Computer Simulation

3D Model of a Parser's Behavior

Staffing:  Ryan Donahue

Project Description

The final deliverable will be a VRML world that models the behavior of a parser program I wrote for Programming Language Principles.  The parser parses and creates an abstract syntax tree from programs written in the Tiny language (a very small subset of C).  The model type will be a mix of a finite state machine (FSM) and a functional block model (FBM).  The parser program lends itself nicely to FSM since its implementation actually stems from a design based on an FSM.  However, some states perform actions which necessitates the inclusion of the FBM concept.  The metaphor used to represent the finite state machine will be a factory that manufactures plastic display fruit, in particular plastic grapes.