Keywords
Containerization, Browser-Based-IDE, DevOps

Technologies
Docker, Nginx, Javascript, Python, Tailscale

AutoLab is designed to simplify the setup, delivery, and management of programming labs, hackathons, and practical assessments. The project objective was to create a platform where students can start coding immediately, while instructors retain clear control over access, environment consistency and operational visibility.

To achieve this, I built a container-based system with a lightweight web frontend, a Python backend, and Docker-orchestrated VS Code environments. Users can launch preconfigured development environments in seconds, and administrators can monitor running instances, resource usage, and health status through a dedicated dashboard. Authentication protects administrative actions without adding significant complexity.

AutoLab demonstrates that an automation tool can deliver scalable labs with reduced troubleshooting, faster onboarding, and improved reliability. By combining automation, Docker-based development environments, and secure remote access, the project turns lab delivery from a recurring setup burden into a repeatable, student-friendly service that can be adapted to various contexts such as hackathons and assessments.