Eastern Kentucky University
Overcoming Daily Challenges with Embedded Scripting Languages
Institution
Eastern Kentucky University
Faculty Advisor/ Mentor
George Landon; Minh Nguyen
Abstract
Over the past 20 years, there has been a shift in the target audience of software applications. Previously, many software applications were designed for specialists who have technical knowledge. Nowadays, many software applications are rather designed for the general public. Likewise, the gap between software users and software developers has increased as the users have less of a technical knowledge. Recently, software developers have included embedded programming languages inside of applications. These languages give the user a more direct way to use the logical resources of the computer, but also, being embedded, the user may easily extend the functionality of existing software. Embedded languages such as Python make using powerful programming features available to the general public. The integration of Python, a scripting language, into large applications is one form of using embedded languages to enhance user productivity. We surveyed the features, and usability of the 3d modeling system, Blender3D, and the computer algebra system, Sage to examine the effectiveness of embedded languages. We found that these embedded languages work seamlessly with current workflows and they may simplify complicated tasks by allowing users to write custom scripts within applications.
Overcoming Daily Challenges with Embedded Scripting Languages
Over the past 20 years, there has been a shift in the target audience of software applications. Previously, many software applications were designed for specialists who have technical knowledge. Nowadays, many software applications are rather designed for the general public. Likewise, the gap between software users and software developers has increased as the users have less of a technical knowledge. Recently, software developers have included embedded programming languages inside of applications. These languages give the user a more direct way to use the logical resources of the computer, but also, being embedded, the user may easily extend the functionality of existing software. Embedded languages such as Python make using powerful programming features available to the general public. The integration of Python, a scripting language, into large applications is one form of using embedded languages to enhance user productivity. We surveyed the features, and usability of the 3d modeling system, Blender3D, and the computer algebra system, Sage to examine the effectiveness of embedded languages. We found that these embedded languages work seamlessly with current workflows and they may simplify complicated tasks by allowing users to write custom scripts within applications.