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Automatic and Dynamic Visualization of Process-Based Concurrent Programs

Authors Daniel Augusto Rodrigues Farina, Rodrigo Campiolo, José Rufino, Maria João Varanda Pereira

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Subject Classification

ACM Subject Classification
  • Software and its engineering → Parsers
  • Computing methodologies → Concurrent computing methodologies
  • Human-centered computing → Visualization systems and tools
Keywords
  • E-Learning Tool
  • System Programming
  • Concurrent Programming
  • Code Instrumentation
  • Inspector Functions
  • C
  • JSON
  • Konva JS
  • Canvas
  • Python
  • React JS
  • BPMN

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Abstract

This article discusses the development of forkSim, a tool that can be used to support the teaching of system-level programming within the context of Operating Systems classes, by facilitating the comprehension and analysis of the behavior of C codes representing process-based concurrent programs involving fork system calls. The tool builds on two main components. The first is a C preprocessor, created using language processing techniques. This preprocessor embeds inspectors into the C code before its execution. In runtime, the inspectors extract relevant data from the actions performed and generate a JSON file. The second component is a web application that generates a visual representation of the program flow based on the JSON file. This visualization incorporates elements from BPMN diagrams and draws inspiration from representations used for many years in OS classes. The development of forkSim faced several technical challenges and involved some design decisions, both documented in this paper, along with a discussion of the results achieved.

Cite As Get BibTex

Daniel Augusto Rodrigues Farina, Rodrigo Campiolo, José Rufino, and Maria João Varanda Pereira. Automatic and Dynamic Visualization of Process-Based Concurrent Programs. In 13th Symposium on Languages, Applications and Technologies (SLATE 2024). Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs), Volume 120, pp. 6:1-6:12, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2024) https://doi.org/10.4230/OASIcs.SLATE.2024.6

Author Details

Daniel Augusto Rodrigues Farina
  • Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Portugal
  • Federal University of Technology - Paraná, Brazil
Rodrigo Campiolo
  • Federal University of Technology - Paraná, Brazil
José Rufino
  • Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Portugal
Maria João Varanda Pereira
  • Polytechnic Institute of Bragança, Portugal

Funding

This work was supported by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC): CeDRI, UIDB/05757/2020 (DOI:https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDB/05757/2020) and UIDP/05757/2020 (DOI: https://doi.org/10.54499/UIDP/05757/2020); and SusTEC, LA/P/0007/2020 (https://doi.org/10.54499/LA/P/0007/2020).
  • Farina, Daniel Augusto Rodrigues: Research Centre in Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics (CeDRI), Laboratório para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal.
  • Campiolo, Rodrigo: Federal University of Technology - Paraná (UTFPR), Department of Computer Science, Campo Mourão, Paraná, Brazil.
  • Rufino, José: Research Centre in Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics (CeDRI), Laboratório para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal.
  • Pereira, Maria João Varanda: Research Centre in Digitalization and Intelligent Robotics (CeDRI), Laboratório para a Sustentabilidade e Tecnologia em Regiões de Montanha (SusTEC), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal.

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