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{{Short description|First ISO standard for low-level computer graphics}}
{{Use British (Oxford) English|date=December 2011}}
{{Use Oxford spelling|date=April 2024}}
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The '''Graphical Kernel System''' ('''GKS''') was the first [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] standard for low-level [[computer graphics]], introduced in 1977. GKS provides a set of drawing features for two-dimensional [[vector graphics]] suitable for charting and similar duties. The calls are designed to be portable across different [[programming language]]s, graphics devices and hardware, so that applications written to use GKS will be readily portable to many platforms and devices.
{{Infobox standardref
| title = Graphical Kernel System
| status =
| year_started = {{Start date and age|1977}}
| version = ISO/IEC 7942-4:1998
| versionDate = {{Start date and age|1998}}
| organization = [[American National Standards Institute|ANSI]], [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]], [[International Electrotechnical Commission|IEC]]
| related_standards = ANSI X3.124, ISO 8651, ISO 8805, ISO/IEC 8806, [[ISO 10303]]
| abbreviation = GKS
| domain = [[Computer graphics]]
| website =
}}
The '''Graphical Kernel System''' ('''GKS''') was the first [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]] standard for low-level [[computer graphics]], introduced in 1977. A draft international standard was circulated for review in September 1983.<ref name="NS_1983"/><ref name="Straayer_1983"/><ref name="DW_1983"/>
Final ratification of the standard was achieved in 1985.<ref name="ISO_1985"/><ref name="CW_1985"/>


==Overview==
GKS was fairly common on [[computer workstation]]s in the 1980s and early 1990s, and formed the basis of [[Digital Research|Digital Research's]] [[Graphical Environment Manager#GSX|GSX]] and [[Graphical Environment Manager|GEM]] products; the latter was common on the [[Atari ST]] and was occasionally seen on PCs particularly in conjunction with [[Corel Ventura|Ventura Publisher]]. It was little used outside these markets and is essentially obsolete today except insofar as it is the underlying [[API]] defining the [[Computer Graphics Metafile]]. A descendant of GKS was [[PHIGS]].
⚫
GKS provides a set of drawing features for two-dimensional [[vector graphics]] suitable for charting and similar duties. The calls are designed to be portable across different [[programming language]]s, graphics devices and hardware, so that applications written to use GKS will be readily portable to many platforms and devices.

GKS was fairly common on computer [[workstation]]s in the 1980s and early 1990s.<ref name="CW_1986"/>
GKS formed the basis of [[Digital Research]]'s [[Graphics System Extension|GSX]] which evolved into VDI, one of the core components of [[Graphics Environment Manager|GEM]]. GEM was the native GUI on the [[Atari ST]] and was occasionally seen on PCs, particularly in conjunction with [[Corel Ventura|Ventura Publisher]]. GKS was little used commercially outside these markets, but remains in use in some scientific visualization packages. It is also the underlying [[API]] defining the [[Computer Graphics Metafile]]. A descendant of GKS was [[PHIGS]]. One popular application based on an implementation of GKS is the GR Framework,<ref name=gr>{{cite web|title=GR Framework|author1=Josef Heinen|display-authors=etal|date=1985–2019|url=https://gr-framework.org/|access-date=2020-11-16}}</ref> a C library for high-performance scientific visualization that has become a common plotting backend among [[Julia (programming language)|Julia]] users.


A main developer and promoter of the GKS was [[José Luis Encarnação]], formerly director of the [[Fraunhofer Institute]] for Computer Graphics (IGD) in [[Darmstadt]], [[Germany]].
A main developer and promoter of the GKS was [[José Luis Encarnação]], formerly director of the [[Fraunhofer Institute]] for Computer Graphics (IGD) in [[Darmstadt]], [[Germany]].


GKS has been standardized in the following documents:<ref>Catalogue search results on [http://www.iso.org/iso iso.org] and [http://www.freestd.us freestd.us].</ref>
GKS has been standardized in the following documents:<ref name="ISO_cat1"/><ref name="ISO_cat2"/>
* [[ANSI]] standard '''ANSI X3.124''' of 1985.
* [[ANSI]] standard '''ANSI X3.124''' of 1985.
* ISO standard '''ISO/IEC 7942''', first part of 1985, parts 2-4 of 1997-99.
* '''ISO 7942:1985''' standard, revised as '''ISO 7942:1985/Amd 1:1991''' and '''ISO/IEC 7942-1:1994''', as well as '''ISO/IEC 7942-2:1997''', '''ISO/IEC 7942-3:1999''' and '''ISO/IEC 7942-4:1998'''
* The language bindings are ISO standard '''ISO 8651'''.
* The language bindings are ISO standard '''ISO 8651'''.
* GKS-3D (Graphical Kernel System for Three Dimensions) functional definition is ISO standard '''ISO 8805''', and the corresponding [[C (programming language)|C]] bindings are '''ISO 8806'''.
* GKS-3D (Graphical Kernel System for Three Dimensions) functional definition is ISO standard '''ISO 8805''', and the corresponding [[C (programming language)|C]] bindings are '''ISO/IEC 8806'''.


The functionality of GKS is wrapped up as a data model standard in the STEP standard, section [[ISO 10303]]-46.
The functionality of GKS is wrapped up as a data model standard in the STEP standard, section [[ISO 10303]]-46.


==See also==
== See also ==
* [[General Graphics Interface]]
* [[General Graphics Interface]]
* [[IGES]], Initial Graphics Exchange Specification
* [[GSS-KERNEL]]
* [[IGES]] (Initial Graphics Exchange Specification)
* [[NAPLPS]]


==References==
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="NS_1983">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[New Scientist]] |title=Europe calls the tune on computer graphics |author=<!-- staff editors --> |page=152 |date=1983-04-21 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uYf6sbOhyP0C&pg=PA152 |access-date=2018-01-18 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
⚫
* {{Cite book | last1 = Hopgood | first1 = F. R. A. | title = Introduction to the Graphical Kernel System (GKS) | year = 1983 | publisher = [[Academic Press]] | location = London | isbn = 0-12-355570-1 | pages = }}
<ref name="Straayer_1983">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Computerworld]] |title=Headway Being Made on Graphics Standards |author-first=Dave |author-last=Straayer |page=7 |date=1983-07-25 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7mIm9mWKDxYC&pg=RA1-PA7 |access-date=2018-01-01}}</ref>
<ref name="DW_1983">{{cite magazine |author=<!-- staff editors --> |magazine=[[Computerworld]] |page=64 |title=Ansi Seeking Comment On Standard for Graphics |date=1983-09-12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_itgx7IkelMC&pg=PA64 |access-date=2018-01-18}}</ref>
<ref name="ISO_1985">{{cite web |title=ISO 7942:1985 |url=https://www.iso.org/standard/14914.html |access-date=2018-01-18}}</ref>
<ref name="CW_1985">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[Computerworld]] |page=36 |title=Ansi standards draw attention of graphics industry |date=1985-03-25 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EFea26Iy2kQC&pg=RA1-PA36 |access-date=2018-01-18}}</ref>
<ref name="CW_1986">{{cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nvgwHu6zOfQC&pg=PA73 |magazine=[[Computerworld]] |author=<!-- staff writers --> |title=HP library implements GKS |page=73 |date=1986-03-31 |access-date=2018-01-18}}</ref>
<ref name="ISO_cat1">Catalogue search results on http://www.iso.org/iso</ref>
<ref name="ISO_cat2">Catalogue search results on http://www.freestd.us</ref>
}}


== Further reading ==
⚫
==External links==
⚫
* {{Cite book |author-last=Hopgood |author-first=F. R. A. |title=Introduction to the Graphical Kernel System (GKS) |date=1983 |publisher=[[Academic Press]] |location=London |isbn=0-12-355570-1}}
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* [http://www.math.utep.edu/Faculty/sewell/pde2d/gks.htm Unofficial source of current implementation information]
* {{cite web |title=The Graphical Kernel System |author-last=Laflin |author-first=Susan |date=August 1999 |work=SEM307 Computer Graphics II |publisher=School of Computer Science, [[University of Birmingham]] |url=http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~slb/courses/Graphics/g13.html |access-date=2007-02-18 |archive-date=2015-09-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923211533/http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~slb/courses/Graphics/g13.html |url-status=dead }}
* {{cite book |author-first1=José L. |author-last1=Encarnação |author-link1=José Luis Encarnação |author-first2=L. M. |author-last2=Encarnação |author-first3=Wolfgang R. |author-last3=Herzner |title=Graphische Datenverarbeitung mit GKS |language=de |publisher=[[Carl Hanser Verlag]] |location=München / Wien |date=1987 |edition=1 |isbn=3446149783}}
* {{cite book |author-first1=Jörg |author-last1=Bechlars |author-first2=Rainer |author-last2=Buhtz |title=GKS in der Praxis |language=de |publisher=[[Springer Verlag]] |location=Heidelberg |date=1994 |edition=2 |isbn=3540567852}}
* {{cite book |author-first=Wolf-Dietrich |author-last=Fellner |title=Computergrafik |language=de |publisher=[[BI Wissenschaftsverlag]] |location=Mannheim |date=1992 |edition=2 |isbn=3411151226}}
* {{cite book |author-first=Wilfried |author-last=Gawehn |title=Grafikprogrammierung mit C und GKS |language=de |date=1991 |publisher=[[BI Wissenschaftsverlag]] |location=Mannheim |isbn=3-411-14981-7}}

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== External links ==
⚫
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110717185716/http://www.math.utep.edu/Faculty/sewell/pde2d/gks.htm Unofficial source of current implementation information]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050429035038/http://foldoc.doc.ic.ac.uk/foldoc/foldoc.cgi?Graphical+Kernel+System GKS at FOLDOC]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20050429035038/http://foldoc.doc.ic.ac.uk/foldoc/foldoc.cgi?Graphical+Kernel+System GKS at FOLDOC]

* {{cite web |url= http://www.cs.bham.ac.uk/~slb/courses/Graphics/g13.html|title= The Graphical Kernel System|accessdate= 2007-02-18|last= Laflin|first= Susan|date=August 1999|work= SEM307 Computer Graphics II|publisher= School of Computer Science, [[University of Birmingham]]}}
{{ISO standards}}
{{List of IEC standards}}


[[Category:Computer graphics]]
[[Category:Computer graphics]]

Latest revision as of 06:36, 18 June 2024

Graphical Kernel System
AbbreviationGKS
Year started1977; 48 years ago (1977)
Latest versionISO/IEC 7942-4:1998
1998; 27 years ago (1998)
OrganizationANSI, ISO, IEC
Related standardsANSI X3.124, ISO 8651, ISO 8805, ISO/IEC 8806, ISO 10303
DomainComputer graphics

The Graphical Kernel System (GKS) was the first ISO standard for low-level computer graphics, introduced in 1977. A draft international standard was circulated for review in September 1983.[1][2][3] Final ratification of the standard was achieved in 1985.[4][5]

Overview

[edit]

GKS provides a set of drawing features for two-dimensional vector graphics suitable for charting and similar duties. The calls are designed to be portable across different programming languages, graphics devices and hardware, so that applications written to use GKS will be readily portable to many platforms and devices.

GKS was fairly common on computer workstations in the 1980s and early 1990s.[6] GKS formed the basis of Digital Research's GSX which evolved into VDI, one of the core components of GEM. GEM was the native GUI on the Atari ST and was occasionally seen on PCs, particularly in conjunction with Ventura Publisher. GKS was little used commercially outside these markets, but remains in use in some scientific visualization packages. It is also the underlying API defining the Computer Graphics Metafile. A descendant of GKS was PHIGS. One popular application based on an implementation of GKS is the GR Framework,[7] a C library for high-performance scientific visualization that has become a common plotting backend among Julia users.

A main developer and promoter of the GKS was José Luis Encarnação, formerly director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Graphics (IGD) in Darmstadt, Germany.

GKS has been standardized in the following documents:[8][9]

  • ANSI standard ANSI X3.124 of 1985.
  • ISO 7942:1985 standard, revised as ISO 7942:1985/Amd 1:1991 and ISO/IEC 7942-1:1994, as well as ISO/IEC 7942-2:1997, ISO/IEC 7942-3:1999 and ISO/IEC 7942-4:1998
  • The language bindings are ISO standard ISO 8651.
  • GKS-3D (Graphical Kernel System for Three Dimensions) functional definition is ISO standard ISO 8805, and the corresponding C bindings are ISO/IEC 8806.

The functionality of GKS is wrapped up as a data model standard in the STEP standard, section ISO 10303-46.

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Europe calls the tune on computer graphics". New Scientist. 1983-04-21. p. 152. Retrieved 2018-01-18.[permanent dead link‍]
  2. ^ Straayer, Dave (1983-07-25). "Headway Being Made on Graphics Standards". Computerworld. p. 7. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  3. ^ "Ansi Seeking Comment On Standard for Graphics". Computerworld. 1983-09-12. p. 64. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  4. ^ "ISO 7942:1985". Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  5. ^ "Ansi standards draw attention of graphics industry". Computerworld. 1985-03-25. p. 36. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  6. ^ "HP library implements GKS". Computerworld. 1986-03-31. p. 73. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
  7. ^ Josef Heinen; et al. (1985–2019). "GR Framework". Retrieved 2020-11-16.
  8. ^ Catalogue search results on http://www.iso.org/iso
  9. ^ Catalogue search results on http://www.freestd.us

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]
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