JFLAP Version 7.0
RELEASED August 28, 2009
Last update May 15, 2011

JFLAP

JFLAP is software for experimenting with formal languages topics including nondeterministic finite automata, nondeterministic pushdown automata, multi-tape Turing machines, several types of grammars, parsing, and L-systems. In addition to constructing and testing examples for these, JFLAP allows one to experiment with construction proofs from one form to another, such as converting an NFA to a DFA to a minimal state DFA to a regular expression or regular grammar. Click here for more information on what one can do with JFLAP.

JFLAP News

January 3, 2013 - We are working on a new version of JFLAP that is a redesign. It is taking longer to develop so it will likely not be out until fall 2013. It will include some new items in addition to a new design including an interactive animation of CYK, interaction with set operations, and a more extensive alphabet.
May 15, 2011 - minor JFLAP update to 7.0. Fixed SVG and made two versions of .jar file, one with SVG (large) and one without SVG (smaller, what most people will want to use).

**** APRIL 2011 ****
New Linz book out that includes a CD with JFLAP
exercises. Introduction to Formal Languages
and Automata, fifth edition
*** September 28, 2009 ***
Note to Mac users. Macs default to Java 1.5 and JFLAP now requires Java 1.6.
*** August 28, 2009 *** - JFLAP 7.0 released. See below for more details on changes. JFLAP 7.0 requires Java 1.6. Get JFLAP

December 2008 - JFLAP CD by Linz and Rodger with JFLAP exercises that goes along with the Linz book is now available. Click here for info and see the Supplement.

Note, we have worked closedly with Linz over the past several years so JFLAP fits nicely with the Linz book. Eventually we hope to publish a textbook with JFLAP integrated in...

July 2008 - JFLAP now has a wiki where users can discuss the use or modifications of JFLAP, see jflap.wikia.com

July 2008 - JFLAP now has two listservs. To join, go to lists.duke.edu
You do not need to be a member of Duke to join the listserv.
- jflap-announce@duke.edu - for announcements on new releases of JFLAP or new info on the JFLAP web page
- jflap-discuss@duke.edu - for anyone to have discussions about JFLAP

JFLAP 7.0 released August 28, 2009

New items in JFLAP include added zooming to the editor pane, added an undo button, saving in various image files formats, can parse a range of values on transitions [0-9], and can adjust placement of transitions. The JFLAP source is also available.

JFLAP 6.4 released July 13, 2008

New items in JFLAP include automatically adding a trap state to a DFA, reading input strings from a file, and identifying grammers. This version of JFLAP needs to be run in Java 1.5 or higher.

JFLAP 6.3 released May 24, 2008

There are a few new items or modified items in JFLAP 6.3. New items include:

Conversion of Turing machine to unrestricted grammar, only works for small examples. See new tutorial pages for simple examples.
Can now launch JFLAP without invoking main file, useful for developers using JFLAP in their applications.

JFLAP Finalist Candidate in NEEDS Premier Award

Announced Oct, 12, 2007 at FIE 2007, JFLAP 6.1 is recognized as a finalist candidate in the NEEDS Premier Award for Excellence in Engineering Education Courseware competition. Here is the press release and the submission packet .

See the Slides and movie demo (.avi) of JFLAP presented at the award ceremony.

The Needs Premier Award is in the process of changing its host and is now being hosted at Engineering Pathway . For current information on this award, please check the Engineering Pathway site.

JFLAP 6.2 released January 14, 2008

There are several new items or modified items in JFLAP 6.2. New items include:

CYK parser (usually much faster than the brute force parser)
User controlled parser - here the user can choose which rule to expand in a derivation.
updated regular and context-free pumping lemma games. The game can now start with user A or user B.
New graph layouts for automata theory. If a user does not like the default layout, they can choose another layout.
JFLAP Tutorial - there is now an extensive online tutorial.

JFLAP Version 6.1 released May 18, 2007

JFLAP 6.1 is now available - Basically version 6.0 with some bug fixes. JFLAP 6.0 was an updated version of JFLAP with pumping lemma, moore and mealy machines, multiple run for grammars, grading for multiple files, Turing machine building blocks, etc. See the Tutorial which describes the new features of JFLAP 6.0 in more detail.

Send bug reports to "jflap AT cs.duke.edu"

Note JFLAP version 4.0b10 and later changes the way JFLAP saves files (xml format) and requires Java 1.4 or higher. If you have old JFLAP files (pre version 4.0b10), you will first need to use 4.0b10 to convert those files. Then you can use the most recent version of JFLAP.

Support

The National Science Foundation has supported JFLAP for many years. Grants include DUE-9354791 (transfered to DUE-9596002) , DUE-9555084, DUE-9752583, DUE-0442513 and DUE-1044191. Any opinions, finding and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 License.