HiC

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For the page on the popular fruit-flavored drink, see Hi-C (drink)

HiC running on MS Windows XP
HiC running on MS Windows XP
HiC displaying a novice-friendly error message
HiC displaying a novice-friendly error message

HiC (pronounced /ˌhaɪˈsiː/) is a C++ integrated development environment designed for use in introductory computer science (CS1) courses. HiC itself supports a subset of C++. Pointers, operator overloading, bitwise operations, and other features of C++, which are not usually used in introductory computer science courses, are not included in the subset of C++ that is HiC. The result is that error messages can be more specific, providing more help to novice programmers. It should be noted that HiC does not create stand-alone executable programs. In this regard HiC is not technically a compiler. Instead HiC is an interpreter which interprets the subset of C++ accepted by HiC.

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[edit] Author

HiC was developed by Robert W. Hasker, a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Professor Hasker created HiC after a colleague mentioned that professional development tools should not be used in introductory programming courses [1]. Several Joint International Master graduate students, Andreas Altmannsberger, Matt Booher, Christian Döring, Tanja Medschinski, and Volker Schmitt contributed to HiC, providing HiC with LEGO RCX support [2].

[edit] Name

Though the application bears the name "HiC", the name could also be taken to mean "High C", or Hasker's Instructional C++. Alternatively, instead of being pronounced /ˌhaɪˈsiː/, it could be pronounced /ˈhɪk/, which is a reference to its development in southwestern Wisconsin, a rural area with plenty of cows and cornfields (see hick)[3].

[edit] Terms of Use

HiC is freely available for use by institutions of up to 15,000 students for on-campus (traditional) courses. Instructors are advised to contact the program author to get on a mailing list for updates. Larger institutions and instructors and students of online/distance courses must contact the author for permission to use HiC. The author suggests that professionals use a professional compiler.

[edit] Platform Support

HiC has been developed for use on Wintel platforms. This should include Microsoft Windows releases including and since Microsoft Windows 95. Though developed for use on x86 + MS Windows machines, one can run HiC on GNU/Linux through Wine (software).

[edit] Program Execution

HiC was designed to be executed by merely launching a single executable: hic.exe. As such, there are no DLL or other files one must install. The syntax of HiC is available in the help of the application.

[edit] Current Release

As of 2007 September 13, the latest release is HiC version 3.4.4. [4].

[edit] References

  1. ^ Hasker, R. (2002). HiC: a C++ Compiler for CS1. Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges, 18(1), p56-64
  2. ^ Hasker, R. (2005). An Introductory Programming Environment for LEGO MindStorms Robots. Midwest Instruction and Computing Symposium
  3. ^ Hasker, R. (2002). HiC: a C++ Compiler for CS1. Journal of Computing Sciences in Colleges, 18(1), p56-64
  4. ^ HiC website

[edit] External links