The IEEE VL/HCC is a leading academic conference dedicated to advancing human-centered computing, with a focus on making programming and computational thinking more accessible, understandable, and usable. It brings together work across visual languages, end-user programming, cognitive aspects of software engineering and human-AI interaction.

🔍 Core Themes and Topics

VL/HCC explores how to design and evaluate technologies that support human reasoning, learning and expression in computing — often for users who are not traditional software developers.

Topics include:

• Visual programming languages

• End-user programming/end-user software engineering

• Human aspects of software development

• Programming by demonstration/natural language programming

• Human-centered artificial intelligence and machine learning interfaces

• Cognitive studies of programming and learning

• Debugging, comprehension and explainability

• Educational tools and computational thinking

• Tools for inclusion, accessibility, and democratization of tech

🤖 Human-AI Collaboration (2025 Special Focus)

The 2025 edition places special emphasis on human-AI collaboration, encouraging research on how AI tools enhance or challenge the human experience in computing — including trust, understanding, co-creation, and usability.

🧠 Who Should Attend?

• Researchers in human-computer interaction, software engineering, programming languages, AI/ML and computing education

• Practitioners developing tools for end-users, learners, or domain experts

• Students exploring the intersection of technology, cognition, and design

📍 Format and Frequency

• Held annually, sponsored by the IEEE Computer Society

• Features peer-reviewed full and short papers, posters, demos and keynote talks

• Known for its interdisciplinary, inclusive and rigorously supportive review culture