Visual Programming Language (VPL) employs graphical elements instead of textual code to create programs, making it accessible and user-friendly. Examples include Visual Basic and Visual C++, with Scratch being a well-known VPL used to teach children programming.
VPL was popular in the 80s and 90s for creating gaming kits, multimedia tools, and databases. The creation of Unified Modeling Language (UML) stemmed from efforts like Rational Unified Process, aiming to document systems comprehensively without writing code. While VPL hasn't achieved the success of textual languages due to the complexity of real-life applications, it remains relevant and has evolved into low-code platforms.
VPLs are easy to learn and use, providing built-in objects for developing programs. They offer intuitive user interface design using drag-and-drop functionality, and code can be attached to interface components for execution upon user interaction.
VPLs require computers with higher memory, storage, and processing capabilities, and they are typically limited to graphical operating systems like Linux and Windows. The execution speed of visual applications is slower compared to textual programming languages.
While VPLs faced challenges in meeting early promises due to limitations in addressing real-world complexities, they remain relevant in modern software development. Low-code platforms have emerged, combining the benefits of visual and textual programming, making coding more accessible for citizen developers. VPLs continue to be an important part of the sector and will not fade into obscurity, contributing to the evolution of software development practices.
