‹Programming› 2022
Mon 11 - Thu 14 April 2022

There is a whole world of interesting programming ideas if we look beyond the narrow focus on programming languages. Image-based systems like Smalltalk, no-code and low-code tools, live coding, visual programming and even spreadsheets are interesting not as programming languages, but as programming systems.

Programming systems research

Unfortunately, doing research on programming system is hard. Computer scientists developed a rich repertoire of methodologies for studying programming languages. We can study their syntax, semantics, pragmatics or typing discipline. But no such repertoire exists for programming systems, which hinders our ability to compare different programming systems, identify novel characteristics of systems and advance the state of the art by building on the shoulders of giants.

The organizers of the tutorial recently developed the “Technical Dimensions” framework for studying programming systems . The framework identifies a number of technical dimensions (such as self-sufficiency, notational structure, composability or conceptual integrity, etc.) that can be used to structure discussion about programming systems and identify their important aspects and capture differences and commonalities between programming systems.

☞ Preliminary version of a report on “Technical Dimensions” can be found here.

Let’s work together to develop a methodology for a more structured rigorous discussion about programming systems.

Tutorial format

The tutorial is open to all attendees of ‹Programming› who are interested in studying programming systems. We want to work with the attendees on developing a methodology for programming systems research. As part of the tutorial we will:

  1. Discuss the difficulties in conducting research on programming systems
  2. Use the technical dimensions framework to analyse interesting programming systems developed by the attendees
  3. See whether this reveals any new insights about programming systems
  4. Discuss the next steps and alternative approaches for studying programming systems

How to participate

If possible, the tutorial will be held in person or in a hybrid format, but we are still discussing the best format for the tutorial. If you find the above interesting, please let us know by filling out an informal pre-registration survey so that we know how to best run the event.

☞ Please fill this survey to help us with planning!

Accepted Papers

Title
Analysing programming systems using technical dimensions
MOPS
Future of technical dimensions & what is missing
MOPS
Introduction to the technical dimensions framework
MOPS
Next steps for programming systems research
MOPS
The problem of programming systems research methodologies
MOPS
What are programming systems & how do you study them?
MOPS
Plenary
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Fri 25 Mar

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08:30 - 09:00
Café & NataCatering at Coffee Lounge
08:30
30m
Café & Nata
Catering

09:00 - 10:00
Programming systems and methodologiesMOPS at OpenSpace

We will open the day with a discussion about the problem of the evaluation of programming systems. What are programming systems and why are they harder to evaluate and study than programming languages?

09:00
30m
Talk
The problem of programming systems research methodologies
MOPS
Tomas Petricek University of Kent, Joel Jakubovic University of Kent
09:30
30m
Panel
What are programming systems & how do you study them?
MOPS
Tomas Petricek University of Kent
10:00 - 10:30
Coffee breakCatering at Coffee Lounge
10:00
30m
Coffee break
Coffee break
Catering

10:30 - 12:00
Technical dimensions of programming systemsMOPS at OpenSpace

We will present our work on developing the “technical dimensions” framework, which aims to provide useful strucutre for evaluation of programming systems. After an introduction to the framework, we’ll work together to see how it applies to interesting current programming systems (ideally developed by tutorial participants!)

10:30
45m
Talk
Introduction to the technical dimensions framework
MOPS
Joel Jakubovic University of Kent
11:15
45m
Panel
Analysing programming systems using technical dimensions
MOPS
Jonathan Edwards , Joel Jakubovic University of Kent
12:00 - 13:30
12:00
90m
Lunch
Lunch
Catering

13:30 - 15:00
Future of programming systems researchMOPS at OpenSpace

What does the future of research on programming systems look like? Is there more to be added to the technical dimensions framework? Are there alternative approaches to the problem that motivated this tutorial? What would be the best next steps for the “programming systems” research community and our research?

13:30
45m
Talk
Future of technical dimensions & what is missing
MOPS
Joel Jakubovic University of Kent, Jonathan Edwards
14:15
45m
Panel
Next steps for programming systems research
MOPS
Tomas Petricek University of Kent, Joel Jakubovic University of Kent
15:00 - 15:30
Coffee breakCatering at Coffee Lounge
15:00
30m
Coffee break
Coffee break
Catering