Overview
ISO/IEC 9593-4:1991/Amd 2:1998 is an amendment to the PHIGS language binding for the C programming language. It incorporates PHIGS amendments into Part 4 (C binding) of the PHIGS binding standard, updating conformance rules, adding abbreviations, and merging/clarifying C function bindings used by PHIGS and PHIGS PLUS implementations. The amendment is part of the ISO/IEC 9593 series for computer graphics language bindings and references ISO/IEC 9592-1:1996 for PHIGS profile definitions.
Key Topics
- C language binding updates: Revises the C-binding section (clause 3.1) to align C implementations with PHIGS conformance rules.
- Conformance criteria: Defines requirements for implementations to conform to Basic PHIGS, PHIGS PLUS, and Full PHIGS profiles:
- Implement specified profile functionality per ISO/IEC 9592-1.
- Make visible the required declarations in the C binding (clauses 5–10 depending on profile).
- Function names and parameter data types must match the standard exactly.
- Function name consolidation: Large alphabetical listing/merging of PHIGS C function names (e.g., pmap_dc_to_wc, pinq_* inquiry functions, pcreate_, pset_, preq_*), clarifying the mapping between C names and PHIGS operations.
- Standardized abbreviations: Adds an ordered table of abbreviations (e.g., assoc, attr, cfg/config, res, textr, trav) to promote consistent naming and documentation in bindings and implementations.
- Normative reference update: Adjusts the referenced PHIGS standard numbering to ISO/IEC 9592-1:1996 where applicable.
Applications
- Graphics library implementers: Developers building or maintaining PHIGS-compliant C libraries will use this amendment to ensure correct function signatures, names, and visibility.
- Vendor interoperability: Hardware and software vendors use the standard to achieve consistent behavior across PHIGS Basic, PHIGS PLUS and Full implementations for CAD, visualization, and legacy engineering tools.
- Porting and legacy support: Engineers porting older PHIGS-based applications to modern C environments or validating legacy PHIGS behavior rely on the amended bindings and conformance rules.
- Conformance testing: Test suites and validation labs apply the amendment’s criteria to verify profile compliance and correct C binding exposure.
Related Standards
- ISO/IEC 9592-1:1996 - PHIGS standard defining Basic, PHIGS PLUS and Full profiles (normative reference for conformance).
- ISO/IEC 9593 series - Language bindings for PHIGS (other parts specify bindings for other languages and additional clauses).
Keywords: PHIGS, ISO/IEC 9593-4, C binding, PHIGS PLUS, conformance, computer graphics standard, PHIGS amendment, function bindings, ISO/IEC 9592-1.