LMS enrollments for courses marked Mandatory; HR still uses Employee Compliance for regulatory items (I-9, background checks) that live outside LMS.

Related guides

• Quizzes Overview
• Assignments Overview

Last updated: May 2026