Matrix - Applications
In addition to MatrixPro, several applications have been developed using Matrix framework. The use of current applications is in the field of computer science education.
TRAKLA2
TRAKLA2 is an automatic exercise system for algorithms and data structures. Teacher can set up individually tailored exercises about various algorithms that the learner can solve by graphically manipulating data structures on the Web. Setting up exercises requires Java programming. The current system is integrated to a learning environment that takes care of publishing the exercises (publishes web pages with appropriate applet tags for the parameterized TRAKLA2 applet) and storing the results (the points that the students get from the exercises). The system can be used both for formative and summative assessment. The Matrix algorithm animation capabilities are applied, for example, to provide a model solutions for each exercise.
Fully working demonstration of TRAKLA2 exercises is available on the Web. You can contact the Matrix research group for more details by sending email to matrix@cs.hut.fi.
MVT - Matrix Visual Tester
MVT is a visual testing tool based on Matrix. However, MVT is only a very limited prototype to illustrate the ideas related to visual testing and its applications.
MVT visualizes the state of a running Java program (which we will refer to as the debuggee). Most of this state consists of the data structures of the program. This places MVT firmly in the domain of program visualization even though Matrix is primarily designed for algorithm visualization.
MVT also allows the user to modify data values in the debuggee, invoke methods (including constructors) and start and stop the execution of the debuggee and the individual threads in it. In other words, MVT allows the user to manipulate a Java virtual machine (JVM) and arbitrary Java classes in much the same way Matrix on its own allows the user to manipulate data structures implemented specifically for Matrix.