In this paper we describe a Python- and Tkinter-based visual-programming environment called ViPEr. This tool enables non-programmers to build computational and visualization networks interactively. Computational nodes can be placed onto a canvas and their input and output ports can be connected using the mouse. The connections between the nodes define a directed graph that will be used to propagate data and trigger the execution of nodes that have new input data. ViPEr is, in appearance, similar to programs such as AVS [Upson et al. 89] from Advanced Visual Simulations Inc, or OpenDX [DX 93] from IBM, but presents some fundamental differences which will be pointed out throughout this paper. Several examples of applications will be used to illustrate ViPEr’s design and current range of capabilities.
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Web Services Description Language (WDSL), originally developed by IBM, Microsoft, and others, is an XML format for technical description of Web services. In this tutorial, Mike Olson and Uche Ogbuji introduce WSDL4Py, an open-source Python library for WSDL 1.1 hosted by IBM developerWork’s open-source zone. Usage of the library is explained, as well as discussion of its development.
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ChucK re-factors the idea of a computer music language into three orthogonal basis components: unit generator connections that are data-flow only, globally consistent ”first-class” time control, and sample-synchronous concurrency. The syntax, semantic, and usage have been discussed in previous works. The focus and contributions of this paper are (1) to examine the philosophies and decisions in the language design (2) to describe ChucK’s implementation and runtime model, and (3) to outline potential applications enabled by this framework. We present an experiment in designing a computer music language ”from scratch” and show how things work. We hope these ideas may provides an interesting reference for future computer music systems.
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It began life under the name ARPANet in 1969. It was born in the U.S.A., created in the midst of the Cold War by the government as a strategic mechanism that would provide for the emission and reception of electronic communication signals in the event of a world catastrophe. Commissioned by the Department of Defense, four computers called nodes were connected using modems, telephone wires and satellites, one each at UCLA, UCSB, Stanford and University of Utah. ARPANet stands for Advanced Research Projects Agency Network. Its purpose was to share information and results of research among the various scientists involved in Department of Defense projects. Each node was specifically designed io be independent of the others in case of that aforementioned world catastrophe.
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In 1991, a group of Sun Microsystems engineers led by James Gosling decided to develop a language for consumer devices (cable boxes, etc.). They wanted the language to be small and use efficient code since these devices do not have powerful CPUs. They also wanted the language to be hardware independent since different manufacturers would use different CPUs. The project was code-named Green.
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The history of computers starts out about 2000 years ago, at the birth of the abacus, a wooden rack holding two horizontal wires with beads strung on them. When these beads are moved around, according to programming rules memorized by the user, all regular arithmetic problems can be done. Another important invention around the same time was the Astrolabe, used for navigation. Blaise Pascal is usually credited for building the first digital computer in 1642. It added numbers entered with dials and was made to help his father, a tax collector. In 1671, Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz invented a computer that was built in 1694. It could add, and, after changing some things around, multiply. Leibniz invented a special stepped gear mechanism for introducing the addend digits, and this is still being used.
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Niklaus Wirth of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology {ETH] waspresented the 1984 ACM A. M. Ihring Award at the Association’s Annual Conference in San Francisco in October in recognition of his outstanding work in developing a sequence of innovative computer languages: Euler’ ALGOL-W, Modula, and Pascal. Pascal, in particular, has become significant pedagogically and has established a foundation for future research in the areas of computer language, systems, and architecture. The hallmarks of a Wirth language are its simplicity, economy of design, and high-quality engineering, which result in a language whose notation appears to be a natural extension of algorithmic thinking rather than an extraneous formalism.
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Why do we write documentation? Silly question. Because we want others to be able to use our program, library function or whatever we have written and made available. But writing documentation is not all there is to it: Documentation must be accessible. If it’s hidden in some non?standard place where the documentation?related tools won’t find it ?? how can it serve its purpose?
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