The visualization schemes for visual programming are classified into two categories: the visualization of the flow of data/control and the visualization of spatial relationships among visual objects. In the latter case, programs are represented in terms of the change of spatial relationships. A model for constructing visual programming systems is proposed. The model is called the visual programming space (VPS). VPS is capable of supporting both of the visualization schemes mentioned above. The visual programming space manager (VPSM), which is a system to manage programming facilities of VPS, is also proposed. Any specific programming system/environment can easily be constructed by using VPSM. An iconic programming environment, HI-VISUAL '89, is presented as an example for demonstrating the validity and effectiveness of VPSM. >
['Masahito Hirakawa', 'Makoto Yoshimi', 'Minoru Tanaka', 'Tadao Ichikawa']
A generic model for constructing visual programming systems