Making Python easier to learn with improved syntax error reporting

In this thesis, we examine which types of compilation-time errors are most prevalent among Python learners at MIT. Then, in order to improve Python's error reporting, we design and implement a system to describe more accurately selected syntax errors, the least well described of the prevalent errors. This system is tested automatically against a set of hand-classified syntax error-producing code samples, as well as by hand against an unclassified set. Lastly, we design and implement a graphical interface to support the description system, and integrate this graphical interface into a popular Python development environment, IDLE.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2018

Author dc:creator

• Briasco-Stewart, Samantha (Samantha Marie)

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Adam Hartz.

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed, downloaded, or printed from this source but further reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/119778

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/119778