PPIG 2019 - 30th Annual Workshop
Usability of Probabilistic Programming Languages
Alan Blackwell, Luke Church, Martin Erwig, James Geddes, Andy Gordon, Maria Gorinova, Atilim Gunes Baydin, Bradley Gram-Hansen, Tobias Kohn, Neil Lawrence, Vikash Mansinghka, Brooks Paige, Tomas Petricek, Diana Robinson, Advait Sarkar, Oliver Strickson
Abstract: This discussion paper presents a conversation between researchers having active interests in the usability of probabilistic programming languages (PPLs), but coming from a wide range of technical and research perspectives. Although PPL development is currently a vigorous and active research field, there has been very little attention to date to basic questions in the psychology of programming. Relevant issues include mental models associated with Bayesian probability, end-user applications of PPLs, the potential for data-first interaction styles, visualisation of model structure and solver behaviour, and many others. We look forward to further discussion with delegates at the PPIG workshop.