Evaluating live sequence charts as a programming technique for non-programmers

Abstract

Behavioral programming is a recent programming paradigm that uses independent scenarios to program the behavior of reactive systems. Live sequence charts (LSC) is a visual formalism that implements the approach of behavioral programming. The approach attempts to liberate programming by allowing the user to program the behavior of reactive systems by scenarios. We would like to evaluate the approach and seek the naturalness of the best interface for creating the visual artifact of LSCs. Several such interfaces, among which is a novel interactive natural language (NL) interface, exist. Initial testing indicates that the LSCs' NL interface may be preferred by programmers to procedural programming and that in certain tasks LSCs may be a viable and more natural alternative to conventional programming. Many challenges exist in trying to prove the intuitive and natural nature of a new programming paradigm, which differs from others not only in syntax but in many other respects. We describe these challenges in this proposal.