Prograph: a step towards liberating programming from textual conditioning

Abstract

A critique of textual programming languages and software development environments is presented, linking them to the development of hardware and discussing their connection with natural languages and mathematical formalisms. The authors then outline criteria for modern integrated programming languages and environments based on the use of graphics. These principles are illustrated by a description of the pictorial, dataflow, object-oriented language Prograph and its implementation. Possibilities for further use of pictures in programming environments are discussed.<>