A literate programming environment based on an extensible editor /
| Main Author: | |
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| Other Authors: | , , |
| Format: | Thesis Book |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
1990.
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | ProQuest, Abstract Link to OAKTrust copy |
| Abstract: | The concept of literate programming was developed by Donald Knuth in the early eighties. Knuth believes that programs should be treated as works of literature. He developed the WEB system to promote this style of programming. A WEB system incorporates at least two languages: a high-level programming language and a formatting language as well as WEB rules and constructs which tie the languages together. From a WEB source, one can generate a high-level language source suitable for input to a compiler and eventual execution or a source suitable for input to a text formatter. This research involved the creation of a prototype editing environment that would be supportive of the WEB style of literate programming. The environment is based on GNU Emacs, a commonly available extensible editor. The environment was subjectively tested with three different types of users. A group of student programmers who had limited WEB experience used the environment successfully to perform a maintenance task on a significant WEB code. An intensive user familiar with the WEB style of literate programming used the environment in the development and debugging of a significant WEB code over a four month period. An experienced WEB programmer also used the environment in the development of a small code. Since the environment was used successfully by three different types of users, we feel that the environment is viable and should be incorporated with other tools to form a complete literate programming environment. This tool and others should be integrated to make the WEB style of literate programming more appealing to a wider user community. |
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| Item Description: | Typescript (photocopy). Vita. "Major subject: Computer science." |
| Physical Description: | viii, 110 leaves : illustrations ; 29 cm |
| Bibliography: | Includes bibliographical references. |