Content deleted Content added
→Video games: +Snowdrop |
mNo edit summary |
||
Line 4:
==Definition==
VPLs may be further classified, according to the type and extent of visual expression used, into icon-based languages, form-based languages, and diagram languages. Visual programming environments provide graphical or iconic elements which can be manipulated by users in an interactive way according to some specific spatial grammar for program construction.
The general goal of VPLs is to make programming more accessible to novices and to support programmers at three different levels <ref>Repenning, A., [https://sgd.cs.colorado.edu/wiki/images/2/21/20YearsofBlockProgramingLessonsLearned_published.pdf "Moving Beyond Syntax: Lessons from 20 Years of Blocks Programing in AgentSheets"], ''Journal of Visual Languages and Sentient Systems'', July 2017.</ref>
<ul>
<li>'''''Syntax''''': VPLs use icons/blocks, forms and diagrams trying to reduce or even to completely eliminate the potential of syntactic errors helping with the arrangement of programming primitives to create well-formed programs. Non VPLs examples would be spell check in word processors underlining or even auto correcting individual words or grammar.
<li>'''''Semantics''''': VPLs may provide some mechanisms to disclose the meaning of programming primitives. This could include help functions providing documentation functions built-in to programming languages.
<li>'''''Pragmatics''''': VLPs support the study of what programs mean in particular situations. This level of support allows users to put artifacts created with a VPL into a certain state in order to explore how the program would react to that state. Examples: In [[AgentSheets]] or AgentCubes users can set games or simulations into a particular state in order to see how program would react. With the [[Thymio]] programming language users can bring a robot into a certain state in order to see how it will react, i.e., which sensors will be activated.
</ul>
A visually transformed language is a non-visual language with a superimposed visual representation. Naturally visual languages have an inherent visual expression for which there is no obvious textual equivalent.{{citation needed|date=April 2010}}
| |||