Additional context for gentle-slope systems

Interpreting general purpose programming constructs can be difficult because it requires context, such as knowledge of language syntax or idioms, which users may not have readily available. In such cases other source of context may complement or substitute. This paper proposes annotating program comments with hyperlinks that the user can select to restore the complete runtime state of the program, a technique we call Snapshot Documentation. The generality of Snapshot Documentation across user skill and system complexity suggests that it may be useful for gentle-slope systems, i.e. systems that are designed to allow users to acquire a full range of programming skills in an incremental yet continually useful way.

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2003
• Where: VL
• Authors: Yasunori Harada, Richard Potter
• Keywords: Complete Runtime State, Languages, Purpose Programming Constructs, Snapshot Documentation, VL 2003