[net.general] GKS Implementation

paulh (04/21/83)

         The Mathematical Centre implementation of GKS in C


         The MC in Amsterdam is working on a GKS  7.2  implementation
         under   UNIX,   with  language  bindings  to  C  and  FTN77.
         Currently level 1b is working with C.

         The official release of the full (level  2c)  implementation
         is,  including  documentation, scheduled for the end of this
         year.  People interested can order (at  their  own  risk)  a
         prerelease.  Then they will get a copy of the implementation
         in its current state.

         The prerelease will contain level 2b by May and level 2c  by
         August.  Both are with a C-binding.

         The FTN77 version (a  shell  around  the  C-implementation),
         following  the  official binding (ISO defined), is scheduled
         for the end of this year.  The  official  binding  is  still
         being defined.


         Some characteristics

         The code not including drivers will  be  organized  as  a  C
         library.  The  object  code  will  stay close to 50 K bytes.
         Typically a modest  application  will  run  in  50  K  bytes
         including  drivers  and  segment space. Drivers are included
         for Tek 4014, AED 512 and plotters.

         Succesfull installations have been done so  far  on  several
         configurations,  e.g.,  PDP 11 (23 -45), VAXes, M68000, SIE-
         MENS R30, APPOLLO, ..., with UNIX 7 or 4.1 BSD or System 3.

         All people entitled to recieve the prrelease will  automati-
         cally receive the final release as soon as it becomes avail-
         able.

         The C-binding was designed  by  Paul  ten  Hagen  and  David
         Rosenthal.   The implementation was designed and implemented
         by Behr de Ruiter and Paul ten Hagen.

         If you want to receive a release, with  sources,  mail  your
         address to me. Many people have already done so. In fact the
         massive interest has caused administrative  problems,  which
         we are recovering from.

         The MC is entitled to  distribute  educational  licenses  at
         tape   and  licence  handling  costs  for  $300.  Commercial
         licences will be handled by TNO, the "owner" of  the  imple-
         mentation.

         On receipt of your address, we will mail you contracts, more
         information and instructions.



                                April 20, 1983





                                    - 2 -


         UNIX mail to: mcvax!paulh with  your  full  postal  address,
         most  mail  replies  I  have send out do not arrive, which I
         cannot check.

         Or write to: Paul ten Hagen
              Mathematical Centre
              Kruislaan 413
              1098 SJ, Amsterdam
              The Netherlands
















































                                April 20, 1983