A small matter of programming: perspectives on end user computing

"A Small Matter of Programming" asks why it has been so difficult for end users to command programming power and explores the problems of end user-driven application development that must be solved to afford end users greater computational power.

Drawing on empirical research on existing end user system, "A Small Matter of Programming" analyzes cognitive, social, and technical issues of end user programming. In particular, it examines the importance of task-specific programming languages, visual application frameworks, and collaborative works practices for end user computing, with the goal of helping designers and programmers understand and better satisfy the needs of end users who want the capability to create, customize, and extend their applications software.

The ideas in the book are based on the author's research on two successful end user programming systems - spreadsheets and CAD systems - as well as other empirical research, Nardi concentrates on broad issues in end user programming, especially end users' strengths and problems, introducing tools and techniques as they are related to higher-level user issues.

Analyzes cognitive, social and technical issues of end user programming. Drawing on empirical research on existing end user systems, this text examines the importance of task-specific programming languages, visual application frameworks and collaborative work practices for end user computing.

Part 1 Introduction: Just Who Are End Users?; Just What Is End User Programming?; The Empirical Studies; So Much Yet to Do; Overview. Part 2 Conversation and Computers: Mimicking Conversation; Communication as a Practical Activity; Summary. Part 3 Task-specific Programming Languages: Formal Systems -- Some Background; Formal Languages for End Users; The Spreadsheet Formula Language; Problems of Task-specific Programming Languages; Studying Tasks; Summary. Part 4 Interaction Techniques for End User Application Development: Visual Programming; Forms-based Systems; Programming by Example Modification; Programming by Example; Automatic Programming by Informal Program Specification; Summary. Part 5 Application Frameworks: Hybrid Visual Programming in Spreadsheets; Hybrid Visual Programming in Logo; Hybrid Visual Programming in CAD Systems; Visual Formalisms as Application Frameworks; Summary. Part 6 Collaborative Work Practices: Collaboration among Spreadsheet Users; Collaboration among CAD Users; Collaborative Application Development and Software Design; Cultivating Gardeners; Remote Collaboration and Software Reuse; Summary. Part 7 Scenarios of End User Programming: Creating a Hospit…