Extended data-flow architecture for data analysis and visualization

Abstract

Modular visualization environments utilizing a data-flow execution model have become quite popular in recent years, especially those that incorporate visual programming tools. However, simplistic implementations of such an execution model are quite limited when applied to problems of realistic complexity, which negate the intuitive advantage of data-flow systems. This situation can be resolved by extending the execution model to incorporate a more complete and efficient programming infrastructure while still preserving the virtues of 'pure data-flow'. This approach has been used for the implementation of a general-purpose software package, IBM Visualization Data Explorer.