A Roles-Based Approach to Variable-Oriented Programming

Abstract. Delocalized variable plans pose problems for novice programmers trying to read and write programs. Variable-oriented programming is a programming paradigm that emphasizes the importance of variablerelated schemas and brings actions pertaining to each variable together in one place in program code. This paper revisits the idea of variableoriented programming and shows how it can be founded on roles of variables, stereotypes of variable use suitable for teaching to novices. The paper sketches out how variable-oriented, roles-based programming could be implemented using either a new programming language or a framework built on an existing language. The possible applications, merits and problems of a roles-based approach and variable-oriented programming in general are discussed. This paper points at possible research directions for the future and provides a basis for further discussions of variable-oriented, roles-based programming.