[metapost] Asymptote, version 0.53 released
John Bowman
bowman at math.ualberta.ca
Sat Nov 27 04:44:32 CET 2004
Dear Colleagues,
Asymptote, a modern replacement for MetaPost, has recently been released:
http://asymptote.sourceforge.net/
Contributions and feedback (to help make this the best possible technical
graphics program) are encouraged.
-- John Bowman
Professor
Department of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta
Canada T6G 2G1
Asymptote is powerful script-based vector graphics language that provides a
natural coordinate-based framework for technical drawing. Labels and
equations are typeset with LaTeX, for high-quality postscript output.
A major advantage of Asymptote over other graphics packages is that it is a
programming language, as opposed to just a graphics program: it can
therefore exploit the best features of script (command-driven) and
graphical user interface (GUI) methods.
Features of Asymptote:
* inspired by MetaPost, with much cleaner, powerful C++-like programming
syntax and numerics;
* mathematically oriented (e.g. rotation of vectors by complex multiplication);
* LaTeX typesetting of labels (important for document consistency);
* compiles figures into pseudo-machine code for speed without sacrificing
portability;
* uses simplex method and deferred drawing to solve overall size constraint
issues between fixed-sized objects (labels and arrowheads) and objects
that should scale with figure size;
* high-level graphics commands are implemented in the Asymptote language
itself, allowing them to be easily tailored to specific applications;
* designed to become the de-facto standard for typesetting mathematical
figures, just as TeX/LaTeX has become the standard for typesetting equations.
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