Expert Programming Knowledge: a Schema-Based Approach

TL;DR

This paper explores the role of expert programming knowledge in understanding code, comparing schema-based and control-flow approaches, and discussing their respective strengths and limitations based on supporting data.

Contribution

It introduces a schema-based approach to understanding programming knowledge and evaluates its effectiveness against control-flow models using empirical data.

Findings

Schema-based models are supported by certain data but have limitations.

Control-flow models explain some understanding aspects better.

The paper discusses the boundaries of schema-based understanding.

Abstract

The topic of this chapter is the role of expert programming knowledge in the understanding activity. In the "schema-based approach", the role of semantic structures is emphasized whereas, in the "control-flow approach", the role of syntactic structures is emphasized. Data which support schema-based models of understanding are presented. Data which are more consistent with the "control-flow approach" allow to discuss the limits of the former kind of models.