Configuring Reference Systems for Certifying GKS Implementations

Abstract

Now that GKS, the Graphical Kernel System, has become an international standard [7] and a number of implementations have been offered on the market [5], users are looking for criteria for deciding which implementation to buy and use. The most important advantage of a standard in computer graphics is to provide a solid base for the implementation of portable application systems. This will be guaranteed only if each implementation of GKS adheres to the standard. Standardization efforts are really worthless without preserving the goals of portability and uniformity. Therefore, there is a need for testing strategies to examine whether an implementation conforms with the standard or not. Furthermore, certification tools provide help for both users and implementors. Test programs are made available for use whilst developing an implementation. Reference data flow and results will give assistance to implementors during the life cycle of a GKS implementation.