RAPTOR is a flowchart-based programming environment, designed specifically to help students visualize their algorithms and avoid syntactic baggage. RAPTOR programs are created visually and executed visually by tracing the execution through the flowchart. Required syntax is kept to a minimum. Students prefer using flowcharts to express their algorithms, and are more successful creating algorithms using RAPTOR than using a traditional language or writing flowcharts without RAPTOR.
A Multiplatform version of RAPTOR is now available for Windows, Mac and Linux built on top of [Avalonia]! See the downloads section below. Key differences:
Figure 1.0. RAPTOR picture
Papers on RAPTOR application:
RAPTOR referenced in following books or publications:
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Click the button below for your desired RAPTOR install.
Avalonia: Download RAPTOR Avalonia if you need to run on more than just Windows and don't need OO-mode. RAPTOR Avalonia requires .NET Runtime. If you don't have the .NET runtime installed, get it from Microsoft. You want .NET Runtime 8.0. Current RAPTOR users-- take note! Microsoft has deprecated the BinarySerializer used by RAPTOR. This format can still be used if the filename ends with ".oldrap". Before opening old files, rename them to end with .oldrap -- you should migrate all of your files to the new XML-based file format (which is what you will get when you save as ".rap").
Once Microsoft fully deprecates the methods (planned for .NET 9.0), RAPTOR will no longer be able to read the old file format.Windows-only: Download Windows RAPTOR if your students need OO-mode and only have Windows machines. RAPTOR Avalonia can open some Windows RAPTOR files, but Windows RAPTOR can not open RAPTOR Avalonia files.
If you don't have the .NET Runtime installed, get it from Microsoft. You want .NET Runtime 8.0. You may need to install libgdiplus.
To install libgdiplus, in a terminal window type "brew update" then "brew install mono-libgdiplus"
The newest version comes as a ZIP file rather than an installer. Unzip this on your Mac, then open a terminal window, cd to the appropriate folder and type "dotnet raptor.dll"
Here is a YouTube video describing steps to install RAPTOR on an ARM Mac
If you don't have the .NET Core runtime installed, get it from Microsoft. You want .NET Runtime 8.0. Also, make sure you have installed libgdiplus and libc6-dev.
I keep a list of what schools and universities are using RAPTOR and for what class. This helps me plan future advancements. Please email me and let me know
| Title | Information | Download |
|---|---|---|
| RAPTOR Avalonia June 2023 | In case you have issues with latest version | |
| RAPTOR Avalonia April 2023 | In case you have issues with latest version | |
| RAPTOR Avalonia November 2022 | In case you have issues with latest version | |
| Digitally signed installer | older version, digitally signed on 10/1/2016. Download this version if you have Windows Defender Issues. Based on .NET Framework 4.5. XP users may need to use an older installer (2014 or earlier) | |
| Portable version | John Meir from Midlands Tech created a Portable App version (PortableApps.com). This allows RAPTOR to be used from a USB key or similar without installing. This version is from 2012 | |
| FALL 2015 VERSION (Updated 15 August 2015) | First version based on .NET Framework 4.5 | |
| FALL 2014 VERSION (Updated 22 April 2015) | Fixed issue with color White. Fixed issue where users able to create Subcharts in OO mode. Other minor updates to include new signed installer | |
| Unsigned installer | The previous installer was signed with a US Department of Defense certificate. You can get the root certificates from DoD Class 3 PKI Root Certificates. If you have difficulty with the signed installer | |
| SPRING 2012 VERSION (Updated 13 September 2012) | 13 September version fixes anomalies with set_precision. 27 August version hopefully fixes Print Dialog on Windows 7 64-bit. Minor updates to Java code generation. Update to how RAPTOR OO mode handles recursive functions. *KNOWN ISSUE: RAPTOR OO-mode does not correctly handle all recursive functions. | |
| SPRING 2011 VERSION (Updated 18 May 2011) | See above on certificates. Also requires .NET 2.0 Framework. Files generated in this version (except those in OO mode) can be opened with the Summer 2007 version. This installer has been tested on Windows XP SP3 (32 bit), Windows XP Tablet PC (32 bit), Windows 7 Professional (32 and 64 bit) and Vista Business (64 bit). This installer should eliminate many installation bugs from the Microsoft Ink DLL. |
Do you want more older versions? Check out older versions of RAPTOR here
Did you know RAPTOR has modes? By default, you start in Novice mode. Novice mode has a single global namespace for variables. Intermediate mode allows you to create procedures that have their own scope (introducing the notion of parameter passing and supports recursion). Object-Oriented mode is new (in the Summer 2009 version)
RAPTOR is freely distributed as a service to the CS education community. RAPTOR was originally developed by and for the US Air Force Academy, but its use has spread and RAPTOR is now used for CS education in over 30 countries on at least 4 continents. Martin Carlisle is the primary maintainer, and is a professor at Texas A&M University.
Below handouts are by Elizabeth Drake, edited from Appendix D of her book, Prelude to Programming: Concepts and Design, 5th Edition, by Elizabeth Drake and Stewart Venit, Addison-Wesley, 2011. Linked here with author's permission.
Comments, suggestions, and bug reports are welcome. If you have a comment, suggestion or bug report, send an email to Martin Carlisle.
David Cox has put together a user forum at http://raptorflowchart.freeforums.org. This provides a place for users to exchange ideas, how tos, etc. Note however, that feedback for the author should be sent by email rather than posting on this forum.
Randy Bower has some YouTube tutorials at http://www.youtube.com/user/RandallBower. You can also search YouTube for "RAPTOR flowchart".
The UML designer is based on NClass, an open-source UML Class Designer. NClass is licensed under the GNU General Public License. The rest of RAPTOR, by US Air Force policy, is public domain. Source is found here. RAPTOR is written in a combination of A# and C#. Unfortunately, I don't have the time to provide support on compilation issues