Merge pull request #1271 from MITx/feature/victor/beta-testers

Feature/victor/beta testers

common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/timeparse.py

@@ -7,8 +7,11 @@ TIME_FORMAT = "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M"
 
 def parse_time(time_str):
     """
-    Takes a time string in TIME_FORMAT, returns
-    it as a time_struct.  Raises ValueError if the string is not in the right format.
+    Takes a time string in TIME_FORMAT
+
+    Returns it as a time_struct.
+
+    Raises ValueError if the string is not in the right format.
     """
     return time.strptime(time_str, TIME_FORMAT)
 

common/lib/xmodule/xmodule/x_module.py

@@ -414,7 +414,11 @@ class XModuleDescriptor(Plugin, HTMLSnippet, ResourceTemplates):
         'xqa_key',
         # TODO: This is used by the XMLModuleStore to provide for locations for
         # static files, and will need to be removed when that code is removed
-        'data_dir'
+        'data_dir',
+        # How many days early to show a course element to beta testers (float)
+        # intended to be set per-course, but can be overridden in for specific
+        # elements.  Can be a float.
+        'days_early_for_beta'
     )
 
     # cdodge: this is a list of metadata names which are 'system' metadata
@@ -497,12 +501,26 @@ class XModuleDescriptor(Plugin, HTMLSnippet, ResourceTemplates):
     @property
     def start(self):
         """
-        If self.metadata contains start, return it.  Else return None.
+        If self.metadata contains a valid start time, return it as a time struct.
+        Else return None.
         """
         if 'start' not in self.metadata:
             return None
         return self._try_parse_time('start')
 
+    @property
+    def days_early_for_beta(self):
+        """
+        If self.metadata contains start, return the number, as a float.  Else return None.
+        """
+        if 'days_early_for_beta' not in self.metadata:
+            return None
+        try:
+            return float(self.metadata['days_early_for_beta'])
+        except ValueError:
+            return None
+
+
     @property
     def own_metadata(self):
         """
@@ -715,7 +733,8 @@ class XModuleDescriptor(Plugin, HTMLSnippet, ResourceTemplates):
         """
         Parse an optional metadata key containing a time: if present, complain
         if it doesn't parse.
-        Return None if not present or invalid.
+
+        Returns a time_struct, or None if metadata key is not present or is invalid.
         """
         if key in self.metadata:
             try: