Semantic-based visualization for parallel object-oriented programming

Abstract

We present a graphical environment for parallel object-oriented programming. It provides visual tools to develop and debug object-oriented programs as well as parallel or concurrent systems. This environment was derived from a structural operational semantics of an extension of the Eiffel language, Eiffel//. Object-related features of the language (inheritance, polymorphism) are formalized using a big-step semantics, while the interleaving model of concurrency is expressed with small-step semantics. Without user instrumentation, the interactive environment proposes features such as step-by-step animated executions, graphical visualization of object and process topology, futures and pending requests, control of interleaving, deadlock detection.