Easy programming: empowering people to build their own applications

Abstract

Three software development tools-Spark, Burn and Firefighter-which take a developer from a rough idea of a task to a working program are described. Spark helps the developer map a specific task to a fairly generic predefined task model and then customize that model to more accurately reflect the task. Spark refines the mapping to yield a configuration of mechanisms, or a task method. Based on this method, Burn builds a configuration of knowledge acquisition tools that translate the developer's knowledge into useful representations, resulting in an application program. Firefighter then takes this program, interviews the developer to identify method or knowledge errors, and iterates with Spark and Burn to refine, modify, and enhance the program. The development of Candlestick, a program that helps people who sell computer-based systems to estimate the size of a system's components, using the three tools is described.<>