ad3@pucc-h (Mike Brown) (11/01/85)
I teach an introductory level course on BASIC programming, one of a
number of public service courses offered by the Purdue University
Computing Center. To better meet the needs of the attendees of this
course, I'm planning to move the course to one of our recently opened
IBM PC/AT instructional labs and teach IBM BASICA. (Currently, I use
BASIC-PLUS on one of our PDP-11/70s running RSTS/E.)
I'm looking for a package that will show a dynamic display of a BASIC
program executing, allowing a student to single-step through the
program and watch displayed values of selected variables change at each
step. The package would not have to be compatible with graphics
programs; I'd be satisfied with text-mode applications.
If I were to develop such a package myself, it would have at least the
following features:
- Three windows, either on screen simultaneously or selectable with
function keys.
- The SOURCE window would show the region of the program currently
being executed, highlighting the current line.
- The VARIABLES window would show current values of selected
variables, perhaps highlighting values changed by the previously
executed statement.
- The OUTPUT window would contain program output that would
normally be printed at the terminal, including things such as
interactive prompts from INPUT statements, etc.
- The user would be able to single-step through the program or
set/reset breakpoints so that the program would execute multiple
statements until a breakpoint was encountered.
Does anyone out in net.land either have or know where I could find a
package with at least a significant subset of these capabilities? I'd
appreciate any pointers, names, addresses, reviews, etc. If anyone
else is also looking for a package of this type, let me know and I'll
be glad to share any information I receive.
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Mike Brown {decvax|harpo|ihnp4|inuxc|seismo|ucbvax}!pur-ee!pucc-h!ad3
Purdue University Computing Center
Mathematical Sciences Building
Purdue University
West Lafayette, IN 47907
(317) 494-1787