Code Shaping: Iterative Code Editing with Free-form Sketching

We present an initial step towards building a system for programmers to edit code using free-form sketch annotations drawn directly onto editor and output windows. Using a working prototype system as a technical probe, an exploratory study (N = 6) examines how programmers sketch to annotate Python code to communicate edits for an AI model to perform. The results reveal personalized workflow strategies and how similar annotations vary in abstractness and intention across different scenarios and users.