Scripting languages usually hold a host of libraries to do graphics.
Python and Perl have a range of scientific visualization packages. Pythons's
are listed on the
Python package index. The main Perl
graphics package is
GD.pm, but, like Python, Perl gives you scripting control over PGPlot,
GRACE, Graphviz, and others. ActivePython and ActivePerl from ActiveState
are installed on most CTC machines.
Windows provides another way to use libraries in your code. If you write a
Windows application, especially a .NET application, you can download or purchase
software components which plug into your application to provide visualization.
Most of the components sold are for business presentations, but there are some for
simple graphs or standard science displays, like atoms or plaquettes. These
components are called ActiveX Controls or .NET Controls. Mathematica, for
instance, ships with a library which lets you do symbolic calculations and view
graphs within any Windows Forms program you create.
