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Visual programming language

 

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Visual programming language


 
 

A Visual programming language (VPL) is any programming languageProgramming language

A programming language is an artificial language that can be used to control the behavior of a machine, particularly a compu...
 that lets users specify programsComputer program

Most computer programs consist of a list of instructions that explicitly implement an algorithm , another form of computer ...
 by manipulating program elements graphically rather than by specifying them textually. A VPL allows programming with visual expressions, spatial arrangements of text and graphic symbols. Most VPLs are based on the idea of "boxes and arrows," that is, boxes or circles or bubbles, treated as screen objects, connected by arrows, lines or arcs.

VPLs may be further classified, according to the type and extent of visual expression used, into icon-based languages, form-based languages, and diagram languages. Visual programming environments provide graphical or iconic elements which can be manipulated by users in an interactive way according to some specific spatial grammar for program construction.

A visually transformed language is a non-visual language with a superimposed visual representation. Naturally visual languages have an inherent visual expression for which there is no obvious textual equivalent.

Current developments try to integrate the visual programming approach with dataflow programming languages to either have immediate access to the program stateProgram state

One of the key concepts in computer programming is the idea of state, essentially a snapshot of the measure of various condi...
 resulting in online debugging or automatic program generation and documentation (i.e. visual paradigm). Dataflow languages also allow automatic parallelizationFacts About Automatic parallelization

Automatic parallelization, refers to the use of a modern optimizing parallelizing compiler to convert sequential code into m...
, which is likely to become one of the greatest programming challenges of the future (see ).

Visual languages

  • AgentSheetsAgentSheets Overview

    AgentSheets is an easy to use game and simulation authoring tool....
    , easy to use game authoring and computational science authoring tool
  • AliceAlice (software)

    Alice, is a freeware introductory object-oriented programming software produced by Carnegie-Mellon, an educational programmi...
  • Amiga Vision, multimedia authoring tool released by CommodoreCommodore International

    Commodore is the commonly used name for Commodore International, a West Chester, Pennsylvania based electronics compan...
     with Amiga A3000
  • AnalyticaAnalytica

    Analytica ® is a visual software package developed by for creating, analyzing and communicating quantitative decision model...
  • AutomatorAutomator (software)

    Automator is an application that implements point-and-click creation of workflows for automating repetitive tasks....
  • BaltieBaltie

    name = Baltie| logo = | screenshot = | caption= Baltie...
  • CanDOCANDO

    In 2000, the City of Columbia, South Carolina received funding through the U.S....
     multimedia authoring and application building tool for AmigaOSAmigaOS

    AmigaOS is the default native operating system of the Amiga personal computer....
  • CODECODE programming language

    CODE is a visual programming language and system for parallel programming, letting users compose sequential programs into pa...
  • DRAKONDRAKON

    DRAKON is an algorithmic visual programming language developed for the Buran space project....
    , a language designed for developing the Soviet Buran (spacecraft)
  • FlowWebMethods Flow

    name = webMethods Flow|logo =|paradigm = Object-oriented, structured, graphical...
  • G, the language used in the LabVIEWLabVIEW Summary

    LabVIEW is a platform and development environment for a visual programming language from National Instruments....
     development environment.
  • NXT G (programing language for kids. Based on LabVIEW (G), developed by National Instruments for the Lego Mindstorms NXT robotics kit.
  • , 1969 language by RAND
  • Hollywood Designer application building tool for AmigaOS, MorphOSMorphOS

    MorphOS is a mixed proprietary and open source operating system produced for the PegasosPPC hardware platform by a core deve...
     and AROSFacts About Aros

    *AROS is the open-source implementation of AmigaOS...
  • jMaxJMax

    jMax is a highly-modular visual programming environment for interactive real-time music....
    , a visual programming environment for building interactive, real-time music and multimedia applications.
  • KwikpointKwikpoint Summary

    Sorry, no overview for this topic
    , an isotype visual translator created by Alan Stillman
  • Ladder logicLadder logic

    Ladder logic is a method of drawing electrical logic schematics....
    , a language that simulates relay logic commonly used in Programmable logic controllers
  • Lava
  • Lily, browser based visual programming environment
  • LimnorLimnor

    Limnor is a generic codeless and visual programming system....
  • Max/MSP
  • Microsoft Visual Programming LanguageMicrosoft Visual Programming Language Overview

    Microsoft Visual Programming Language, or MVPL, is a visual programming and dataflow programming language developed by...
    , dataflow language for RoboticsRobotics

    Robotics is the science and technology of robots, their design, manufacture, and application....
     programming that is a component of Microsoft Robotics StudioMicrosoft Robotics Studio

    The Microsoft Robotics Studio is a Windows-based environment for robot control and simulation....
  • Mindscript, easy to use and understand multiple-purpose visual programming language
  • MotoHawk, a graphical language based on SimuLink for developing prototype and production embedded control systems
  • MST WorkshopFacts About MST Workshop

    MST Workshop is an interactive computer programming language....
    , an interactive visual programming language for creating mathematical solutions, rapid prototyping, two-dimensional and three-dimensional graphic applications.
  • nato.0+55+3dNATO.0+55+3d

    NATO.0+55+3d is a set of QuickTime software externals for the Max suite, authored by the enigmatic Netochka Nezvanova....
  • OpenDXFacts About OpenDX

    OpenDX stands for Open Data Explorer and is IBM's scientific data visualization software....
     scientific data visualization using a visual programming language and data flow model.
  • OpenMusicOpenMusic

    OpenMusic is an object-oriented visual programming environment for musical composition based on Common Lisp....
    , a visual programming language for music composition (based on CLOSCLOS Overview

    The Common Lisp Object System is the facility for object-oriented programming which is part of ANSI Common Lisp....
    )
  • O-Zone, The Object Zone multiview, activex based system
  • Pipeline Pilot
  • PrographPrograph

    Prograph is a visual, object-oriented, dataflow, multiparadigm programming language that uses iconic symbols to represent ac...
  • PtolemyPtolemy Project (computing) Overview

    The Ptolemy project is an ongoing project aimed at modeling, simulating, and designing concurrent, real-time, embedded syste...
  • Pure DataPure Data

    Pure Data is a graphical programming language developed by Miller Puckette in the 1990s for the creation of interactive comp...
  • Quartz ComposerQuartz Composer

    Quartz Composer is a node based visual programming language provided as part of the Xcode development environment in Mac OS ...
  • RAPTOR (programming language), a flowchart based tool for introductory programming (homepage)
  • SCADESCADE

    SCADE is a commercial product from the Esterel Technologies Company....
  • Scala Multimedia Authoring suite and complete multimedia system for AmigaOS and Windows
  • SIMPL Windows, programming language for Crestron control systems
  • SimulinkSimulink

    Simulink is a block library tool for modeling, simulating and analyzing dynamic systems....
  • Built on SqueakSqueak

    The Squeak programming language is a Smalltalk implementation, derived directly from Smalltalk-80, by Smalltalk's originator...
    • EtoysEToys (Programming Language)

      Etoys is a child-friendly computer environment based on Squeak....
       scripting
    • Scratch
  • Stagecast CreatorStagecast Creator

    Stagecast Creator is a visual programming language intended for use in teaching programming to kids....
    , formerly Apple'sApple Computer

    Apple Computer, Inc. is an American computer technology corporation with worldwide annual sales in its fiscal year 2005 of...
     Cocoa
  • SubtextSubtext programming language

    Subtext is a moderately visual programming language and environment, for writing application software....
  • SynthMakerSynthMaker

    SynthMaker is an audio programming tool developed by OutSim mainly focused on developing VST plug-ins in a purely visua...
    , an audio programming tool using a visual programming language
  • TersusTersus

    Tersus Visual Programming Platform is a general purpose software development platform that enables the development of applic...
  • ThingLabThingLab

    ThingLab is a visual programming environment implemeneted in SmallTalk and designed at Xerox PARC by Alan Borning....
  • ToonTalkToonTalk computer programming language

    ToonTalk is a computer programming system intended to be programmed by children....
  • Turtle Art, a turtle graphicsTurtle graphics

    Turtle graphics is a term in computer graphics for a method of programming vector graphics using a relative cursor upon a C...
     language for children on the OLPC XO-1OLPC XO-1

    The XO-1, previously known as the $100 Laptop or Children's Machine, is an inexpensive laptop computer intended ...
  • VEEAgilent VEE Summary

    VEE is a visual programming and dataflow programming language and development environment from Agilent Technologies....
  • VisSimVisSim

    VisSim is a visual block diagram language for modeling, simulating and analyzing dynamic systems....
  • virtoolsVirtools

    Virtools is a software developer and vendor, created in 1993 and owned by Dassault Syst?mes since July 2005....
  • WireFusionWireFusion

    WireFusion is a proprietary 3D computer graphics software package primarily designed for web-based graphics. ...
    , a visual programming environment for creating interactive 3D web presentations.
  • vvvvVVVV

    VVVV is a graphical programming language similar to Pure Data or Max but less focused on audio....
  • XEEFacts About XEE (Starlight)

    XEE is a visual language for data processing and ETL tasks....
    , a visual data processing language for ETL tasks
  • Xpresso, an internal visual scripting language


Note: Microsoft Visual StudioMicrosoft Visual Studio

Microsoft Visual Studio is an integrated development environment by Microsoft....
 and the languages it encompasses|Visual C#]], Visual J#J Sharp Summary

The J# programming language is a transitional language for programmers of Sun's Java and Microsoft's J++ languages, so they ...
, etc.) are commonly confused to be but are not visual programming languages. All of these languages are textual and not graphical. MS Visual Studio is a visual programming environment, but not a visual programming language hence the confusion.

See also

  • Dataflow programming
  • Domain-Specific ModelingDomain-Specific Modeling

    Domain-Specific Modeling is a way of designing and developing systems, most often IT systems such as computer software....
  • FlowchartFlowchart

    A flowchart is a schematic representation of a process....
  • Flow-based programmingFlow-based programming Summary

    In computer science, flow-based programming is a programming paradigm that defines applications as networks of "black box" p...
  • Unified Modeling LanguageFacts About Unified Modeling Language

    In software engineering, the Unified Modeling Language is a non-proprietary specification language for object modeling....
  • Deutsch LimitDeutsch Limit

    Deutsch Limit is an adage about visual programming languages originated by Peter Deutsch that states:...
  • Widget WorkshopWidget Workshop

    Widget Workshop: A Mad Scientist's Laboratory is a hands-on science kit, for use on the computer and off....


External links

This article was originally based on material from the Free On-line Dictionary of ComputingFree On-line Dictionary of Computing

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing is an online, searchable encyclopedic dictionary of computing subjects....
, used with . Update as needed.