Add feature flag for disabling course start dates

lms/djangoapps/courseware/courses.py

@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def check_course(course_id, course_must_be_open=True, course_required=True):
         except (KeyError, ItemNotFoundError):
             raise Http404("Course not found.")
 
-        if course_must_be_open and not course.has_started():
+        if course_must_be_open and not (course.has_started() or settings.MITX_FEATURES['DISABLE_START_DATES']):
             raise Http404("This course has not yet started.")
 
     return course

lms/envs/common.py

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ MITX_FEATURES = {
     'DISPLAY_HISTOGRAMS_TO_STAFF' : True,
     'REROUTE_ACTIVATION_EMAIL' : False,		# nonempty string = address for all activation emails 
     'DEBUG_LEVEL' : 0,				# 0 = lowest level, least verbose, 255 = max level, most verbose
+    'DISABLE_START_DATES': False,  # When True, all courses will be active, regardless of start date
 }
 
 # Used for A/B testing

lms/envs/dev.py

@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ from .logsettings import get_logger_config
 DEBUG = True
 TEMPLATE_DEBUG = True
 
+MITX_FEATURES['DISABLE_START_DATES'] = True
+
 WIKI_ENABLED = True
 
 LOGGING = get_logger_config(ENV_ROOT / "log", 

lms/templates/dashboard.html

@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@
 
         <article class="my-course">
           <%
-          if course.has_started():
+          if course.has_started() or settings.MITX_FEATURES['DISABLE_START_DATES']:
             course_target = reverse('info', args=[course.id])
           else:
             course_target = reverse('about_course', args=[course.id])