A detail+context approach to visualize function calls

We present our work using a hyperbolic tree structure to animate program function calls and use it as an alternative method to demonstrating concepts such as recursion. Our main goal is to develop a visualization tool to help both lower level and upper level computer science students understand the trace of a function call. A detailed visualization of a function call, including the assignment of variables, allocation of memory, execution of control statements, etc. can help lower level students understand the underlying data structures and algorithms. At the same time, a global view of the hierarchical call chain can provide greater insight for upper level students. We propose the utilization of the hyperbolic tree as a tool for visualizing larger and more complex Java programs.