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The design and implementation of a table driven, interactive diagnostic programming system

Authors:

Thomas R. Wilcox,

Alan M. Davis,

Michael H. TindallAuthors Info & Claims

Communications of the ACM, Volume 19, Issue 11

Pages 609 - 616

https://doi.org/10.1145/360363.360367

Published: 01 November 1976 Publication History

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Abstract

CAPS is a highly interactive diagnostic compiler/interpreter that allows beginning programmers to prepare, debug, and execute fairly simple programs at a graphics display terminal. Complete syntax checking and most semantic analysis is performed as the program is entered and as it is subsequently edited. Analysis is performed character by character.

The most remarkable feature of CAPS is its ability to automatically diagnose errors both at compile time and at run time. Errors are not automatically corrected. Instead, CAPS interacts with the student to help him find the cause of his error.

Most components of CAPS are table driven, both to reduce the space needed for implementation and to increase the flexibility of the multilingual system. Over 500 students have used CAPS to learn Fortran, PL/I, or Cobol in conjunction with a computer assisted course on introductory computer science.

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Association for Computing Machinery

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Publication History

Published: 01 November 1976

Published in CACM Volume 19, Issue 11

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Apiola MSaqr MLopez-Pernas STedre M(2022)Computing Education Research Compiled: Keyword Trends, Building Blocks, Creators, and DisseminationIEEE Access10.1109/ACCESS.2022.315760910(27041-27068)Online publication date: 2022
https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2022.3157609
Bernardy JWeirich S(2009)Lazy functional incremental parsingProceedings of the 2nd ACM SIGPLAN symposium on Haskell10.1145/1596638.1596645(49-60)Online publication date: 3-Sep-2009
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https://doi.org/10.1002/spe.4380150507
Allison L(2006)Syntax directed program editingSoftware: Practice and Experience10.1002/spe.438013050713:5(453-465)Online publication date: 30-Oct-2006
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Ledgard HSinger AWhiteside J(2005)Directions in human factors for interactive systemsDirections in Human Factors for Interactive Systems10.1007/3-540-10574-3_2(1-188)Online publication date: 26-May-2005
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Degano PPriami C(1998)LR techniques for handling syntax errorsComputer Languages10.1016/S0096-0551(97)00016-724:2(73-98)Online publication date: 1-Jul-1998
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Kearsley G(1995)The Relevance of AI Research to CAIJournal of Educational Technology Systems10.2190/9WPY-EQ0J-8MT0-RGWR6:3(229-250)Online publication date: 1-Jan-1995
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Degano PPriami C(1995)Comparison of syntactic error handling in LR parsersSoftware—Practice & Experience10.1002/spe.438025060625:6(657-679)Online publication date: 1-Jun-1995
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Bianchi UDegano PMannucci SMartini SMojana BPriami CSalvatori E(1993)Generating the analytic component parts of syntax-directed editors with efficient-error recoveryJournal of Systems and Software10.1016/0164-1212(93)90061-223:1(65-79)Online publication date: 1-Oct-1993
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van den Bosch P(1992)A bibliography on syntax error handling in context free languagesACM SIGPLAN Notices10.1145/131080.13109027:4(77-86)Online publication date: 1-Apr-1992
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