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Documents authored by Paar, Alexander

Document
DOI: 10.4230/OASIcs.ICPEC.2026.7
Gamification in Programming Education: A Zelda-Inspired RPG Approach for Reinforcing Foundational Programming Skills

Authors: Max Fritsche and Alexander Paar

Published in: OASIcs, Volume 145, 7th International Computer Programming Education Conference (ICPEC 2026)

Abstract
The acquisition of programming skills is a notoriously difficult process characterized by high cognitive load, complex abstraction requirements, and significant dropout rates in higher education. Traditional pedagogical approaches often struggle to bridge the gap between seemingly abstract language syntax and the strategic problem-solving required in software engineering. This paper presents a comprehensive gamified solution: a 2D top-down Role-Playing Game (RPG) inspired by classical adventure games such as The Legend of Zelda [Nintendo, 1986], specifically designed to reinforce existing knowledge. We detail the integration of a secure, Docker-based automated code judge within a narrative-driven environment. Key features include a virtual economy, a social "company" system for collaboration, and a curriculum focused on the C programming language to deepen low-level understanding. The paper evaluates the technical robustness of the prototype and proposes an empirical framework to validate the hypothesis that this immersive approach significantly enhances learning productivity, persistence, and student motivation.
Cite as

Max Fritsche and Alexander Paar. Gamification in Programming Education: A Zelda-Inspired RPG Approach for Reinforcing Foundational Programming Skills. In 7th International Computer Programming Education Conference (ICPEC 2026). Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs), Volume 145, pp. 7:1-7:12, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2026)

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@InProceedings{fritsche_et_al:OASIcs.ICPEC.2026.7,
  author =	{Fritsche, Max and Paar, Alexander},
  title =	{{Gamification in Programming Education: A Zelda-Inspired RPG Approach for Reinforcing Foundational Programming Skills}},
  booktitle =	{7th International Computer Programming Education Conference (ICPEC 2026)},
  pages =	{7:1--7:12},
  series =	{Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-95977-443-7},
  ISSN =	{2190-6807},
  year =	{2026},
  volume =	{145},
  editor =	{Portela, Filipe and Matos, Lu{\'\i}s and Guimar\~{a}es, Tiago},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/OASIcs.ICPEC.2026.7},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-267446},
  doi =		{10.4230/OASIcs.ICPEC.2026.7},
  annote =	{Keywords: Gamification, C Programming, Role-Playing Games, Automated Grading, Docker}
}
Document
Keynote
DOI: 10.4230/OASIcs.SLATE.2012.5
From Program Execution to Automatic Reasoning: Integrating Ontologies into Programming Languages (Keynote)

Authors: Alexander Paar

Published in: OASIcs, Volume 21, 1st Symposium on Languages, Applications and Technologies (2012)

Abstract
Since their standardizations by the W3C, the Extensible Markup Language (XML) and XML Schema Definition (XSD) have been widely adopted as a format to describe data and to define programming language agnostic data types and content models. Several other W3C standards such as the Resource Description Framework (RDF) and the Web Ontology Language (OWL) are based on XML and XSD. At the same time, statically typed object-oriented programming languages such as Java and C# are most widely used for software development. This talk will delineate the conceptual bases of XML Schema Definition and the Web Ontology Language and how they differ from Java or C#. It will be shown how XSD facilitates the definition of data types based on value space constraints and how OWL ontologies are amenable to automatic reasoning. The superior modeling features of XSD and OWL will be elucidated based on exemplary comparisons with frame logic-based models. A significant shortcoming will become obvious: the deficient integration of XSD and OWL with the type systems of object-oriented programming languages. Eventually, the Zhi# approach will be presented that integrates XSD and OWL into the C# programming language. In Zhi#, value space-based data types and ontological concept descriptions are first-class citizens; compile time and runtime support is readily available for XSD and OWL. Thus, the execution of Zhi# programs is directly controlled by the artificial intelligence inherent in ontological models: Zhi# programs don't just execute, they reason.
Cite as

Alexander Paar. From Program Execution to Automatic Reasoning: Integrating Ontologies into Programming Languages (Keynote). In 1st Symposium on Languages, Applications and Technologies. Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs), Volume 21, p. 5, Schloss Dagstuhl – Leibniz-Zentrum für Informatik (2012)

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@InProceedings{paar:OASIcs.SLATE.2012.5,
  author =	{Paar, Alexander},
  title =	{{From Program Execution to Automatic Reasoning: Integrating Ontologies into Programming Languages}},
  booktitle =	{1st Symposium on Languages, Applications and Technologies},
  pages =	{5--5},
  series =	{Open Access Series in Informatics (OASIcs)},
  ISBN =	{978-3-939897-40-8},
  ISSN =	{2190-6807},
  year =	{2012},
  volume =	{21},
  editor =	{Sim\~{o}es, Alberto and Queir\'{o}s, Ricardo and da Cruz, Daniela},
  publisher =	{Schloss Dagstuhl -- Leibniz-Zentrum f{\"u}r Informatik},
  address =	{Dagstuhl, Germany},
  URL =		{https://drops.dagstuhl.de/entities/document/10.4230/OASIcs.SLATE.2012.5},
  URN =		{urn:nbn:de:0030-drops-35103},
  doi =		{10.4230/OASIcs.SLATE.2012.5},
  annote =	{Keywords: Ontologies, OO programming languages, Automatic reasoning}
}
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