Object-Oriented Graphics: From GKS and PHIGS to Object-Oriented Systems

This book covers computer graphics programming on the basis of an object-oriented philosophy and using the object-oriented programming paradigm. It shows how a thorough investigation of object-oriented techniques leads to very powerful and flexible graphics systems, which are in sharp contrast to traditional systems such as GKS and PHIGS. An object-oriented multi-level-system system GEO++ with full editing capabilities is defined as a basis for detailed examples using Smalltalk-80 language. The advantages of inheritance are shown for a flexible extension of a predefined graphics kernel. New ways of integrating geometric modeling aspects and defining new output primitives into a prefabricated kernel are demonstrated. Prerequisites for adding rules and constraints are discussed. Requirements for a new object-oriented standard are formulated. A significant part is devoted to detailed examples, showing the progress which can be achieved with a consistent object-oriented approach. Rather than reviewing all different object-oriented approaches and prototypical developments, the book builds a bridge between traditional graphics programming systems and the object-oriented approach. The book is intended for computer scientists and programmers seeking to become familiar with graphics systems and object-oriented programming.