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From: thom@hpfcrh.UUCP (thom)
Newsgroups: net.graphics
Subject: Re: Orphaned Response
Message-ID: <11600002@hpfcrh.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 13-Apr-85 16:16:00 EST
Article-I.D.: hpfcrh.11600002
Posted: Sat Apr 13 16:16:00 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 18-Apr-85 04:30:25 EST
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Nf-From: hpfcrh!thom    Apr  9 13:16:00 1985


GKS (Graphical Kernal System) is a programmer's interface to graphics.
A programmer's interface differs from a device interface in that it
is targetted for graphics applications writers and is generally bound
to a programmer language in the form of a library of functions and/or
procedures (the binding to BASIC is an exception in this regard as the
semantics are defined in terms of constructs of the programming language).
The primitives of GKS are 2D, however 3D extensions to the 2D standard
are currently being developed.  In addition to primitives, attributes,
workstation control, deferral mode control, input, graphics segmentation,
metafile control, and viewing are defined in GKS.  

GKS was originally developed by the West German standardization body, DIN.
They submitted it to ISO TC97/SC21/WG5-2 for processing as an international
standard.  It was chose over the ACM CORE'79 proposal.  It then went through
considerable review and change as an ISO work item.  ANSC X3H3, the predominant
force in United States graphics standardization, has been involved in the
review and change of GKS in the ISO arena.  ANSC is currently in the process
of making this ISO standard and ANSI standard (of course ANSC X3H3 is putting
a little value added into it).  

As far as the status of these standards, ISO GKS is pretty much done except
for the paperwork.  ANS GKS is a little behind it, but is in pretty much the
same state.  At this point implementors can feel pretty safe about implementing
it and application writers can likewise feel safe writing to it.  As mentioned
in earlier notestrings though, the language bindings of GKS are still being
processed, so the only solid language binding to GKS is FORTRAN ( a BASIC
binding is done, but I reveal my bias away from BASIC as a programming language
by not including it { asbestos up } ).

Rather than go into anymore detail I will refer you too a good overview
article on the subject:

  "GKS -- The First Graphics Standard", Bono, Encarnacao, Hopgood, ten Hagen
  IEEE CG&A, July 1982, pages 9-23.

There are a lot of articles out there (about 50% which are accurate).

There are also two books available:

  "Computer Graphics Programming, GKS - The Graphics Standard",
  G. Enderle, K. Kansy, G. Pfaff.
  Springer-Verlag.

  "Introduction to the Graphical Kernel System - GKS",
  F.R.A. Hopgood, D.A. Duce, J.R. Gallop, D.C. Sutcliffe.
  Academic Press.

I hope you find the information useful.

Tom Morrissey.
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