Visual Programming Language

Quick links to five visual programming languages:

Prograph

Prograph is an object-oriented, data-flow, pictorial programming language for the general purpose. It supports all standard Object Oriented Programming features. In addition, since Prograph is a data-flow programming language, the dataflow diagram is the code. Text is used only for comments and for naming operations, classes, and methods. There are two advantages for Prograph, one is no syntax errors because Prograph is no textual syntax. Another one is no local variables because data flows through by operation icons and connecting by lines. These two advantages help programmer to design a program.

Currently, Prograph CPX version 1.3.1 is available in stores. It provides all the programmer needs to build an application from scratch. If user wants to get the best result on Prograph CPX, his computer must have at least 7Mb of memory and runs on Macintosh platform. Other versions of Prograph have Prograph Classic Freeware (version 2.6.1) and Peregine 1.2.8. Both of them are running on other platforms.

An example of Prograph CPX - An operation icon.

VisSim

VisSim is a visual block diagram language for nonlinear dynamic simulation. VisSim was first introduced form 1991 at the American Controls Conference in Boston Mass. And currently, it is use at over 350 universities and 2500 commerical installations. It runs on Windows program that lets user interactively construct and run block diagram of dynamic models.

VisSim can run well on any platform that support an ANSI C compiler such as Microsoft Windows and Unix/X platforms. The new VisSim 2.0 have animation support, filter design, vector operations, and C expressions. The following are some features of VisSim.

Frequency Domain Analysis

User can select a linear or nonlinear subsystem in VisSim for frequency domain analysis.

Real-time Simulation and Control

VisSim allows up to 16 real-time I/O cards to placed in a PC and connected to the VisSim diagram, so user can run interactive closed loop control or real-time plant simulation.

Neural Nets

Neural Net is an add-on component from Ward System, which are useful for learning nonlinear dynamic behavior form historic data sets. Once trained, the neural nets can be used to predict plant behavior based on input values. Nets can be both trained and run directly from a VisSim diagram.

C Code Generation

VisSim generates ANSI C code from user VisSim diagram. The C code can be complied and run on any platform that supports an ANSI C complier.

VPLus

VPLus is a real-time and signal procesing applications for visual programming system. It also supports graphical images instead of a text based language, it also supports any graphic image which is stored in Windows Metafile format. A programmer can directly draw his concepts on the worksheet, without the need to convert the concept into a text based language. There are two special features in VPLus. The first one is an automatic step generator which links different tools in order to achieve the finished product. Another one is a worksheet, each worksheet is represented in VPLus as separate window. So a design is constructed of "objects" and "ports", conects via "nets".

Currently, VPLus runs on the Windows NT and Windows95 platforms, but it doesn't support Windows3.1 - 16 bit Windows. One of real world project is turbine engine, SimPhonics uses VPLus for its native language and to do a sound simulation in a trubine engine.

An example of VPLus - Turbine Engine Sound Model

KidSim

KidSim was developed by Apple's Advanced Technology Group. It is a create simulation program and that allows children to build their own simulations and games. So, children can create their own objects and show them how to animate and how to move around the screen. Currently, KidSim is mainly using on an educational tool and the target audience is between grade 5 to grade 7.

The basic features of KidSim are:

The future enhancement for KidSim are:

An example of KidSim : Electric Train Set.

LCRCvisual

LCRC is stand for Laboratory Computer Resource Corporation. LCRCvisual is a cross-platform visual language which includes integration and animation of graphics objects features. Since LCRCvisual is a cross-platform visual language, so it can run well on UNIX, X window, Macintosh and many others. The current version of LCRCvisual is best suited for developing small application programs for education purpose and for distribution form web sites. The future versions will cover more aspects such as statistical processing, scientific data processing, image processing, modelling and operator interface. There are three special features about LCRCvisual.

Complete Drawing Tools

There are some input/ouput boxes into a program and connecting the appropriate functions.

Aninmating Graphics

Any data from a program can be used to animate a graphic such as change its color, position, size, or properties.

User Functions

User can build up their own user function and be saved and used in future programs.

An example of LCRCvisual - Viscosity of an Oil Mixture.

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