Exploratory Program Synthesis

Introduction

Our goal is to create Program Synthesis that can be used during Exploratory Programming to boost productivity and reliability when programmers write code. Program synthesis generates code for programmers so they can focus on the problem-solving aspects of their work.

Challenges in Specification

This often requires programmers to write a specification for the desired code, but this specification may not exist. Many aspects are initially undecided:

• Implementation details
• The division into subtasks
• At times, even what the result should be

This leads programmers to use Exploratory Programming: refining their understanding of the code by writing the code. User studies we conducted to evaluate previous synthesis tools highlighted the chasm between what programmers know before writing code and the specifications program synthesis needs.

Development of Exploratory Program Synthesis

We will develop Exploratory Program Synthesis: tools that can support the programmer even when their initial specification of the task is lacking. Exploratory Program Synthesis will hinge on finding non-disruptive ways for the programmer to use synthesis while still using specifications so that results retain a notion of correctness.

Understanding User-Centric Challenges

This will require a better understanding of both exploratory programming and existing user-centric challenges in program synthesis, and will produce new synthesis interaction models backed by new synthesis algorithms. The conceptual leap is finding ways for programmers to interact with synthesis that are designed for the needs of both programmer and synthesizer by better understanding both, forming an interface between the two that is mutually beneficial.

Impact on Programming

Exploratory Program Synthesis will revolutionize programming by letting the wealth of synthesis research be integrated into programmers' day-to-day work, allowing programmers to generate code that is attuned to their work trajectory. The algorithms and interaction models developed in this research will significantly improve programmers' ability to write correct code quickly.