Should we leverage natural-language knowledge? an analysis of user errors in a natural-language-style programming language

摘要

Should programming languages use natural-language-like syntax? Under what circumstances? What sorts of errors do novice programmers make? Does using a natural-language-like programming language lead to user errors? In this study, we read the entire online interactions of sixteen children who issued a total of 35,047 commands on MOOSE Crossing, an educational MUD for children. We counted and categorized the errors made. A total of 2,970 errors were observed. We define "natural-language errors" as those errors in which the user failed to distinguish between English and code, issuing an incorrect command that was more English-like than the correct one. A total of 314 natural-language errors were observed. In most of those errors, the child was able to correct the problem either easily (41.1