IDL specifications

IDL Intelligent Tools™ (iTools)
ITools is a new set of interactive utilities that gives IDL users the power to quickly and easily perform ad hoc data analysis and visualization and produce stunning, presentation-quality graphics. Based on the robust Object Graphics system, iTools helps IDL users get the most out of their data with minimal effort.

IDL-Java Bridge™
IDL-Java Bridge is a built-in feature that allows IDL users to tie Java classes into their IDL applications to take advantage of special input/output, networking and third-party functionality. "IDL-Java Bridge is one more way IDL users can easily integrate IDL with other software technologies," Staley said. IDL-Java Bridge is supported on Windows, Linux, Solaris and Mac OS X.

Other Enhancements
Developers familiar with the popular C programming language will especially like the new language enhancements for more intuitive programming. These include increment and decrement operators, compound assignment operators and logical operators. In addition to being succinct, these new operators make more efficient use of memory, helping programmers write both faster and more streamlined code.

Developers will also appreciate "path caching," a technique added to IDL 6.0 to significantly boost the startup speed of large IDL programs.

IDL Virtual Machine™ (IDL VM™)
In addition, all new IDL 6.0 packages will include IDL VM; a free runtime utility that provides a simple, no-cost method for IDL users and software developers to distribute compiled IDL code. (See related news on IDL VM, also issued today.) IDL VM is supported on all IDL platforms and augments the existing distribution options offered by RSI.