Non-programmers could play a major part in developing complex computer programs, thanks to a new language developed by Sun Microsystems.

Ace is based on Sun's successful Java language and provides software development tools that give a graphical representation of computer code.

Manipulating the diagram on-screen automatically alters the underlying code. For example, moving a line connecting two boxes could change the point at which a piece of input data is entered into a program.

"Non-programmers can use Ace to build a skeleton of their application," says Ali Sayed, a member of the Ace project team. "But to make it completely working they [or a colleague] will have to write some minimal amount of code." Ace should also let non-experts modify a program after its core components have been written.

Sounds interesting on the surface, but kind of frightening too. It would be a shame to see knowledge of BASIC, COBOL, the "C" family fade away in the same manner that old world craftmanship skills such as wood carving, glass blowing and stone masonery disappeared with the advent of the industrial revolution. Admittedly that is a remote possiblity, but it is a possibility all the same if ACE is successful at doing what it promises to do. What, pray tell, does the rest of the community think?

Original article here.