Visualizing Loops and Data Structures in Xylem: The Code of Plants

Heather Logas, Richard Vallejos, Joseph Osborn, Kate Compton, Jim Whitehead

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

5 Scopus citations

Abstract

The visual representation of software data structures is especially relevant to the creation of games which crowd source science problems to a gaming community and to educational games which seek to teach computer science concepts within the context of computer games. Xylem: The Code of Plants is a game designed to crowd source formal software verification via loop invariant specifications. Due to the nature of this project, it was important that the game 1) appeal to a large audience, 2) support a wide variety of data structures and 3) hide any actual data from the source code that was generating the game levels. To these ends, a method of visualizing data structures was developed that features a consistent plant-based narrative metaphor, is flexible enough to accommodate multiple types of data structures while maintaining narrative integrity, and obscures all real data from the target source code.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings - 4th International Workshop on Games and Software Engineering, GAS 2015
PublisherInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
Pages50-56
Number of pages7
ISBN (Electronic)9781479919345
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 27 2015
Event4th International Workshop on Games and Software Engineering, GAS 2015 - Florence, Italy
Duration: May 18 2015 → …

Publication series

NameProceedings - 4th International Workshop on Games and Software Engineering, GAS 2015

Conference

Conference4th International Workshop on Games and Software Engineering, GAS 2015
Country/TerritoryItaly
CityFlorence
Period5/18/15 → …

Keywords

  • Data structure visualization
  • Formal verification
  • Games and software engineering
  • Loop invariants
  • Program visualization
  • Software verification games

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Software

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