[Edu-sig] Executable pseudocode / executable flowcharts

[Todd Whittaker]

Hey all,

I can make a good case in education for Python as a first language
because, as everyone claims, it it executable pseudo-code.  I know it.  I
believe it.  I've made a case for it.  But, where I work, our students
need more than just pseudo-code.  What we need is a tool that lets
students create executable flowcharts as well.

Yes, I know that most folks don't use flowcharts, that the belief is that
they're outdated tools, pseudo-code is better, and so on.  But, for visual
learners, an executable flowchart can be a great tool (especially one that
can be stepped through like a debugger, complete with watch windows).

Does anyone know of such a tool? If not, would there be interest in making
it?  I'm thinking some nifty features could be:

1. Draw flowcharts with Python expressions and statements in the graphical
   boxes.
2. Export the flowcharts as Python code.
3. Import Python code into a graphical flowchart representation.
4. Step through flowchart execution one statement at a time and view an
   output window and variable watch windows at the same time.

This works best for procedural programming, and I have no idea how to
represent OOP in a flowchart.

Thoughts?

-- 
Todd

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 Todd A. Whittaker  mailto:todd@thewhittakers.org
                    http://www.thewhittakers.org/~todd/
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