Tools for Debugging Computer Programs — How much do They Help?

  • Chapter
Human Detection and Diagnosis of System Failures

Part of the book series: NATO Conference Series ((HF,volume 15))

  • 268 Accesses

Abstract

The computer is firmly embedded in the fabric of our industrial and commercial life, and it seems likely that our dependence on information processing technology will increase in the new decade. However, there is a widening gap both in cost and in sophistication between the hardware and the software of the computer systems. We find only too often that the provision of hardware by suppliers is delayed because of hitches in software development; alternatively, the hardware may be supplied with inadequate software. Anyone who has had any part in the maintenance of a computer system will know of the chore of continually patching the manufacturer’s latest correction into the operating system or language processors, and of writing his own software to surmount, the shortcomings of that supplied.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
EUR 32.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or Ebook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

eBook
USD 9.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free ship** worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Barr, A., Beard, M. and Atkinson, R.C., 1976, “The Computer as a Tutorial Laboratory — The Stanford BIP System”, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies 8, 567–596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blaiwes, A.S., 1973, “Some Training Factors Related to Procedural Performance”, Journal of Applied Psychology 58, 214–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Blaiwes, A.S., 1974, “Formats for Presenting Procedural Instructions”, Journal of Applied Psychology 59, 683–686.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boies, S.J. and Gould, J.D., 1974, “Syntactic Errors in Computer Programming”, Human Factors 16, 253–257.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooke, J.B. and Duncan, K.D., 1980, “An Experimental Study of Flowcharts as an Aid to Identification of Procedural Faults”, Ergonomics (in press).

    Google Scholar 

  • Brooks, F.P., 1975, The Mythical Man-Month London: Addison-Wesley. Dale, H.C.A., 1958, “Fault Finding in Electronic Equipment”, Ergonomics, 1, 356.

    Google Scholar 

  • DuBoulay. J.b.H. and O’Shea, T., “Seeing the Works: A Strategy for Teaching Programming”, Proceedings of Workshop on Computing Skills and Adaptive Systems, University of Liverpool.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, K.D., 1969, “Task Analysis Evaluated”, in: F. Bresson and M. de Montmollin (eds): La Recherche en Enseignement Programme: Tendances Actuelles, Paris: Dunod.

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan, K.D., 1971, “Long Term Retention and Transfer of an Industrial Search Skill”, British Journal of Psychology 62, 439–448.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Findlay, W. and Watt D.A., 1978, “PASCAL — An Introduction to Methodical Programming”, London: Pitman.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fitter, M., 1979, “Towards More “Natural” Interactive Systems”, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies 11, 339–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fitter, M. and Green, T.R.G., 1979, “When Do Diagrams Make Good Computer Languages?”, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies 11, 235–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Garland, D.J. and Stainer, F.W., 1970, “Modern Electronic Maintenance Principles”, London: Pergamon.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould, J.D., 1975, “Some Psychological Evidence on How People Debug Computer Programs”, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies, 7, 151–182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gould, J.D. and Drongowski, 1974, “An Explanatory Study of Computer Program Debugging”, Human Factors 16, 258–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gould, J.D., Lewis, C. and Becker, C.A., 1976, “Writing and Following Procedural, Descriptive and Restricted Syntax Language Instructions”, IBM Research Report 5943, IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Centre, Yorktown Heights, N.Y.

    Google Scholar 

  • Green, T.R.G., 1977, “Conditional Program Statements and Their Comprehensibility to Professional Programmers”, Journal of Occupational Psychology 50, 93–109.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green, T.R.G., Sime, M.E. and Fitter, M., 1975, “Behavioural Experiments on Programming Languages: Some Methodological Considerations”, Memo No. 66, MRC Social and Applied Psychology Unit, Sheffield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kammann, R., 1975, “The Comprehensibility of Printed Instructions and the Flowchart Alternative”, Human Factors 17, 183–191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Miller, L.A., 1974, “Programming by Non-Programmers”, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies 6, 237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, L.A. and Thomas, J.C., 1977, “Behavioural Issues in the Use of Interactive Systems”, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies 9, 509–536.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, M.L., 1979, “A Structured Planning and Debugging Environment for Elementary Programming”, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies 11, 79–95.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miller, R.B., Folley, J.D. and Smith, P.R., 1953, “Systematic Trouble-Shooting and the Half-Split Technique”, Lackland AFB, Human Resources Research Centre, July 1953 Tech. Report.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nassi, I. and Shneiderman, B., 1973, “Flowchart Techniques for Structured Programming”, SIGPLAN Notices 8, 12–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sackman, H., 1970, “Experimental Analysis of Man-Computer Problem Solving”, Human Factors 12, 187–201.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shneiderman, B. and McKay, D., 1976, “Experimental Investigation of Computer Program Debugging”, 6th International Congress of the International Ergonomics Association, College Park, MD.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shneiderman, B., Mayer, R., McKay, D., and Heller, P., 1977, “Experimental Investigations of the Utility of Detailed Flowcharts in Programming”, Communications of the Association for Computing Machinery 20, 373–381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sime, M.E., Arblaster, A.T. and Green, T.R.G., 1977, “Reducing Programming Errors in Nested Conditionals by Prescribing a Writing Procedure”, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies 9, 119–126.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sime, M.E., Green, T.R.G. and Guest, D.J., 1973, “Psychological Evaluation of Two Conditional Constructions Used in Computer Languages”, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies 5, 105–113.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sime, M.E., Green, T.R.G. and Guest, 1977, “Scope Marking in Computer Conditionals — A Psychological Evaluation”, International Journal of Man-Machine Studies 9, 107–118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weinberg, G.M. and Schulman, E.L., 1974, “Goals and Performance in Computer Programming”, Human Factors 16, 70–77.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wirth, N., 1974, “On the Composition of Well-Structured Programs”, Computing Surveys 6, 247–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wright, P.” and Reed, I., 1973, “Written Information: Some Alternatives to Prose for Expressing the Outcomes of Complex Contingencies”, Journal of Applied Psychology 57, 160–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1981 Plenum Press, New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Brooke, J.B. (1981). Tools for Debugging Computer Programs — How much do They Help?. In: Rasmussen, J., Rouse, W.B. (eds) Human Detection and Diagnosis of System Failures. NATO Conference Series, vol 15. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9230-3_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-9230-3_7

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4615-9232-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-9230-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Navigation