Programming Paradigms in Graphics

"Eurographics" is a series of workshops, an international forum where researchers convene to exchange knowledge and experience related to the theme of creating realistic computer animation based on the simulation of physical and biological phenomena. The papers in this volume are a sampling and overview of current solutions to the problems of creating graphically-based systems. The presentations investigte the applicability, merits and problems of various programming paradigms in computer graphics for design, modelling and implementation. The papers are grouped into four parts: object-oriented, constraints, functional and multi-paradigm. This essentially takes the reader on a tour of the issues. Firstly, there are the impressive benefits and power of object-oriented approaches, both as, conceptually, tools for design and as programming frameworks. In constraints, though, the limitations are exposed and addressed. Functional programming provides an alternative approach with some recent breakthroughs conceptually (for example, the use of monads to express state) and in practice. Finally, some approaches to resolving (or at least enumerating) the multiplicity of approaches enountered are presented.