‍MVP Scope & Core Features

1. Setup and Installation

• Deployment of Canvas LMS on a dedicated server (production and staging).
• Initial configuration of database and required services (PostgreSQL, Redis, etc.).
  

2. Basic Visual Customization

• Application of branding (logo, colors, fonts).
• Navigation adjustments for ease of use by admins, instructors, and students.
  

3. User Management and Permissions

• Creation of basic roles: admin, instructor, and student.
• Configuration to allow instructors to create/edit courses upon manual approval.
  

4. Manual Course Creation and Enrollment Workflow

• Development and integration of a simple contact form for interested instructors and students.
• Admin reviews requests and either creates the course for the instructor or grants permission for course creation.
• Enrollments managed manually by admin after external payment confirmation.
  

5. Core LMS Functionalities Included

• Course Creation & Management: Full support for creating courses, modules, lessons, and quizzes.
• Multi-Instructor Support: Role-based permissions enabling multiple instructors to manage their own courses.
• Course Bundles / Packages: Ability to group courses using Blueprint Courses and Sub-Accounts to simulate bundles.
• Quizzes & Assessments: Native support for multiple question types and automatic grading.
• Certificates & Badges: Issuance of certificates and badges upon course completion.
• Reporting & Analytics: Basic dashboards for admins and instructors to monitor enrollment and student progress.
• Content Drip & Prerequisites: Control over lesson release based on schedule or completion of previous modules.
• Mobile App Support: Compatibility with Canvas official mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Additional Option: Payment Automation Integration

• Integration of Stripe and PayPal payment gateways with automatic enrollment upon successful payment.
• Includes setup of payment split if needed.

Why Not Use the WordPress Tutor LMS Plugin?

While Tutor LMS on WordPress is a popular solution, it comes with several limitations that can impact long-term growth and flexibility:

• Platform Lock-in: Being a WordPress plugin, Tutor LMS ties your entire LMS experience to the WordPress ecosystem. This can limit scalability and make deep customizations or integrations more complex.
• Performance Constraints: WordPress websites can suffer from performance issues, especially with many users and heavy LMS content like videos, quizzes, and reports. This impacts user experience and platform reliability.
• Limited API & Integration: Tutor LMS offers fewer API capabilities for external integrations, making it difficult to automate sales, commissions, or advanced workflows outside WordPress.
• Dependency on Plugins: To add new features (like multi-instructor support, commissions, gamification), you often depend on additional paid or free plugins, which can cause conflicts and maintenance overhead.
• Security and Maintenance: WordPress sites require constant updates and monitoring for security vulnerabilities, increasing maintenance costs and risks.

Why Canvas LMS?

Choosing Canvas LMS (open source) means:

• Full control over the platform and codebase without dependency on third-party plugins.
• Better performance and scalability tailored for educational environments.
• Extensive API support for seamless integrations with payment gateways, automation tools, and AI-powered features in the future.
• Native support for multi-instructor roles and course management without the need for extra plugins.
• More secure and maintainable architecture designed specifically for LMS purposes.

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