A need for a new metaphor

What if you could visually express logic and document the business process or algorithm at the same time?  With eSCL's visual scripting, you can do just that.  ICS has developed a methodology which allows a user to graphically design logic using a familiar drag and drop metaphor.  The ICS product team has developed a plug-in capability for the popular Visio drawing tool.  Visio allows a user to define stencils....ICS has defined flow chart stencils which represent the SCL language constructs.  For larger projects, a Failure Effects and Modes Analysis (FEMA) might be appropriate.  For the case of FEMA, ICS has developed a fault tree diagram capability which allows the user to graphically specify failure modes.  As the user drops a shape onto the drawing, a wizard interface will prompt for any information needed to satisfy the SCL language semantics.  Additionally, a back end database can be used to capture re-usable components and provide a cross referencing capability.

Once a drawing is complete, it is traversed automatically to produce the ASCII SCL scripts and rules.  Additionally, the tool can export XML which can be used to extract documentation from the scripts and rules.  Applying a stylesheet to the XML produces a web-friendly document suitable for printing.  The XML document and the drawing provide a powerful documentation capability for Business Rules, procedures, and algorithms.
 
 
Step 1.  The Visio Drawing
Step 2. The SCL shapes Stencil.  Elements of the SCL grammar are defined as individual shapes.
Step 3.  Drag and drop shapes to define the business logic.  Connections between shape indicate follow of logic.
Step 4. A Wizard guides you through the definition of needed parameters, and gives an opportunity to define reusable components in the database.
Step 5. Logic is complete and the drawing can now be printed.
Step 6.  Upon saving the document, the SCL script or rule is generated by traversing the drawing.  Optionally, XML can be output for further documentation.  Syntax checking is performed before the document is generated.