Abstract
Graphs are a popular data structure, and graph-manipulation programs are common. Graph manipulations can be cleanly, compactly, and explicitly described using graph-rewriting notation. However, when a software developer is persuaded to try graph rewriting, several problems commonly arise. Primarily, it is difficult for a newcomer to develop a feel for how computations are expressed via graph rewriting. Also, graph-rewriting is not convenient for solving all aspects of a problem: better mechanisms are needed for interfacing graph rewriting with other styles of computation. Efficiency considerations and the limited availability of development tools further limit practical use of graph rewriting. The inaccessible appearance of the graph-rewriting literature is an additional hindrance. These problems can be addressed through a combination of “public relations” work, and further research and development, thereby promoting the widespread use of graph rewriting.
This research is supported by Canada's Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council.
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Blostein, D., Fahmy, H., Grbavec, A. (1996). Issues in the practical use of graph rewriting. In: Cuny, J., Ehrig, H., Engels, G., Rozenberg, G. (eds) Graph Grammars and Their Application to Computer Science. Graph Grammars 1994. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 1073. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-61228-9_78
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