Error detection and reporting in StarLogo Nova block-based programming language

StarLogo Nova is a program where users can create 3D games and simulations by connecting drag-and-drop blocks to create programs. Although the structure of the blocks prevents a class of syntax errors common with typed languages, there is no system in place to catch semantic errors like type errors that most compilers detect. Further, errors that occur during the runtime of the program fail silently, providing the user with no feedback about how to prevent the error and sometimes causing unexpected behavior. In this thesis, the author implements a semantic analysis pass to the StarLogo Nova compiler, as well as other debugging-related features, to improve compile time and runtime error reporting and to give users meaningful feedback about their programs.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master

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

2019

Author dc:creator

• Belland, Michael D.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Eric Klopfer.

• 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

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/123004

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/123004