Toward visual debugging

Abstract

Much of the recent research in software visualization has been polarized toward two opposite domains. In one domain that we call data structure and program visualization, low-level canonical views of program structures are generated automatically. These types of views, which do not require programmer input or intervention, can be useful for testing and debugging software. Often, however, their generic, low-level views are not expressive enough to convey adequately how a program functions. In the second domain called algorithm animation, designers handcraft abstract, application-specific views that are useful for program understanding and teaching. Unfortunately, since algorithm animation development typically requires time-consuming design with a graphics package, it will not be used for debugging, where timeliness is a necessity. However, we speculate that the application-specific nature of algorithm animation views could be a valuable debugging aid for software developers as well, if only the views could be easy and rapid to create. We have developed a system called Lens that occupies a unique niche between the two domains discussed above and explores the capabilities that such a system may offer. Lens allows programmers to build rapidly (in minutes) algorithm animation-style program views without requiring any sophisticated graphics knowledge and without using textual coding. Lens also is integrated with a system debugger to promote iterative design and exploration.

An extensible framework for providing dynamic data structure visualizations in a lightweight IDE

“…The extant software visualization research has primarily been directed toward two main areas of interest: (1) program visualization, in which source code, data structures, or runtime behavior is represented, and (2) algorithm animation, in which views are provided of conceptual behavior at the algorithmic rather than the implementation level [10]. Our work overlaps the boundary between program visualization and algorithm animation, and draws on the research in both areas.…”

“…Lens [10] is an attempt to bridge the gap between debugger-based systems such as DDD and sophisticated algorithm animation systems like POLKA. Data structure visualization systems that rely completely on debugger information to produce the visualizations do not have the capability to integrate the rich semantics of the program behavior that only a human animator could supply.…”

Designing effective program visualization tools for reducing user's cognitive effort

“…Mukherjea and Stasko integrated into a debugger a program visualization tool named Lens [Mukherjea and Stasko 1994]. The user can click on statements of the observed program and add visualization requests mainly by filling out various forms.…”

Algorithm simulation with automatic assessment

“…To copy otherwise, to republish, to post on servers or to redistribute to hats, requires prior specific permission and/or s fee. ITiCSE 2000 7/00 Helsinki, Finland © 2000 ACM 1-58113°207-710010007_.$5.00 sented in [4] included a possibility to view the execution of the program source code during the animation. We call this feature program animation.…”