Programming Environment Error Isolation via Code Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computer programming environments lack efficient mechanisms to identify and isolate errors in program code while allowing error-free portions to execute, hindering the debugging process and real-time correction.

Innovation Solution

A technical computing environment (TCE) that evaluates program code, provides error indicators, correspondence indicators, and dependency indicators, allowing users to interactively identify and correct errors while executing error-free code portions, using a code editor and evaluation window with configuration parameters to control the display of results and indicators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the programming environment halts execution upon detecting an error, then error detection precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates because error-free code cannot execute

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection precisionVSAvoidprogramming efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the program code into multiple portions and evaluates each portion independently. When an error is detected in one portion, the evaluation of other portions can continue, allowing error-free segments to execute and produce results. This segmentation enables parallel error detection across different code sections without halting the entire evaluation process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces correspondence indicators as intermediaries that link error indicators to specific code portions. These indicators act as mediators between the error detection mechanism and the user, providing contextual information about which code segment caused the error while allowing the evaluation to continue. The correspondence indicators enable continuous evaluation by decoupling error reporting from execution termination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the programming environment provides detailed error indicators for all code portions, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedebugging easeVSAvoidevaluation system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by providing detailed error indicators and correspondence information specifically for code portions that contain errors, while using simplified indicators for error-free portions. This differentiated approach focuses detailed analysis where needed (at error locations) while maintaining simplicity elsewhere, reducing overall system complexity while preserving debugging effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements partial action by evaluating and providing detailed error indicators for only those code portions that contain errors, rather than applying uniform detailed evaluation to all code. This selective approach reduces the complexity burden while maintaining ease of operation for debugging, as users receive comprehensive information only where problems exist.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If the programming environment evaluates all portions of program code, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time worsens due to sequential evaluation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection completenessVSAvoidevaluation time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the program code into multiple independent evaluable portions, enabling parallel evaluation of these segments. By dividing the code base into separable units that can be evaluated independently, the system achieves complete error detection across all portions while reducing total evaluation time through concurrent processing of multiple segments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuity of useful action by continuing the evaluation process even after detecting errors in certain code portions. The system does not terminate upon finding errors but continues evaluating other portions, ensuring complete error detection while maximizing the utilization of evaluation resources and minimizing idle time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Data Source

PatentUS9047411B1Programming environment for executing program code despite errors and for providing error indicators
Publication Date: 2015.06.02 MATHWORKS INC
  • US9047411B1 patent drawing
  • US9047411B1 patent drawing
  • US9047411B1 patent drawing

AI summary

A device may receive an indication to evaluate a first portion of program code and a second portion of program code provided via a user interface. The first portion of program code may include an error. The device may cause the first and second portions of program code to be evaluated based on receiving the indication to evaluate the first and second portions of program code. The second portion of program code may be evaluated after the first portion of program code. The device may generate a first result corresponding to the first portion of program code and a second result corresponding to the second portion of program code. The first result may include an error indicator. The device may provide the first result and the second result via the user interface.