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Outline Proposal for a Prolog `Textual Tree Tracer' (TTT)
C. Taylor, J.B.H. du Boulay, and M.J. Patel
Cog. Sci. Research Paper 177, University of Sussex, January 1991.Abstract
This document constitutes an outline specification for a new tracer for Prolog, the design of which has been guided by an evaluation of the relative strengths and weaknesses of a number of existing Prolog tracers. The new tracer, known as the `Textual Tree Tracer' (or `TTT' for short) will produce a `sideways tree' representation of the execution of a goal, using only textual output, i.e. it will not require the use of any specialised graphics. Its key features include the following: a compact and yet very informative basic form of output, which distinguishes clause matching events, and several different goal failure modes; clear display of the structure of computation and the flow of control, via the use of a tree representation; extensive use of default controls to limit the quantity of trace output produced; the facility of retrospective inspection of earlier parts of the trace, in order to obtain more detailed information; and a specialised `database window' which facilitates correlation of the trace with the source code, and shows dynamically any changes to the database resulting from the assertion or retraction of clauses.
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@techreport{1069,
author = {C. Taylor and J.B.H. du Boulay and M.J. Patel},
title = {{O}utline {P}roposal for a {P}rolog `{T}extual {T}ree {T}racer' ({TTT})},
month = {January},
year = {1991},
pages = {182-196},
keywords = {determinacy analysis, Craig interpolants},
note = {},
doi = {},
url = {http://www.cs.kent.ac.uk/pubs/1991/1069},
institution = {University of Sussex},
number = {177},
other_year = {1991},
publication_type = {techreport},
submission_id = {14430_963498121},
type = {Cog. Sci. Research Paper},
}