ERIC Number: EJ1192488
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Nov
Pages: 28
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-2357
EISSN: N/A
PAVT: A Tool to Visualize and Teach Parsing Algorithms
Sangal, Somya; Kataria, Shreya; Tyagi, Twishi; Gupta, Nidhi; Kirtani, Yukti; Agrawal, Shivli; Chakraborty, Pinaki
Education and Information Technologies, v23 n6 p2737-2764 Nov 2018
A parsing algorithm visualizer is a tool that visualizes the construction of a parser for a given context-free grammar and then illustrates the use of that parser to parse a given string. Parsing algorithm visualizers are used to teach the course on compiler construction which in invariably included in all undergraduate computer science curricula. This paper presents a new parsing algorithm visualizer that can visualize six parsing algorithms, viz. predictive parsing, simple LR parsing, canonical LR parsing, look-ahead LR parsing, Earley parsing and CYK parsing. The tool logically explains the process of parsing showing the calculations involved in each step. The output of the tool has been structured to maximize the learning outcomes and contains important constructs like FIRST and FOLLOW sets, item sets, parsing table, parse tree and leftmost or rightmost derivation depending on the algorithm being visualized. The tool has been used to teach the course on compiler construction at both undergraduate and graduate levels. An overall positive feedback was received from the students with 89% of them saying that the tool helped them in understanding the parsing algorithms. The tool is capable of visualizing multiple parsing algorithms and 88% students used it to compare the algorithms.
Descriptors: Teaching Methods, Computer Software, Undergraduate Students, Computer Science Education, Outcomes of Education, Visualization, Graduate Students, Feedback (Response), Student Attitudes, Prediction
Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2123/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A