feat: add optional API for hiding the dates tab (#37923)

cms/envs/common.py

@@ -256,6 +256,15 @@ IN_CONTEXT_DISCUSSION_ENABLED_DEFAULT = True
 # .. toggle_tickets: 'https://openedx.atlassian.net/browse/VAN-622'
 ENABLE_COPPA_COMPLIANCE = False
 
+# .. toggle_name: ENABLE_DATES_COURSE_APP
+# .. toggle_implementation: DjangoSetting
+# .. toggle_default: False
+# .. toggle_description: Controls whether the Dates course app is surfaced via the course apps API/UI.
+# .. toggle_use_cases: open_edx
+# .. toggle_creation_date: 2026-02-02
+# .. toggle_tickets: https://github.com/openedx/platform-roadmap/issues/392
+ENABLE_DATES_COURSE_APP = False
+
 ENABLE_JASMINE = False
 
 MARKETING_EMAILS_OPT_IN = False

lms/djangoapps/course_home_api/dates/views.py

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ from lms.djangoapps.courseware.context_processor import user_timezone_locale_pre
 from lms.djangoapps.courseware.courses import get_course_date_blocks
 from lms.djangoapps.courseware.date_summary import TodaysDate
 from lms.djangoapps.courseware.masquerade import setup_masquerade
+from lms.djangoapps.courseware.tabs import DatesTab
 from openedx.core.lib.api.authentication import BearerAuthenticationAllowInactiveUser
 from openedx.features.content_type_gating.models import ContentTypeGatingConfig
 
@@ -110,13 +111,19 @@ class DatesTabView(RetrieveAPIView):
             course_key=course_key,
         )
 
+        course_date_blocks = (
+            [block for block in blocks if not isinstance(block, TodaysDate)]
+            if DatesTab.is_enabled(course, request.user)
+            else []
+        )
+
         # User locale settings
         user_timezone_locale = user_timezone_locale_prefs(request)
         user_timezone = user_timezone_locale['user_timezone']
 
         data = {
             'has_ended': course.has_ended(),
-            'course_date_blocks': [block for block in blocks if not isinstance(block, TodaysDate)],
+            'course_date_blocks': course_date_blocks,
             'learner_is_full_access': learner_is_full_access,
             'user_timezone': user_timezone,
         }

lms/djangoapps/course_home_api/outline/views.py

@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ from lms.djangoapps.courseware.context_processor import user_timezone_locale_pre
 from lms.djangoapps.courseware.courses import get_course_date_blocks, get_course_info_section
 from lms.djangoapps.courseware.date_summary import TodaysDate
 from lms.djangoapps.courseware.masquerade import is_masquerading, setup_masquerade
+from lms.djangoapps.courseware.tabs import DatesTab
 from lms.djangoapps.courseware.toggles import courseware_disable_navigation_sidebar_blocks_caching
 from lms.djangoapps.courseware.views.views import get_cert_data
 from lms.djangoapps.grades.course_grade_factory import CourseGradeFactory
@@ -249,7 +250,12 @@ class OutlineTabView(RetrieveAPIView):
         if show_enrolled:
             course_blocks = get_course_outline_block_tree(request, course_key_string, request.user)
             date_blocks = get_course_date_blocks(course, request.user, request, num_assignments=1)
-            dates_widget['course_date_blocks'] = [block for block in date_blocks if not isinstance(block, TodaysDate)]
+            course_date_blocks = (
+                [block for block in date_blocks if not isinstance(block, TodaysDate)]
+                if DatesTab.is_enabled(course, request.user)
+                else []
+            )
+            dates_widget['course_date_blocks'] = course_date_blocks
 
             handouts_html = get_course_info_section(request, request.user, course, 'handouts')
             welcome_message_html = get_current_update_for_user(request, course)

lms/djangoapps/courseware/plugins.py

@@ -8,8 +8,10 @@ from django.utils.translation import gettext_noop as _
 from opaque_keys.edx.keys import CourseKey
 
 from xmodule.modulestore.django import modulestore
+from xmodule.tabs import CourseTabList
+
+from openedx.core.djangoapps.content.course_overviews.models import CourseOverview, CourseTab
 
-from openedx.core.djangoapps.content.course_overviews.models import CourseOverview
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.course_apps.plugins import CourseApp
 from openedx.core.lib.courses import get_course_by_id
 
@@ -65,6 +67,58 @@ class ProgressCourseApp(CourseApp):
         }
 
 
+class DatesCourseApp(CourseApp):
+    """Course app stub for course dates."""
+
+    app_id = "dates"
+    name = _("Dates")
+    description = _("Provide learners a summary of important course dates.")
+    documentation_links = {
+        "learn_more_configuration": getattr(settings, "DATES_HELP_URL", ""),
+    }
+
+    @classmethod
+    def is_available(cls, course_key: CourseKey) -> bool:  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
+        """
+        Dates app is available when explicitly enabled via settings.
+        """
+        return settings.ENABLE_DATES_COURSE_APP
+
+    @classmethod
+    def is_enabled(cls, course_key: CourseKey) -> bool:
+        """
+        The dates course status is stored in the course block.
+        """
+        course = get_course_by_id(course_key)
+        dates_tab = CourseTabList.get_tab_by_id(course.tabs, 'dates')
+        return bool(dates_tab and not dates_tab.is_hidden)
+
+    @classmethod
+    def set_enabled(cls, course_key: CourseKey, enabled: bool, user: 'User') -> bool:
+        """
+        The dates course enabled/disabled status is stored in the course block.
+        """
+        course = get_course_by_id(course_key)
+        dates_tab = CourseTabList.get_tab_by_id(course.tabs, 'dates')
+        if enabled and dates_tab is None:
+            dates_tab = CourseTab.load("dates")
+            course.tabs.append(dates_tab)
+        if dates_tab is not None:
+            dates_tab.is_hidden = not enabled
+        modulestore().update_item(course, user.id)
+        return enabled
+
+    @classmethod
+    def get_allowed_operations(cls, course_key: CourseKey, user: Optional[User] = None) -> Dict[str, bool]:  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
+        """
+        Returns the allowed operations for the app.
+        """
+        return {
+            "enable": True,
+            "configure": True,
+        }
+
+
 class TextbooksCourseApp(CourseApp):
     """
     Course app config for textbooks app.

lms/djangoapps/courseware/tabs.py

@@ -307,6 +307,7 @@ class DatesTab(EnrolledTab):
     title = gettext_noop("Dates")
     priority = 30
     view_name = "dates"
+    is_hideable = True
 
     def __init__(self, tab_dict):
         def link_func(course, _reverse_func):
@@ -315,6 +316,13 @@ class DatesTab(EnrolledTab):
         tab_dict['link_func'] = link_func
         super().__init__(tab_dict)
 
+    @classmethod
+    def is_enabled(cls, course, user=None):
+        if not super().is_enabled(course, user=user):
+            return False
+        dates_tab = CourseTabList.get_tab_by_id(course.tabs, 'dates')
+        return bool(dates_tab and not dates_tab.is_hidden)
+
 
 def get_course_tab_list(user, course):
     """

lms/djangoapps/courseware/tests/test_tabs.py

@@ -870,6 +870,12 @@ class DatesTabTestCase(TabListTestCase):
         """Test cases for making sure no persisted dates tab is surfaced"""
         user = self.create_mock_user()
         self.course.tabs = self.all_valid_tab_list
+
+        # Ensure hidden state from other tests does not affect this test's intent.
+        dates_tab = xmodule_tabs.CourseTabList.get_tab_by_id(self.course.tabs, 'dates')
+        assert dates_tab is not None
+        dates_tab.is_hidden = False
+
         self.course.save()
 
         # Verify that there is a dates tab in the modulestore
@@ -886,3 +892,21 @@ class DatesTabTestCase(TabListTestCase):
             if tab.type == 'dates':
                 num_dates_tabs += 1
         assert num_dates_tabs == 1
+
+    @patch('common.djangoapps.student.models.course_enrollment.CourseEnrollment.is_enrolled')
+    def test_dates_tab_respects_hide_flag(self, is_enrolled):
+        """Test that the dates tab respects the hide flag."""
+        is_enrolled.return_value = True
+        user = self.create_mock_user(is_staff=False, is_enrolled=True)
+        self.course.tabs = self.all_valid_tab_list
+        dates_tab = xmodule_tabs.CourseTabList.get_tab_by_id(self.course.tabs, 'dates')
+        assert dates_tab is not None
+
+        dates_tab.is_hidden = False
+        self.course.save()
+        tabs = get_course_tab_list(user, self.course)
+        assert any(tab.type == 'dates' for tab in tabs)
+
+        dates_tab.is_hidden = True
+        tabs = get_course_tab_list(user, self.course)
+        assert not any(tab.type == 'dates' for tab in tabs)

setup.py

@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ setup(
         "openedx.course_app": [
             "calculator = lms.djangoapps.courseware.plugins:CalculatorCourseApp",
             "custom_pages = lms.djangoapps.courseware.plugins:CustomPagesCourseApp",
+            "dates = lms.djangoapps.courseware.plugins:DatesCourseApp",
             "discussion = openedx.core.djangoapps.discussions.plugins:DiscussionCourseApp",
             "edxnotes = lms.djangoapps.edxnotes.plugins:EdxNotesCourseApp",
             "live = openedx.core.djangoapps.course_live.plugins:LiveCourseApp",