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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. Great! by Eusebo · · Score: 5, Funny

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

    --
    It is quite simple
    Haiku should not be funny
    Try a Senryu
  2. Re:Dupe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

  3. Because the average joe wants to be a programmer? by Proc6 · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

    --

    I'm Rick James with mod points biatch!

  4. you must be new here by avi33 · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

  5. Re:Ebonics? by Gzip+Christ · · Score: 5, Funny
    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.
  6. Update by Espectr0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    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

    --
    Open Source Java Web Forum with LDAP authentication