Programming Environments

In this chapter, we discuss the concept of programming environments as a technical framework for prototype construction. To begin with, we explain what we mean by a programming environment, and then go on to discuss the types of languages needed in a programming environment and the demands made on them. This is followed by an outline of what we consider to be an “ideal” programming environment for supporting prototyping, along with the set of tools it should provide. In the final sections, we assess the importance of available programming environments for prototyping.