Volume 11, Number 3

Programmer Productivity Enhancement Through Controlled Natural Language Input

  Authors

Howard Dittmer and Xiaoping Jia, DePaul University, USA

  Abstract

We have created CABERNET, a Controlled Nature Language (CNL) based approach to program creation. CABERNET allows programmers to use a simple outline-based syntax. This allows increased programmer efficiency and syntax flexibility. CNLs have successfully been used for writing requirements documents. We propose taking this approach well beyond this to fully functional programs. Through the use of heuristics and inference to analyze and determine the programmer’s intent we are able to create fully functional mobile applications. The goal is for programs to be aligned with the way that the humans think rather than the way computers process information. Through the use of templates a CABERNET application can be processed to run on multiple run time environments. Because processing of a CABERNET program file results in native application program performance is maintained.

  Keywords

Controlled Natural Language, Literate Programming, Programming Language, Computer-aided Software.