Algorithm library based on algorithmic cyberFilms

• Published in: Knowledge-based systems Vol. 22; no. 3; pp. 195 - 208
• Main Authors: Watanobe, Yutaka, Mirenkov, Nikolay, Yoshioka, Rentaro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.04.2009
• Subjects: Algorithm library; Algorithmic cyberFilm; Algorithms; Programming; Visual programming; Algorithm library; Visual programming; Algorithmic cyberFilm
• ISSN: 0950-7051; 1872-7409
• DOI: 10.1016/j.knosys.2008.11.002

A library of algorithms developed as algorithmic cyberFilms is presented. Algorithmic cyberFilms are a new type of software components for presentation, specification/programming and automatic code generation of computational algorithms. The algorithmic cyberFilm format is implemented as a set of multimedia frames (and scenes), and each component is represented by frames of algorithmic skeletons representing dynamical features of an algorithm, by frames of integrated view providing static features of the algorithm in a compact format, and by corresponding template codes supporting the program generation. We developed a library which is a collection of basic and advanced algorithms taught at universities, including computation on grids, trees and graphs. In this paper, we present basic constructs of visual languages which are used for representing cyberFilms as well as for demonstrating the library components. We also provide a general overview of the library and its features. In addition, we discuss results of experiments which were conducted to verify the usability of the library components and their usefulness in education.