Lightweight Coding of Structurally Varying Dialogs

Abstract

A non-language-specific technique is given for programming of user interface (UI) dialogs. It allows the model (application data) to be pure (containing no UI-specific code). It requires no writing of callbacks or event handler functions. It allows editing of arbitrary data structures, with dynamic structural variation. This is achieved with a paradigm in which the UI specification code need not overtly name or store objects. Object management is performed automatically, facilitated by an incremental control structure. Volume of source code is reduced by about an order of magnitude compared to common UI toolkits. It has been implemented several times and used extensively in industry.