Title

Achieving Flexibility in Direct-Manipulation Programming Environments by Relaxing the Edit-Time Grammar

Authors

Benjamin E. Birnbaum, Washington University in St. Louis
Kenneth J. Goldman, Washington University in St. Louis

Document Type

Technical Report

Publication Date

2005-04-30

Filename

WUCSE-2005-22.pdf

DOI:

10.7936/K73X8511

Technical Report Number

WUCSE-2005-22

Abstract

Structured program editors can lower the entry barrier for beginning computer science students by preventing syntax errors. However, when editors force programs to be executable after every edit, a rigid development process results. We explore the use of a separate edit-time grammar that is more permissive than the runtime grammar. This helps achieve a balance between structured editing and flexibility, particularly in live development environments. JPie is a graphical programming environment that applies this separation to the live development of Java applications. We present the design goals for JPie’s edit-time grammar and describe how its implementation supports a balance between structure and flexibility. As further illustration of the benefits of a relaxed edit-time grammar, we present “mixed-mode editing,” an integration of textual and graphical editing for added flexibility.

Comments

Permanent URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.7936/K73X8511

Recommended Citation

Birnbaum, Benjamin E. and Goldman, Kenneth J., "Achieving Flexibility in Direct-Manipulation Programming Environments by Relaxing the Edit-Time Grammar" Report Number: WUCSE-2005-22 (2005). All Computer Science and Engineering Research.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/cse_research/940