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ThingLab
open-in-new
<p>ThingLab is a <a href="/facts/Visual_programming_language/j0eyIPzU">visual</a> <a href="/facts/Computer_programming/QmSsFnu0">programming</a> <a href="/facts/Run-time_system/YmCuC4xP">environment</a> implemented in <a href="/facts/Smalltalk/Ru2UPVDE">Smalltalk</a> and designed at <a href="/facts/PARC_(company)/fh2Su0k9">Xerox PARC</a> by <a href="/facts/Alan_Borning/VfeKneEw">Alan Borning</a>. </p><p>A conventional system allows a user to provide inputs that produce outputs. A constraint-oriented system, such as ThingLab, allows the user to provide arbitrary inputs or outputs, then solves for whatever is unknown. ThingLab is viewed as one of the earliest constraint-oriented systems.[<i>according to whom?</i>] </p><p>ThingLab is credited in "Fumbling the Future" as a big reason Xerox continued to fund computer development. </p>