Open source programming assistance for students

This paper shows that Java static analysis tools can be an effective resource for students to help track down faults as well as improving their programming skills. In many cases, introductory programming classes can have a large student body with only one instructor. In such cases, students may have very little instructor interaction and programming assistance. Static analysis tools can help provide students individual instruction that may not be provided on an individual bases from instructors. The tools can be used on student demand and they take on some instructional roles, as well as, alleviating the instructor from routine and repetitive questions on bug detection.