Adding Interactive Visual Syntax to Textual Code

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new approach to enhance textual programming languages with problem-specific visual syntax, improving the expression of complex geometrical and structural ideas in code.

Contribution

It proposes a novel mechanism for integrating visual syntax into textual programming languages, demonstrated through a robust prototype and a design plan for broader adaptation.

Findings

Feasibility of adding visual syntax to textual code

Prototype implementation validating the concept

Design plan for extending to other languages

Abstract

Many programming problems call for turning geometrical thoughts into code: tables, hierarchical structures, nests of objects, trees, forests, graphs, and so on. Linear text does not do justice to such thoughts. But, it has been the dominant programming medium for the past and will remain so for the foreseeable future. This paper proposes a novel mechanism for conveniently extending textual programming languages with problem-specific visual syntax. It argues the necessity of this language feature, demonstrates the feasibility with a robust prototype, and sketches a design plan for adapting the idea to other languages.