Overview
ISO/IEC 9593-4:1991 defines the language binding of the Programmer’s Hierarchical Interactive Graphics System (PHIGS) for the C programming language. PHIGS, originally specified as a language-independent graphics system, is standardized under ISO/IEC 9592-1. This part of the ISO/IEC 9593 series ensures that developers can access PHIGS functionality in C-based application environments in a consistent and portable manner.
The standard is crucial for software developers and organizations seeking interoperability and portability in computer graphics applications, particularly when deploying across different C platforms and systems.
Key Topics
- Language Binding: Specifies how the language-independent PHIGS core maps to the data types, syntax, and calling conventions of the C programming language.
- Function and Macro Declarations: Details how PHIGS functions are to be provided as either C functions or macros, adhering to C conventions to ensure correct side effects and identifier usage.
- Memory Management: Outlines strategies for inquiry functions that return both simple lists and complex structures, including the use of resources called “Stores” for dynamic memory management.
- Error Handling: Defines error indicators, error codes, and mechanisms for reporting errors specific to the C binding, enabling robust application development.
- Header File Conventions: Mandates the use of a standardized header file (typically
phigs.h), which contains necessary data type definitions, macros, and external function declarations for PHIGS in C.
- Identifier Management: Provides rules for mapping longer PHIGS function names to shorter identifiers as required by C environments with restricted external name lengths.
Applications
The ISO/IEC 9593-4:1991 standard is vital for:
- Computer Graphics Application Development: Facilitates the use of PHIGS in C to develop interactive graphics software for engineering, simulation, CAD/CAM, and data visualization.
- Cross-platform Graphics Systems: Enhances portability by ensuring consistent PHIGS interfaces in C across various hardware and operating systems.
- Interoperable Visualization Software: Supports the creation of graphics systems and visualization tools that comply with international standards, easing integration and data exchange.
- Educational and Research Projects: Aids academic and research professionals in graphics programming, providing a reliable and standardized C API for graphics experiments and tools.
Related Standards
ISO/IEC 9593-4:1991 is part of a family of standards supporting PHIGS and its language bindings:
- ISO/IEC 9592-1: Defines the language-independent functional description of PHIGS.
- ISO/IEC 9593-1: PHIGS binding for FORTRAN 77.
- ISO/IEC 9593-3: PHIGS binding for ADA.
- ISO/IEC 9899: Specifies the standard for the C programming language, foundational for this binding.
- ISO/IEC TR 9973: Covers procedures for registration of graphical items, which are referenced by the PHIGS system.
- Other Graphics Standards: Related to graphics programming and interoperability, such as GKS (ISO/IEC 7942).
By adhering to ISO/IEC 9593-4, developers ensure that their C applications using PHIGS are standards-conformant, portable, and maintainable, reinforcing the principles of interoperability in computer graphics software and systems.