Programmable Applications:
Interpreter Meets Interface
Maximising expressive power
in tools for creativity
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Hi there, I'm Ajith.
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Tools for grokking systems
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Tools for visualising data
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Tools for telling stories
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Code is a creative medium
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Code is a creative medium
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Learning to code is hard
- there's a lot going on
- fundamentals are vast and sprawling
- disconnects from hand-eye skills
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Working with code is limiting
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| Programming | Direct Manipulation | |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Harder | Easier |
| Favours | Algorithmic | Free-form |
| Expressivity | Limited | Limited |
Working with code is limiting
ajithranka.com · @ajithranka
Working with code is limiting
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What would a tool that maximises expressivity look like?
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1. A Paradigm for Software Design
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- Creative applications can combine a DM interface with a domain-enriched language
- The interpreter and the interface can work together in a variety of interesting ways
Programmable Applications,
Michael Eisenberg (1995)
2. Direct Manipulation and its Discontents
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- Pure DM interfaces are limited in expressivity
- Lack primitives that programming languages provide
Programmable Applications,
Michael Eisenberg (1995)
3. Programming and its Discontents
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- A general purpose programming language on its own goes to the other extreme
- We have knowledge that simply cannot be expressed through a linguistic channel
- General purpose languages lack the domain concepts that the artist-programmer is interested in
Programmable Applications,
Michael Eisenberg (1995)
4. Integrating Mind-work and Hand-work
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Thesis: To be truly expressive, creative tools must provide a combination of:
- a learnable direct manipulation interface, and
- a domain-enriched programming language,
- working together in synergy.
Example: SchemePaint by Eisenberg
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Programmable Applications, Michael Eisenberg (1995)
Example: SchemePaint by Eisenberg
ajithranka.com · @ajithranka
Programmable Applications, Michael Eisenberg (1995)
Example: Ronin by Hundred Rabbits
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Ronin by Hundred Rabbits, Devine Lu Linvega
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