Visual programming versus textual programming in automatic testing and diagnosis

Author

Neag, Ion A. ; Tyler, David F. ; Kurtz, William S.

fYear

2001

fDate

2001

Firstpage

658

Lastpage

671

Abstract

The present paper investigates the categories of functionality implemented by software in Automatic Test Systems and the programming paradigms that are commonly used for implementation. Building on the conclusions of this analysis, the paper proposes a combined development paradigm, where visual programming is used at diagnosis level, while both textual and visual languages are supported for implementing test and instrument control functionality. This approach offers important benefits in reducing development and maintenance costs for ATS software, while maximizing its potential for reuse. The proposed development paradigm is illustrated by an actual ATS architecture, implemented in software product

Keywords

automatic test equipment; automatic test software; computational complexity; fault diagnosis; software maintenance; software reusability; visual programming; ATS; algorithmic complexity; categories of functionality; code re-use; combined development paradigm; development costs; fault isolation; instrument control functionality; maintenance costs; programming paradigms; software implementation; textual languages; textual programming; visual languages; visual programming; Automatic control; Automatic programming; Automatic testing; Computer architecture; Costs; Functional programming; Instruments; Software maintenance; Software testing; System testing;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

AUTOTESTCON Proceedings, 2001. IEEE Systems Readiness Technology Conference

Conference_Location

Valley Forge, PA

ISSN

1080-7225

Print_ISBN

0-7803-7094-5

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/AUTEST.2001.949450

Filename

949450