It was realized very early that GNOWSYS model can be used for visual computing without explicit syntax. A prototype was developed with the following design: Using a script, a Python library was scanned and the metadata of classes and functions (such as module name, function name, documentation string, number of variables required) were obtained and surrogate `Function' objects were installed in the knowledge base. These objects act as an interphase for the user on one hand and the Python interpreter on the other hand. When these instances were invoked, Python interpreter was called and the function executed. We then combined such functions with logical connectives (including conditions, loops, and logic operations) using another class called `Flow Type', which defined the flow of the program. These instances could be recursively reused in bigger programs taking advantage of the persistent storage of the objects. A demonstration of our first prototype implementation can be seen from [32].
Currently we are extending GQL to support query and management of procedural objects, so that gnowser can help in developing a visual computing environment more efficiently than doing it in HTML. Another development is to advance this support for all free software libraries, other than Python programming language, such as C, C++, LISP, Prolog, Perl, etc, so that a true visual computing suit could be built. This possibility adds a newer dimension to GNOWSYS, which is: (1) to blend functions from different languages in a single program, (2) since the functions have a unique URL a program can refer to functions spread anywhere on the Internet (possibility for semantic grid computing). This will be the basis for web services model of GNOWSYS. Interfaces for doing (1) and (2) are currently being developed.
Needless to say, such a development will have very high relevance for education, including teaching programming. The current emphasis on the syntactical marks of a program can be diverted to the semantics and logic of the program, leaving the former to a few expert computer programmers. Since more people know logic than programming, all those who can think systematically could begin to program using gnowser.
Let us be reminded that there is no language without syntax, so obviously computing without syntax is just incorrect. What is meant is to make syntax implicit by following visual rules, so that programmers can focus on logic. This qualification applies to earlier sections too. Markup exists for any language, but remains implicit knowledge to the agents (whether human or artificial). Once we have made the computers to understand the implicit rules, there remains no reason to input that feed every time. Fortunately (unfortunately sometimes) computers never forget.