Constructing Programs from Example Computations

An autoprogrammer is an interactive computer programming system which automatically constructs computer programs from example computations executed by the user. The example calculations are done in a scratch pad fashion at a computer display using a light pen or other graphic input device, and the system stores a detailed history of all of the steps executed in the process. Then the system automatically synthesizes the shortest possible program which is capable of executing the observed examples. The paper describes the computational environment provided by the system, proves that the program synthesis technique is both "sound" and "complete," describes the design of the system, and gives some programs it was used to create.