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Encouraging Experimentation Through Programming by Proximity

Authors Tom Beckmann , Leonard Geier , Stefan Ramson , Marcel Taeumel , Robert Hirschfeld

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Subject Classification

ACM Subject Classification
  • Software and its engineering → Integrated and visual development environments
Keywords
  • Visual Programming
  • Proximity
  • Experimentation Support

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Abstract

Exploratory programming involves evaluating a variety of approaches to identify those that advance the problem understanding. For this purpose, we investigated a notation for code designed to encourage experimentation with elements of a program. In our proof-of-concept, we evaluate the idea of program elements connecting by mere proximity through small case studies. We identify multiple constraints to enable connection through proximity and its limitations.

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Tom Beckmann, Leonard Geier, Stefan Ramson, Marcel Taeumel, and Robert Hirschfeld. Encouraging Experimentation Through Programming by Proximity. In Companion Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on the Art, Science, and Engineering of Programming (Programming 2025). Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs), Volume 134, pp. 15:1-15:15, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2025) https://doi.org/10.4230/OASIcs.Programming.2025.15

Author Details

Tom Beckmann
  • Hasso Plattner Institute, University of Potsdam, Germany
Leonard Geier
  • Hasso Plattner Institute, University of Potsdam, Germany
Stefan Ramson
  • Hasso Plattner Institute, University of Potsdam, Germany
Marcel Taeumel
  • Hasso Plattner Institute, University of Potsdam, Germany
Robert Hirschfeld
  • Hasso Plattner Institute, University of Potsdam, Germany

Acknowledgements

Thanks to the reviewers for their extensive and helpful comments. This work was supported by the HPI–MIT "Designing for Sustainability" research program, and SAP.

Supplementary Materials

References

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