Introduction

Program synthesis is the task of automatically discovering an executable piece of code given user intent expressed using various forms of constraints such as input-output examples, demonstrations, natural language, etc. Program synthesis has direct applications for various classes of users in the technology pyramid:

• (100s of millions of) End Users (people who have access to a computational device but are not expert programmers): Helping them to create small snippets of code for performing repetitive tasks, simple data manipulation. In other words, enabling them to bring their creativity to life!
• (Billions of) Students and Teachers: Intelligent tutoring systems (pdf, video) that support solution generation (the step-by-step solution to a problem is like a program! PLDI 2011, IJCAI 2013b), problem generation (of a certain difficulty level and that exercises use of certain concepts AAAI 2014, IJCAI 2013b, CHI 2013, AAAI 2012, AAAI 2015), automated grading (PLDI 2013, IJCAI 2013a) , and digital content creation (CHI 2012). Interestingly, all of these activities can be phrased as program synthesis problems.
• Software Developers: Help synthesize mundane pieces of code.
• Algorithm Designers: Help discover new algorithms

Recent advances in AI-style search techniques and formal reasoning techniques based on SAT/SMT solvers have made it possible to efficiently synthesize small programs. I strongly believe that the program synthesis technology is now set to create the next revolution in computing. And hence I spend most of my time working in this area: “devHIeloping new program synthesis techniques and incorporating them into easy-to-use tools” with the goal of democratizing effective use of computational devices, thereby enabling people to bring their creativity to life!

Selected Invited Talks

• Example-based Learning in Computer-Aided STEM Education, Conference on Technology for Education, Dec 2013
• Program Synthesis, Lectures at Marktoberdorf Summer School, August 2013
• Synthesis for Computer-aided Education, ExCAPE Summer School, Jun 2013
• Synthesis for Intelligent Tutoring Systems [video], ExCAPE Webinar Series, Jan 2013
• End User Programming and Intelligent Tutoring Systems, Distinguished Lecture Series at UC-Berkeley, Fall 2012
• Synthesis from Examples: Interaction Models and Algorithms, Invited Talk at SYNASC 2012
• Dimensions in Synthesis, Lectures at Summer School on Formal Methods 2012
• Synthesis from Examples, Keynote at WAMBSE 2012
• Program Synthesis for Automating End-user Programming and Education, Keynote at AVM/RiSE Meeting 2011
• Usable Synthesis, Short Invited talk at UV 2010
• Dimensions in Program Synthesis, Invited Tutorial at FMCAD 2010
• Program Synthesis for Automating Education, Keynote at AVM 2010
• Dimensions in Program Synthesis, Invited Talk at PPDP 2010
• Component Based Synthesis, Dagstuhl Seminar on Software Synthesis (December 2009)

Dimensions in Program Synthesis [PPDP 2010]