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Metafor: Translating Natural Language to Code

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the yeah-sure-this'll-work dept.

vivin writes "Computer programming is second nature to most of the Slashdot crowd. However, this is not true for the vast majority of people. Formal programming languages are not as expressive or flexible as natural languages. This becomes more evident when we try to translate user requirements into actual code. Researchers at MIT have come up with a program that bridges this gap. It's not so much a tool that turns English into code, as it is a program that translates requirements (in English) to code. When Metafor analyzes English, nouns phrases become objects, verbs become functions, and adjectives become object attributes (or properties). In addition to helping programmers visualize their program better, I think it also promotes writing concise (and therefore) requirements and descriptions. Metafor doesn't handle run-on sentences (or bad English) that well." Update For for the dupe. Not going well. Appreciate all the hate mail. Really encourages improvement.

6 of 475 comments (clear)

  1. Ebonics? by Proc6 · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Hey brudda, how long beefo it be talkin ebonics yo?

    --

    I'm Rick James with mod points biatch!

  2. Other uses? by daniil · · Score: -1, Flamebait
    I think this tool is really cool. I wonder if it could be used in other areas, like, say, automated cooking. The program would read a recipe from a cook book, and then turn it into a set of commands -- stir(), bake_at_200C(), liquify()* etc. It'd make it much easier for a beginner (or a computer programmer) to cook tasty meals. You could call it the F[tt].

    * to feed disabled people like Terri Schiavo with tasty stuff instead of chicken broth.

    --
    Man is a slave because freedom is difficult, whereas slavery is easy.
  3. Re:Dupe by BenjyD · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    Two in one day. What editing skill that must require.

  4. You must be new here by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    Computer programming is second nature to most of the Slashdot crowd.

    Umm, have you ever read the posts on here?

    slashdot needs a -5 WRONG! mod for all the misinformation these kids try to pass off as fact.

  5. What we really need is... by NorbMan · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    A programming language that can respond to /. editors in natural language like "You idiot!" when duplicate articles are posted.

  6. Update: For FOR the dupe by Herr_Nightingale · · Score: -1, Flamebait

    /. now duping apologies. Glad the hate mail made it through. Encouraged to hear it encourages improvement. Love, HN