QST: A GPLv2, self-hosted assessment platform (Alternative to proprietary Quiz/Survey/Testing tools)
Hi everyone,
I wanted to share an open-source project that I think the self-hosted community will appreciate, especially given the recent shift toward corporate-controlled data. QST (Quiz/Survey/Test) is a complete, non-commercial assessment platform licensed under GPLv2. Unlike "free" cloud tools that harvest user data, QST is designed to be hosted on your own hardware (Windows, Linux, or Mac). Why it’s relevant in 2026: Zero Data Leakage: Since it's self-hosted, student/taker data never touches a third-party server or AI training set. Scalability: It uses a multithreaded architecture that can handle thousands of users on modest hardware. Interoperability: Supports QTI, Moodle XML, and Word XML imports—no vendor lock-in for your question banks. No "Enshittification": It’s a standalone tool, not a "lite" version of a paid service. It’s great for anyone who needs to run exams, certifications, or private surveys without the overhead of a massive LMS. Source & Info: https://sourceforge.net/projects/qstonline/ Documentation: https://qstonline.org/ I'm happy to answer any questions about the setup or the Perl-based architecture!
