Bringing Programming by Demonstration to CAD Users

This chapter presents a suite of systems we developed that constitute a solution for bringing programming to end users in the field of computeraided design (CAD), by using programming by demonstration (PBD). This suite includes the LIKE system, which laid the foundations of our method, and the EBP system (Example Based Programming in Parametrics), which is intended to enable CAD system users to generate every program that describes the geometric shapes of a collection of parts through the interactive graphic design of one example of this collection. From a PBD point of view, they prove that, at least in some application area where system users have particular skills, complete PBD environments may be developed. From a CAD systems point of view, this approach proves that parametric CAD systems, which are already very successful for sequential (or simple repetitive, pattern-based) parametric design, may be extended to support the parametric design of every conditional or repetitive shape aspect. From a user interface viewpoint, it also proves that very powerful macro-with-example recorders may be developed.