Computer science professors receive grant
Samantha Bozel
Issue date: 9/8/09 Section: News
Matthew Hearn graduated in 2009 from Loyola College with a major in Computer Science and is now a part of the graduate program. Hearn said that he has nothing to say but good things about the department.
"Dr. Binkley and Dr. Lawrie have really been mentors to me, especially because I came to Loyola as business major and I had no idea where I wanted to go," said Hearn.
Hearn said that Dr. Binkley approached him about helping with the research project his sophomore year.
"Since then, I've stuck with what they were working on as far as research goes."
This particular project is dealing with comprehending source code and the language in it, looking at how people go about creating code.
"I took a three-credit course where I took that project and basically worked really hard, actual data-based, analyzed data found."
Now Hearn is a graduate assistant in the department and is continuing with the research.
Hearn said, "I think the research is really important in seeing the way which people comprehend code, learning environment important when students are learning where something could be cryptic."
Binkley said, "There's a formal notation in math and the same with programming. There is also a lot of natural language."
Hearn explained that the idea is to try and develop a standard so that code can be understood by non-programmers. One has so much freedom when code is written, so the question is whether some kind of grammar rules can be developed to make it more readable.
The application process took up nearly two years. Proposals were put together, then submitted to the NSF, who then decided which programs are to be funded. It's typical for the first request to be denied.
Dr. Lawrie said, "It's like getting comments from an English teacher on a paper. You take the criticisms and tighten the bits. The first time around they said, 'No,' and fortunately they said, 'Yes,' the second time around."
"It definitely put a big smile on our faces", said Binkely.
"Dr. Binkley and Dr. Lawrie have really been mentors to me, especially because I came to Loyola as business major and I had no idea where I wanted to go," said Hearn.
Hearn said that Dr. Binkley approached him about helping with the research project his sophomore year.
"Since then, I've stuck with what they were working on as far as research goes."
This particular project is dealing with comprehending source code and the language in it, looking at how people go about creating code.
"I took a three-credit course where I took that project and basically worked really hard, actual data-based, analyzed data found."
Now Hearn is a graduate assistant in the department and is continuing with the research.
Hearn said, "I think the research is really important in seeing the way which people comprehend code, learning environment important when students are learning where something could be cryptic."
Binkley said, "There's a formal notation in math and the same with programming. There is also a lot of natural language."
Hearn explained that the idea is to try and develop a standard so that code can be understood by non-programmers. One has so much freedom when code is written, so the question is whether some kind of grammar rules can be developed to make it more readable.
The application process took up nearly two years. Proposals were put together, then submitted to the NSF, who then decided which programs are to be funded. It's typical for the first request to be denied.
Dr. Lawrie said, "It's like getting comments from an English teacher on a paper. You take the criticisms and tighten the bits. The first time around they said, 'No,' and fortunately they said, 'Yes,' the second time around."
"It definitely put a big smile on our faces", said Binkely.
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