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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
The aim of this paper is to show the strategies involved in the implementation
of two tools of PCVIA project that can be used for Program Comprehension.
Both tools use known compiler techniques to inspect code in order to
visualize and understand programs’ execution.
On one hand we convert the source program into an internal decorated (or attributed)
abstract syntax tree and then we visualize the structure traversing it, and
applying visualization rules at each node according to a pre-defined rule-base. No
changes are made in the source code, and the execution is simulated.
On the other hand, we traverse the source program and instrument it with inspection
functions. Those inspectors provide information about the function-call flow
and data usage at runtime (during the actual program execution). This information
is collected and gathered in an information repository that is then displayed
in a suitable form for navigation.
These two different approaches are used respectively by Alma (generic program
animation system) and Cear (C Rooting Algorithm Visualization tool). For each
tool several examples of visualization are shown in order to discuss the information
that is included in the visualizations, visualization types and the use of
Program Animation for Program Comprehension.
Description
Keywords
Program comprehension Program visualizer
Citation
Cruz, Daniela; Berón, Mário; Henriques, Pedro; Pereira, Maria João (2008). Strategies for program inspection and visualization. In CSE'2008 International Scientific Conference on Computer Science and Engineering. Stará Lesná.
Publisher
The Technical University of Košice