LittleC.js: A Lightweight, Minimal, Extensible, and Embeddable JavaScript Implementation of the C Programming Language

Visual block languages have introduced new ways of learning computer languages. New Integrated development environments (IDEs) for standard programming languages such as C or SQL have been developed, derived from block languages and based on the metaphor of building blocks. New online IDEs, mostly used in online courses, have then made programming with standard, text-based programming languages such as C or Java, as easy as possible. Nonetheless, a gap still exists between learning computer programming in a Visual environment based on the block metaphor and a standard environment for a text-based programming language. In this paper, we propose a lightweight integrated development environment, developed for an Introductory Computer Programming course at the Faculty of Engineering of Cagliari, which can be used to gradually introduce students to the C programming language. The tool can be easily embedded in online resources that can also be accessed via mobile devices.