Title: The portability of computer-aided design applications on the Graphics Kernel System graphics standard

Authors: Mashkuri Yaacob, Khalid Mohamed Nor, Khoo Sim Choo

Addresses: University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ' University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. ' University of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract: This paper discusses the portability of computer-aided design (CAD) application software developed using the Graphics Kernel System (GKS) standard routines. It begins with a description of GKS and the use of computer graphics as a tool in CAD. The design and implementation of two CAD application programs are discussed illustrating the portability features of the GKS software as well as the application software. The software was first developed on a VAX 111750 running Unix and was later ported to a similar Unix environment on a UNISYS 1100161 computer. The paper concludes with a further discussion on the issues of portability of the GKS software implemented in the C programming language on the two computer systems, and the features it offers to ensure portability of application software.

Keywords: computer-aided design; CAD; graphics standards; Unix; C language; Graphics Kernel System; application-programmer interface; virtual device interface.

DOI: 10.1504/IJCAT.1988.062670

International Journal of Computer Applications in Technology, 1988 Vol.1 No.1/2, pp.74 - 87

Published online: 11 Jun 2014 *

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