computer science

Raptor (programming language)

Raptor (programming language) is a computer science topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Raptor (programming language) rather than just read about it. In short: RAPTOR, the Rapid Algorithmic Prototyping Tool for Ordered Reasoning, is a flowchart-based authoring tool created by Martin C. Carlisle, Terry Wilson, Jeff Humphries and Jason Moore.

Key takeaways

Raptor (programming language) belongs to computer science; place it in that map before memorising details.
Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
Connect Raptor (programming language) to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
Reproduce the core statement of Raptor (programming language) from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

RAPTOR, the Rapid Algorithmic Prototyping Tool for Ordered Reasoning, is a flowchart-based authoring tool created by Martin C. Carlisle, Terry Wilson, Jeff Humphries and Jason Moore. It is hosted and maintained by former US Air Force Academy and current Texas A&M University professor Martin Carlisle. RAPTOR allows users to write and execute programs using flowcharts. The simple language and graphical components of RAPTOR are designed to teach the major ideas of computer programming to students. It is typically used in academics to teach introductory programming concepts as well.

Illustrations

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Raptor (programming language)

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Raptor (programming language) claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In computer science, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Raptor (programming language) before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Raptor (programming language) ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Raptor (programming language)

In research: Raptor (programming language) appears in computer science research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry: Engineering practice reuses Raptor (programming language) in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom: Raptor (programming language) is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Educational programming languages, Flowchart-based visual programming languages, Free educational software, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life: Look for Raptor (programming language) outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Raptor (programming language) in 20 minutes

Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
Close the page and write down what Raptor (programming language) means in your own words.
Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
Explain Raptor (programming language) out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Raptor (programming language) in simple terms?

RAPTOR, the Rapid Algorithmic Prototyping Tool for Ordered Reasoning, is a flowchart-based authoring tool created by Martin C. Carlisle, Terry Wilson, Jeff Humphries and Jason Moore.

Why does Raptor (programming language) matter?

Because it connects several computer science ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Raptor (programming language)?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Raptor (programming language).