geometry/doc/introduction.qbk
2012-01-09 21:56:08 +00:00

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[/============================================================================
Boost.Geometry (aka GGL, Generic Geometry Library)
Copyright (c) 2009-2012 Barend Gehrels, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Copyright (c) 2009-2012 Mateusz Loskot, London, UK.
Copyright (c) 2009-2012 Bruno Lalande, Paris, France.
Use, modification and distribution is subject to the Boost Software License,
Version 1.0. (See accompanying file LICENSE_1_0.txt or copy at
http://www.boost.org/LICENSE_1_0.txt)
=============================================================================/]
[section Introduction]
__boost_geometry__ (aka Generic Geometry Library, GGL), part of collection of
the Boost C++ Libraries, defines concepts, primitives and algorithms for solving
geometry problems.
__boost_geometry__ contains a dimension-agnostic, coordinate-system-agnostic
and scalable kernel, based on concepts, meta-functions and tag dispatching.
On top of that kernel, algorithms are built: area, length, perimeter, centroid,
convex hull, intersection (clipping), within (point in polygon), distance,
envelope (bounding box), simplify, transform, and much more.
The library supports high precision arithmetic numbers, such as __ttmath__.
__boost_geometry__ contains instantiable geometry classes, but library users can
also use their own. Using registration macros or traits classes their geometries
can be adapted to fulfil __boost_geometry__ concepts.
__boost_geometry__ might be used in all domains where geometry plays a role:
mapping and GIS, game development, computer graphics and widgets, robotics,
astronomy and more. The core is designed to be as generic as possible and support
those domains. For now, the development has been mostly GIS-oriented.
The library follows existing conventions:
* conventions from boost
* conventions from the std library
* conventions and names from one of the __ogc__ standards on geometry
The library was released with Boost 1.47.0 and from that point on it is oficially part of the Boost C++ Libraries.
Latest stable version of the source code is included in the [@http://www.boost.org/users/download/ Boost packaged releases].
It can also be downloaded from the current [@http://svn.boost.org/svn/boost/branches/release Boost release branch]
in the Boost Subversion repository.
The library development upstream is available from the [@http://svn.boost.org/svn/boost/trunk Boost trunk] in the Boost Subversion repository.
Note that the library [*extensions] are not distributed in the official Boost releases, but only available
in the [@http://svn.boost.org/svn/boost/trunk/boost/geometry/extensions/ Boost trunk]
and that they are subject to change.
__boost_geometry__ was accepted by Boost at November 28, 2009
([@http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.comp.lib.boost.announce/246 review report]).
There are two mailing lists
where __boost_geometry__ is discussed: the boost developers list, and also the
[@http://lists.osgeo.org/mailman/listinfo/ggl GGL mailing list] at osgeo, at which, at the moment of writing, more than 70 people
are subscribed. The mailing list is also accessible from
[@http://boost-geometry.203548.n3.nabble.com/ Nabble] as Boost Geometry.
[endsect]