Track—a trace construction kit

ABSTRACT

TRACK is a kit to interactively construct environments that trace the execution of methods and the flow of messages between SMALLTALK-80 objects. It enables the user to set up traces by means of direct manipulation. This is done by placing obstacles between icons representing specific classes and instances much in the way a jumping course is set up. TRACK may be used to generate multiple visualizations of programs which may be concurrently run. It is a browsing and debugging tool as well as an algorithm animation tool. TRACK is tightly integrated with the standard tools of the SMALL- TALK-80 programming environment.

REFERENCES

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INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.5 Testing and Debugging
          Subjects: Tracing

Additional Classification:
  D. Software
  D.2 SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
      D.2.2 Design Tools and Techniques
          Subjects: User interfaces
  D.3 PROGRAMMING LANGUAGES
      D.3.2 Language Classifications

          Nouns: Smalltalk-80

  I. Computing Methodologies
  I.3 COMPUTER GRAPHICS
      I.3.6 Methodology and Techniques
          Subjects: Interaction techniques

General Terms:
Algorithms, Design, Human Factors, Languages, Reliability