Debugging Tool to Learn Algorithms: A Case Study Minimal Spanning Tree

Abstract

This paper presents a visualization tool that works as a debugger to learn the minimal spanning tree. The tool allows the user to enter the graph as a matrix and then allow the user to visualize the execution of the algorithm step by step. During the visualization, the tool can handle and debug the errors that occurred by the user. Also the tool gives the user a feedback from the execution of the algorithm by storing the errors that occurred by the user. The tool can be used by the teacher and students inside and outside the class. The tool was evaluated by the students and the results show that the tool enhances the understanding of algorithms.