Debugging Support in Programming Education

Abstract

When compiling a program containing syntax errors, the error messages produced by a compiler may be confusing for beginners who are learning a programming language. This leads to difficulties in the debugging process for both teachers and learners of a programming course. We propose a system which provides additional messages to the compiler messages. The auxiliary messages are aimed at helping the beginners by indicating candidates for correcting the source code of the program, which leads to better educational effect.