Dynamic object viewers for data structures

Abstract

The jGRASP lightweight IDE has been extended to provide object viewers that automatically generate dynamic, state-based visualizations of data structures in Java. These viewers provide multiple synchronized visualizations of data structures as the user steps through the source code in either debug or workbench mode. This tight integration in a lightweight IDE provides a unique and promising environment for learning data structures. Initial classroom use has demonstrated the object viewers' potential as an aid to students who are learning to write and modify classes representing data structures.Recently completed controlled experiments with CS2 students indicate that these viewers can have a significant positive impact on student performance.

Visualizing trace of Java collection APIs by dynamic bytecode instrumentation

“…Treemap is a popular visualization technique commonly used for information visualization [15,16] [35,39] [6]. In this work, we have used treemap to visualize software runtime data to handle large amount of data produced during program execution.…”

Combining Dynamic Program Viewing and Testing in Early Computing Courses

“…Four controlled experiments were conducted and the results of all four showed that the data structure viewers in jGRASP had a statistically significant positive effect on student performance [22,23,24]. Specifically, students using the data structure viewers were able to write new code faster and with fewer errors, as well as find and locate more errors in a shorter amount of time.…”

Testing the jGRASP structure identifier with data structure examples from textbooks

“…Our philosophy is that for visualizations to have the most impact on program understanding, they must be generated as needed from the user's actual program during routine development. The jGRASP viewers and structure identifier are also described in [1,2]. These papers discuss the effects of using the object viewer in a classroom setting and the effects on the learning and understanding of data structures by the student.…”