IDL (programming language)

IDL ( Interactive Data Language) is a software for the analysis and visualization of data. The software ( formerly RSI Research Systems Inc.) developed by ITT VIS. An array - based programming is an integral part of the software, so that even complex applications can be built.

IDL is tailored to the needs of scientists, engineers and developers, and is used among others by the German Aerospace Center DLR and space and on the American space agency NASA. Also astronomical pipelines such as SMART for the Spitzer Space Telescope are based on IDL.

GDL (GNU Data Language ) is an open source project, which is syntax - compatible with IDL version 7.1 by its own account. Thus, it is a free alternative to IDL. However, several features of IDL, particularly with respect visualization and GUI are not yet implemented in GDL, the porting of complex IDL programs to GDL proves to be difficult. GDL is available in most current Linux distribution as a package under the name gnudatalanguage available. There is also an implementation for Mac OS X.