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Automatic programming

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In computer science, the term automatic programming[1] identifies a type of computer programming in which some mechanism generates a computer program rather than have human programmers write the code.

There has been little agreement on the precise definition of automatic programming, mostly because its meaning has changed over time. David Parnas, tracing the history of "automatic programming" in published research, noted that in the 1940s it described automation of the manual process of punching paper tape. Later it referred to translation of high-level programming languages like Fortran and ALGOL. In fact, one of the earliest programs identifiable as a compiler was called Autocode. Parnas concluded that "automatic programming has always been an euphemism for programming in a higher-level language than was then available to the programmer."[2]

Generative programming is a style of computer programming that uses automated source code creation through generic classes, prototypes, templates, aspects, and code generators to improve programmer productivity. It is often related to code-reuse topics such as component-oriented programming.

Source code generation is the act of generating source code basing on an ontological model such as a template and is accomplished with a programming tool such as a template processor or an IDE. These tools allow the generation of source code through any of various means. The simplest form of source code generator is a macro processor, such as the C preprocessor, which replaces patterns in source code according to relatively simple rules.

IDEs such as Microsoft Visual Studio have more advanced forms of source code generation, with which the programmer can interactively select and customize "snippets" of source code. Program "wizards", which allow the programmer to design graphical user interfaces interactively while the compiler invisibly generates the corresponding source code, are another common form of source code generation.

Implementations

  • NConstruct is a Windows and Web rapid enterprise application development tool and environment for .NET Framework environment. It generates .NET C# source code for all tiers of the application through simple wizard procedures.
  • MyGeneration is a template-based code generator for the Microsoft .NET Framework.

See also

References

  1. ^ Ricardo Aler Mur, "Automatic Inductive Programming", ICML 2006 Tutorial. June 2006.
  2. ^ D. L. Parnas. "Software Aspects of Strategic Defense Systems." American Scientist. November 1985.
  • Generative Programming: Methods, Tools, and Applications by Krzysztof Czarnecki and Ulrich W. Eisenecker, Addison Wesley, 2000.
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