Visual programming language
Visual programming language (VPL) is any programming language that lets users specify programs in a two-(or more)-dimensional way. Conventional textual languages are not considered two-dimensional since the compiler or interpreter processes them as one-dimensional streams of characters. A VPL allows programming with visual expressions, spatial arrangements of text and graphic symbols. Most VPLs are based on the idea of "boxes and arrows," that is, boxes or circles or bubbles, treated as screen objects, connected by arrows, lines or arcs. Non Visual Programming languages are completely based on text, when using non VPL applications it is impossible to see images until the program is run. This is a disadvantage to programmers as the user is unable to see the results of their coding unless the program is run.
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.
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.
Current developments try to integrate the visual programming approach with dataflow languages to either have immediate access to the program state resulting in online debugging (i.e. LabVIEW) or automatic program generation and documentation (i.e. visual paradigm). Dataflow languages also allow automatic parallelisation, which is likely to become one of the greatest programming challanges of the future.
Visual languages
- CODE
- Some Dataflow languages
- EyesWeb
- Fabrik
- Hyperpascal
- LabVIEW
- Limnor
- Max
- Mindscript - software visualization and development environment, open source
- Pict
- Prograph
- Pure Data
- Quartz Composer
- SCADE
- Self
- Simulink
- Spreadsheets
- Squeak eToys scripting
- Stagecast Creator, formerly Apple's Cocoa
- Subtext
- Thing Lab
- Tinkertoy
- VEE
- VisSim
- Visula
- VVVV
External links
- Usenet newsgroup: comp.lang.visual (NOT for Visual Basic or Visual C++).
- Sanscript
- Visual paradigm
- Visula
See also
This article was originally based on material from the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, used with permission. Update as needed.