VIPR and the Visual Programming Challenge

Visual programming language research has evolved greatly since its early days. At first, attempts at visual programming mostly took the form of flowchart-like diagrams. But in recent years, a wide number of innovative approaches have been incorporated into visual languages, including object-oriented programming, form-based programming, programming by demonstration, and dataflow programming. Unfortunately, while many of these systems represent important ideas, only a few have been successful as complete visual programming languages. This tutorial explains why this is true, and describes ways in which the problem can be addressed. This tutorial explores the issues behind the successes and failures of earlier approaches from a design perspective. It identifies characteristics of successful visual programming languages, and explains how to design an object-oriented language that maintains those characteristics. It shows solutions to a number of problems by looking at existing visual programming languages, including Prograph.

Managing the graphical complexity of real-life programs expressed in visual programming languages is a great challenge in each visual programming environment. Besides general methods like displaying/layouting graphs and icons on different levels of abstraction or organizing multiple window environments, built-in language mechanisms which permit the structured and modular design of visual programs are essential to overcome this problem. We address these problems by discussing a concept for visual modules in a diagrammatic parallel language as well as a method to describe massive parallel programs consisting of hundreds of processes by means of a visual replication mechanism. >

This paper presents a new programming language named SPARCL that has four major elements: it is a visual language, it is a logic programming language, it relies on sets to organize data, and it supports partitioning constraints on the contents of sets. It is a visual programming language in that the representation of the language depends extensively on non-textual graphics and the programming process relies on graphical manipulation of this representation. It is a logic programming language in that the underlying semantics of the language is the resolution of clauses of a Horn-like subset of first order predicate logic. It uses sets as the only method of combining terms to build complex terms. Finally, one may constrain a set's structure by specifying a partitioning into pairwise disjoint subsets.< <ETX xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">&gt;</ETX>

: A general purpose visual programming language, based on object-oriented methodology, offers substantial Benefits of reusable code, shorter creation and maintenance time, faster overall understanding of the code, and reduced staff learning time. It should be an ideal fit for sites with long-lived code or very large bodies of code. The value of visual programming languages is well understood for very specific tasks; this report reviews the plan for research and design of a general purpose visual object-oriented programming language through nine steps, which includes general specifications for the preferred language and environment.

CombiLog is a logic programming language that uses a small set of basic operators to build larger structures. Although the programs are built strictly through composition, the resulting code is often difficult to read and understand. Empirical studies on program creation both with visual programming language and traditional programming indicate that visual approaches may outperform traditional approaches to programming. Thus, CombiLog could gain largely from a visual interface to support the development process. With a visual interface the resulting system can be regarded as a declarative visual logic programming language, ViColl.

It is well documented, and has been the topic of much research, that Computer Science courses tend to have higher than average drop out rates at third level. This is a problem that needs to be addressed with urgency but also caution. The required number of Computer Science graduates is growing every year but the number of graduates is not meeting this demand and one way that this problem can be alleviated is to encourage students at an early age towards studying Computer Science courses. This paper presents a systematic literature review on the role of visual and textual programming languages when learning to program, particularly as a first programming language. The approach is systematic, in that a structured search of electronic resources has been conducted, and the results are presented and quantitatively analysed. This study will give insight into whether or not the current approaches to teaching young learners programming are viable, and examines what we can do to increase the interest and retention of these students as they progress through their education.

The term “visual language” means different things to different people. To some, it means the objects handled by the language are visual. To others, it means the language itself is visual. To the first group of people, “visual language” means “language for processing visual information,” or “visual information processing language.” To the second group of people, “visual language” means “language for programming with visual expressions,” or “visual programming language.”

INTRODUCTION Although visual programming is being broadly implemented in other disciplines, it has only relatively recently become an important supplement to three-dimensional modeling programs in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. Currently, Grasshopper in conjunction with Rhino is a leading example of a visual programming environment that is strongly supported by a user community that is developing additional functionality, but Grasshopper does not yet work directly with building information modeling (BIM) software. Dynamo is relatively new, but shows considerable promise in becoming a constructive tool to complement BIM, 3D modeling, and analysis programs because it includes parametric geometries and works with Revit, a leading BIM software program. Three case studies are described: extensibility of Dynamo through the use of a building energy simulation package, controlling a virtual model's response through light level sensors, and interactively updating shading components for a building facade based on solar angles. They demonstrate that one can work directly within building information models (BIM) using a visual programming language through updating component parameters. These case studies demonstrate the feasibility of a workflow for sustainable design simulations that is different than that more commonly used -- having a separation between design and analysis models and using a neutral file format exchange such as IFC or gbXML to transfer data. As visual programming languages are still a bit uncommon in the building industry, a short background is provided to place them within the tool set of other customizable tools that designers have been developing.

BackgroundWith the rising adoption of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the AEC sector, computational models supersede traditional ways of information provision based on textual documents and two-dimensional drawings. The use of models enables the streamlining of workflows, and the included virtual construction increases the quality of the final product, the building. To create a comprehensive description of a planned building, information from different sources must be combined, specified and regularly updated by the project’s stakeholders. The emerging models are highly structured, and instance files entail large amounts of data. However, in an unprocessed state, these models are of limited suitability for performing engineering tasks as the amount and structure does not match the domain-specific and purpose-oriented views.MethodsSelection and filtering data for the user’s needs is a well-understood task in computer science, and various approaches are available. A promising approach is the usage of formal query languages. In this paper, selected common query languages are examined and assessed for processing building model information. Based on the analysis, we come to the conclusion that textual query languages are too complex to be employed by typical end users in the construction industry such as architects and engineers.ResultsTo overcome this issue, two Visual Programming Languages representing a new, more intuitive mechanism for data retrieval are introduced. The first one, QL4BIM, is designed for general filtering of IFC models, the second one, VCCL, has been developed for Code Compliance Checking. Both languages provide operators based on the Relational Algebra to allow handling of relations - a highly required feature of BIM QLs.ConclusionsThe paper concludes with a discussion of the strengths and limitations of visual programming languages in the BIM context.

Digital nations have become dependent on computer applications. One of the most important part of literacy in today’s digital and connected word are the basics of computer applications development and usage, but also algorithmic thinking. Programmers, developers, analysts are very wanted resource in business, administration and educational organizations. Job portals contain a lot of well-paid job offers for developers, data scientists, knowledge engineers or robotic process automation developers. Still more and more specialists in these areas are needed not only by IT market but also other sectors of the economy. Therefore, schools and universities introduce many courses concerning process modeling, developing, programming and customizing applications used in management, finance, logistics or engineering. Programming seems to be quite difficult to learn, therefore several educational programming environments and the new easier languages like visual programming languages were developed, so that more people, not necessarily specialists, could create new IT tools and speed up development of the information society.The aim of the article is to present the role of visual programming languages like Scratch in encouraging university students to create algorithms and start programming. The paper presents the characteristic of Scratch visual programming language, the framework of VBA programming course with elements of Scratch. It contains also students’ opinions about learning the basics of programming with visual programming language. In the main part of the article the author presents the results of the survey that was at conducted at the beginning of 2019 on a group of Polish Master’s students (n=119) The author’s observation and students’ opinions allow to conclude that Scratch is very easy to access and to use. It makes introduction to programming more enjoyable, helps to concentrate on the problem, solution structure, and the flow of the process. Scratch platform is not an ideal tool, however it allows for faster introduction of new elements of programming languages such as variables, loops, code blocks, objects. Finally, visual programming languages thanks to its easiness and quickly visible final effect (working application) encourages students to self-development in the field of computer programming. Performed research indicates also that business students notice the benefits of knowing basics of programing, they would like to attend basic programing classes. Students acquire knowledge and skills mainly performing instructions received from the teacher (86%) and watching video tutorials. The comparative analysis showed also some differences between various groups of students. Therefore, tools like Scratch can be successfully used to develop IT courses for non-majors. Many advantages make Scratch useful in introductory programming courses prepared for business students that frequently had no prior experience in the area of IT applications development.

Visual methods in real-time programming

VPL is a visual programming language and environment for interactive image processing. VPL uses a novel system architecture which separates interaction and computation components in order to provide a highly interactive visual programming user-interface. VPL is based on a declarative, demand driven dataflow model of computation. It is a practical, usable visual programming system, integrating tools for browsing, inspecting and editing components and documentation. VPL also provides data persistence and data import/export mechanisms. The visual programming model supports both function extensibility and higher order functions, allowing users to build their own program dataflow structures within the VPL environment. >

The aim of this paper is the implementation of a methodological workflow for the diagnosis of masonry settlings, within the HBIM approach, developing a rule-based logical inference tool in Visual Programming Language. The rule-based inferencing diagnosis is a guided process, which increases the confidence factor about settlings and actual causes, on the basis of surveyors’ technical insights and evidences. The final step is the suggestion of appropriate interventions. The results show that inference logic is directly applicable to the diagnosis problem; their efficacy depends on i) the structured parametric and data modelling of decay patterns in the HBIM model and ii) the knowledge base training. The application has been validated on a case study, Masseria Don Cataldo (Bari, South Italy).

An integrated resource platform for visual basic programming language courses (VBPLC) was studied and developed to meet the needs of top quality course construction based on integrated method of Dreamweaver, ASP and fireworks. In this paper, we analysis firstly that the platform should has functions and performance, and its structure and functions are designed in detail. The platform main includes course construction achievements, message board and online testing system (OTS). Through more than two years application, it is demonstrated that platform works stability and reliability, improving students and teachers message exchange, and reached goal of sharing top quality course resources. Index Terms - Integrated resource platform, Visual Basic programming language (VBPLC), top quality course, ASP, Dreamweaver.

Primer KoperasiTribuana II is a business entity (cooperative) under the auspices of Group 2 Kopassus, Kartasura, Sukoharjo. This cooperative was established to meet the needs of members, both from an economic, social and cultural perspective. Primer KoperasiTribuana II was founded on September 14, 1968 under the name Primkopad H-09. This cooperative has changed its name several times, and the last name uses the Primary KoperasiTribuana II. In an effort to meet the needs of the members, the Tribuana II Primary Cooperative carries out several activities, including savings and loans and sales of daily necessities (shops). In fulfilling the needs, especially for stores, the Tribuana II Primary Cooperative sells goods which in its activities are still using the old method (manual). This is considered very ineffective and efficient and can not increase sales profit in a relatively fast time. For that we need a system that can help smooth the sale of goods. In solving this problem, the authors designed a sales information system. In this design, the author uses the Visual FoxPro programming language. The method in this research is waterfal method. The method in this research is through interviews, observation and literature study. The system design is made with context diagrams, HIPO, input output design and Data Flow Design. The system is created in a program with the Visual FoxPro programming language with a database format using MySQL. The result of this design is to produce an application program that will be used for the web-based sales process at the Tribuana II Primary Cooperative and it is hoped that it will facilitate daily transaction activities and compile reports to be faster and more efficient.