Implementation of the Graphical Kernel System (GKS)

Abstract

There have been strong calls recently for graphics standards because of the need for portability in graphics programs and programmers. Existing graphics packages have depended upon the devices and so there has been little portability of graphics application programs between different hardwares. It is for this reason that several device independent graphics standards have been proposed. Of those, the Graphical Kernel System (GKS)^1,2 has become the draft international standard of the International Standard Organization (ISO), and is likely to become the first graphics standard in 1983³. In order to evaluate the function of the GKS (and of course, to actually use it in the development of some graphics systems), we have implemented a graphics package based on this standard. There are two things we will discuss in this paper after introducing the GKS. They are how we implemented the graphics package, and the problems that exist with graphics standardization.