A Debugger extension for the Student Java Editor

1. A Debugger extension for the Student Java Editor Patrick McDonnell Rationale The Student Java Editor was a project undertaken by Alan Nisbet, who graduated in 2004. The aim of his project was to create a development environment which would support the novice programmer. It is hoped it will one day prove useful in teaching first and second year Computer Science students. As it stands the Student Java Editor is a complete compiler, including useful features such as class and project wizards. My aim is to extend the functionality of the Student Java Editor by adding support for debugging to the software. • The Debugger itself • Designed to integrate seamlessly with the SJE, the Debugger will hold with the user’s mental model of the software. It will also adhere to the fundamentals of the SJE design: • To provide the novice with adequate features to debug simple programmes • To provide these features with as simple and uncluttered an interface as possible • In implementing the Student Java Editor Debugger I will be utilising the Java Debugger (JDB) bundled with Sun’s J2SE and J2EE software. This will be providing the underlying functionality of the debugger, which the SJE Debugger will then utilise, and manipulate, before it filters through to the user. Eclipse’s user interface for debugging – while useful, far too cluttered for novices Eclipse and the SJE The massively functional plug in manager Eclipse provides not only a platform for building the SJE Debugger, but also inspiration for building it. Eclipse provides the user with a wealth of options, varying from the basic through to the very powerful. Has been said, however, that is has a “very steep learning curve”. With this in mind, the Debugger extension to the SJE will hopefully include all the core features of Eclipse without overwhelming the novice. The SJE interface – uncluttered and much less intimidating