Using cross-platform graphics packages for GUIs and data plotting with SCL and C/C++
José M. Garrido · Journal of computing sciences in colleges · 2014
This tutorial discusses modular design and abstraction for including graphics in programs. It presents several of the most widely-used techniques and supporting software for GUI I/O and data plotting using the SCL, C, and C++ programming languages. Mixed-language and separation of concerns are emphasized in the various modules of a program. We have used this approach in developing computational models. The software tools selected are open source and multi-platform (Windows, Linux, and MacOS). The tutorial and all demonstration of case studies are performed on Linux. Design and implementation of a large and complex problem can be broken down into modules in several levels of abstraction. A top-down approach or hierarchical approach is used, by first defining the upper-level modules, then the modules in the next level down, and so on. Each module is defined by two or more submodules at the next level down. Another way to state this principle is by saying that each module is refined in terms of two or more submodules; this principle is known as stepwise refinement. At the highest level of abstraction, only the top modules are defined. This level is adequate when a program includes a GUI module for user interaction (front-end module), the main logic, and the module for the data visualization (data plotting) of the output data produced by the main logic module.