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Summary: Achieving Flexibility in Direct-Manipulation Programming Environments by
Relaxing the Edit-Time Grammar
Benjamin E. Birnbaum and Kenneth J. Goldman
Computer Science and Engineering
Washington University in St. Louis
{beb2, kjg}@cse.wustl.edu
Abstract
Structured program editors can lower the entry
barrier for beginning computer science students by
preventing syntax errors. However, when editors
force programs to be executable after every edit, a
rigid development process results. We explore the
use of a separate edit-time grammar that is more
permissive than the runtime grammar. This helps
achieve a balance between structured editing and
flexibility, particularly in live development
environments. JPie is a graphical programming
environment that applies this separation to the live
development of Java applications. We present the
design goals for JPie's edit-time grammar and
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