Software visualization in education

Software visualization technology provides better understanding and more efficient creation and use of computer software by graphically representing its components, functionality or algorithms. There are various uses and benefits of software visualization, from detecting logical bugs, errors and performance bottlenecks to their use in simulations and e-learning. This paper focuses on algorithm visualization tools, approaches and languages, which show various states, transitions and data structures in more abstract and clearer way than algorithms presented with traditional programming code. It also shows the importance of visualization in learning algorithms, those that are taught at the very beginning of programming courses, as well as advanced cryptographic algorithms. Visualization tools differ in the level of engagement they provide to their users: some of them provide only simplest interactivity, while other provide questions and quizzes, changing input data or constructing custom visualizations. The paper analyses modern and most popular tools and approaches in algorithm visualization and compares their characteristics, advantages and disadvantages in order to show the most important characteristics of today’s visualization tools and approaches, and their suitability for different problem areas and scenarios. The paper also analyzes the impact of software visualization on students’ knowledge, motivation and efficiency.