Visual Programming

Programming in a text editor is incredibly archaic. You are too limited at how you can layout your program. Things like indentation and separating a project into multiple files can help a programmer organize and manage their project, but it's just not enough. People don't naturally think in these terms. We need a more visually manageable interface to programming; something where you can more directly make the connection from thought to code.

This involves being able to separate code segments to aid in design and manageability, graphically create control structures to quicken the development process, and visually link function calls to show program flow. These are only of the few new ideas that can come from a visual programming environment.

This can easily be represented in textual form by embedding the code into XML constructs. Though the major problem I see with this is the lack of adequate input (keyboard,mouse,etc) to be able to work fluidly, I see more of a touch sensitive screen (to replace a mouse) closely coupled with a keyboard (preferably dvorak style).

I think we are far enough in the evolution of programming to move away from coding in a standard text editor.