ANTICS - A System for Animating LISP Programs

A system, named ANTICS, has been developed for producing animated films, film strips, or slides depicting the execution of LISP programs. The design, implementation, and use of ANTICS are discussed and it is compared to existing systems. ANTICS may he used by entering very simple commands which produce realtime animation. The system may be "backed up" and manipulated interactively. Advanced commands and a set of graphics primitives are available which permit an instructor or filmmaker to control details and to add features not provided. ANTICS may therefore be used as an interactive educational tool or as an animation system. It is inexpensive to use: a three minute film showing the operation of the recursive function MEMBER was produced for a total cost of $12.00. The implementation is dependent on specific hardware, but the design, which is based on the organization of the LISP EVAL function, could be used on other systems.