[vtkusers] IDL or, preaching VTK to the nonconverted

[John Shalf]

I've used IDL since before the PV/Wave-IDL split.  IDL is a very good 
scripting language for expressing data processing, matrix processing, 
and other iterative algorithms (much better than TCL or Python for this 
purpose).  VTK is very good at expressing workflows and has a bunch of 
very complex algorithms pre-packaged into modular components. They 
really are two different things in that sense -- there is no direct 
comparison.

Perhaps a better comparison is the languages that VTK can generate 
bindings for (TCL, Java, and Python).  IDL is far more elegant at 
expressing such iterative algorithms than any of the scripting 
languages that are currently used for VTK bindings.   So rather than 
compare the two, it would ultimately be useful to generate VTK bindings 
for IDL (in addition to TCL, Java, Python etc..) to create a robust 
data analysis interface.

Likewise, S-Plus is probably a better data processing language for 
people who are more geared towards using VTK for statistical analysis.  
I believe the ORNL tool called "ASPECT" effectively combines VTK and 
S-Plus for researchers who's algorithms are more of that bent.

-john

On May 20, 2004, at 7:57 AM, Joey Mukherjee wrote:
> We use IDL in this dept. a great deal, although I personally have 
> never used it.
>
> One of the nicest things about IDL is the simplicity of the language 
> to do fairly complex stuff.  Working with matrices, arrays, etc.  Its 
> makes certain things easy, and other things impossible.  With VTK, 
> everything is possible, just hard.
>
> Anyway, if you already have "real" programmers, VTK will let you do 
> more stuff.  If you have people who may not have real skill in 
> software like scientists or whatever, I bet they would be faster in 
> IDL.  IDL is fairly expensive, but so are labor costs.  Its really a 
> judgment call.
>
> If I were making the case for VTK, the only point I could really see 
> is the power to do stuff that IDL couldn't dream of doing.  Good luck!
>
> On May 19, 2004, at 1:39 PM, Sean McInerney wrote:
>
>> Hi All,
>>
>>   Does anyone with past or current experience with IDL have any 
>> insight into its comparison with VTK ... that they wouldn't mind 
>> sharing? Beyond being commercial and old/mature, are there any big 
>> points making the case for VTK over IDL in implementing a 3D 
>> visualization system (that will do a fair bit of image processing)?
>>
>> -Sean
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> Joey
>
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