Metafor: Translating Natural Language to Code

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.

Comments

I can imagine...

[JamesP]

Verbs translated to functions?? Nouns to variables??

int jerk_at_counter, hottie_in_accountancy, dork_at_it;

kill(boss);
send(intern,hell);

Yeah, that will work...

Great!

[Eusebo]

Now all we need is a tool that will take a user's brain and turn it into solid requirements.

of little value here!

[hugesmile]

Metafor doesn't handle run-on sentences (or bad English) that well."

Forget it being a tool for this crowd then!

Re:Dupe

[Anonymous Coward]

I'm about to write a program that stops dupes:

"Don't allow dupes."

There, now I have to decide whether it will be FOSS.

It is coming to pass...

[HaeMaker]

"Make it possible for programmers to write programs in English, and you will find that programmers can not write in English."

http://www.murphys-laws.com/murphy/murphy-comput er .html

Because the average joe wants to be a programmer?

[Proc6]

Yeah, I know my neighbor with an IQ of 7 would rather be writing code that parses XML work orders and turns them into statistical graphs than watching NASCAR. It's just that complicated Java syntax kicks his ass so he's kicking back with a 6 pack of Black Label waiting for this technology to come out.

you must be new here

[avi33]

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

Maybe back in 1998, but haughty sniping is second nature to most of the Slashdot crowd now.

Have Kylie stripped washed and brought to my tent

[Timesprout]

waiting...
waiting...
waiting...

Stupid computer doesn't do anything I tell it

I don't think so

[gowen]

Computer programming is second nature to most of the Slashdot crowd

Spoken like a man who's never looked at SlashCode.

Re:Ebonics?

[Gzip Christ]

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

There is already a programming language for programming in Ebonics. Be sure to check out some of the sample programs - they are true masterpieces.

Update

[Espectr0]

Update For for the dupe. Not going well. Appreciate all the hate mail. Really encourages improvement.

Ah, yes! Duping words next to each other, that is the new fad. Because duping articles is so yesterday's news

Re:Dupe

[phasm42]

I like how he duped the word "for" in his comment: Update for for the dupe.