Algorithm Exploratorium: A Distributed Graphical Computing Environment

这是一个建议，创建一个现代的，分布式的，面向视觉的计算环境，以支持本科计算机科学教学。这种环境将鼓励算法和程序的实验。在课堂上接触算法动画技术的学生将能够使用该软件在实验室中自己探索算法的性质。通过这样的实验，学生将自己发现算法的特性，从而对所有软件的基本构建模块有更深的理解。一套最先进的图形工具将帮助学生设计、分析、实现、调试和测试复杂的程序。通过使用强大的分析工具，学生将能够发现现有大型程序的结构。其他工具将帮助他们更好更快地开发复杂的程序，并确保它们经过彻底的测试。熟练地使用这些工具可以大大提高软件质量和程序员的工作效率。具有强大搜索功能的基于超文本的工具将提供对大型技术数据库中的文档的即时访问，其中包括在线文档、课堂笔记和教程。该环境将由一系列网络UNIX工作站和服务器组成，这些工作站和服务器支持强大的图形用户界面，以及适当的软件来促进本项目中设想的实验。将这种环境整合到我们的课程中，将使我们的学生更好地理解生产高质量软件的基本原理和实用技术，并为他们更好地满足90年代计算机专业人员的要求做好准备。

This is a proposal to create a modern, distributed, visually oriented computing environment to support undergraduate computer science instruction. The environment will encourage experimentation with algorithms and programs. Students exposed to algorithm animation techniques in the classroom will be able to use this software to explore the properties of algorithms on their own in the laboratory. Through such experimentation, students will discover properties of algorithms by themselves, leading to deeper understanding of the basic building blocks of all software. A suite of state-of-the-art graphical tools will assist the students in designing, analyzing, implementing, debugging, and testing complex programs. By using powerful analysis tools, students will be able to discover the structure of existing large programs. Other tools will assist them in developing complex programs better and faster and ensure that they are thoroughly tested. The skillful use of such tools leads to major increases in both software quality and programmer productivity. Hypertext-based tools with powerful searching capabilities will give instant access to documents in a large technical database, which includes on-line documentation, classnotes, and tutorials. The environment will consist of an array of networked UNIX workstations and servers supporting powerful graphical user interfaces, and appropriate software to facilitate the experimentation envisioned in this project. Integration of this environment into our curriculum will give our students a better understanding of fundamental principles and practical techniques available to produce quality software and better prepare them for the requirements of computer professionals in the 90s.