Certification/Validation of GKS

Abstract

Following on from the GKS definition process, there then began the certification process for graphics systems in 1981. A special subgroup for this was set up within ISO/TC97/SC5/WG 2 and the EEC decided to sponsor a number of workshops with the aim of developing a certification/validation scheme and guiding the GKS reviewing process in its final stages. It was recognized that a standard is largely worthless unless there is a procedure to test whether or not the implementations conform to it. Two major aims were identified: the more-or-less informal specification of GKS should be improved and eventually a formal specification of the GKS functions should be developed which could accompany the standard and help implementors of GKS systems with more precise definitions. A sub-subgroup concentrated on the issues arising from such a formal specification for graphics standards. Some of their results are contained in [EEC82 d]. In this chapter we focus on the second goal, i.e., to test and ensure that an implementation of GKS adheres to the standard. We refer however, to the results of formal specification research where appropriate.