Visual debuggers might be considered data structure visualizers. Although the focus of our research is on visualizations somehow intended for education, it's conceivable that a visual debugger could be used for more than simple debugging. Debuggers are not focused on abstract, ideal data structures but rather on how data actually gets physically represented in the machine (which often has very little to do with a data structure's abstract concept). More complex visual debuggers try to deduce something about the abstract structure (perhaps with hints from the viewer) to provide the viewer with a better understanding of the program's behavior.

JELIOT 3

Link

http://cs.joensuu.fi/~jeliot

Delivery Method

Java application

License

GPL

Language

multilangual

Author

Niko Myller, Andrés Moreno, Roman Bednarik, Ronit Ben-Bassat Levy, Erkki Sutinen, Moti Ben-Ari

Institution

University of Joensuu, Finland

Project

Jeliot

Works

yes

Description

Jeliot 3 is a pedagogical program visualization system. It automatically visualizes how a user-made Java program is interpreted. Method calls, variables and operation are displayed on a screen as the animation goes on, allowing the student to follow step by step the execution of a program.

Evaluation

Automatic generation of visualization, low-level detail, question answering, source-codes available, extensible, can be used as a plugin for e.g. BlueJ or Eclipse. It is used in introductory programming courses.

GoodFor

teaching the concept, exploring the concept, debugging, comparison.

Project dates

1.1.2002 - 1.9.2009

This entry last Edited

2009-09-03

jGRASP

Home:

http://jgrasp.org

Developer:

Auburn University; James H. Cross II, Larry Barowski

Category:

Visual Debugger

Dates:

2007 - 2009

Delivery Method:

Java Application

Works:

Yes

Good For:

Debugging, exploring data structures

Evaluation:

Sophisticated system, been around for a couple of years now. Active project.

Data Structure Visual Debugger

Home:

http://infovis.cs.vt.edu/datastruct

Developer:

Virginia Tech; Chris North, John Costigan, and Ben Wilhite

Category:

visual debugger

Dates:

October 2003

Delivery Method:

Windows application / C++ for Visual Studio

Works:

unknown

Good For:

teaching via coding

Strengths:

unknown

Weaknesses:

unknown

DDD

Home:

http://www.gnu.org/software/ddd

Developer:

Free Software Foundation; Andreas Zeller and Andrew Gaylard

Category:

visual debugger

Repository:

GNU

Dates:

1997 - 2005

Delivery Method:

Multiple platform binaries

Works:

yes (not tested)

Good For:

debugging

Strengths:

unknown

Weaknesses:

unknown

Erigone

Home:

http://stwww.weizmann.ac.il/g-cs/benari/erigone/index.html

Developer:

Moti Ben-Ari

License:

GNU GPL

Category:

Model Checking

Dates:

2009

Delivery Method:

Downloaded Application

Description:

Erigone is a partial reimplementation of the Spin Model Checker. The goal is to facilitate learning concurrency and model checking. Erigone is distributed as a single, self-contained, executable file. Erigone produces a detailed trace of the model checking algorithms. The contents of the trace are customizable and a uniform keyword-based format is used that can be directly read or used by other tools. Erigone implements a subset of Promela that is sufficient for demonstrating the basic concepts of model checking for the verification of concurrent programs. Erigone is written in Ada 2005.

CollectionSpy

Home:

http://www.collectionspy.com

License:

Commercial Product

Author:

Laurence Vanhelsuwe

Institution:

Software Pearls

Language:

Java

Project:

CollectionSpy

Works:

Yes

Description:

Commercial product with free evaluation download.

Evaluation:

Visualizes Java Collections and Maps. Also visualizes realtime API interactions with same.

GoodFor:

Profiling (showing, visualising) real-life programs use of standard Java Collections.

Last Updated:

2009-09