VIP: Programming by Graphical Connections
Related techniques make it possible to write scientific programs and
solve physics problems.
- The initial diagram consists of boxes that represent input data
and an output box.
- Physical laws and geometric models may be selected by menu and
added to the picture.
- Connections may be made between diagram buttons and data.
- A program is generated from the diagram by symbolic data flow:
- Initially, input data and constants are defined.
- When a data item becomes defined, its value is propagated into
boxes to which it is connected.
- When a value is propagated into a box, equations associated with
the box are examined to see whether they can be solved for other variables.
- Code is generated as a side-effect of the data flow.
- Units of measurement are converted automatically.