# Grap

> programming language

**Wikidata**: [Q21193019](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21193019)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/grap

## Summary  
Grap is a domain-specific programming language designed for creating graphs and charts, developed to simplify the process of typesetting graphical data. It was created by Jon Bentley and Brian Kernighan, notable figures in computer science and software development. Grap is primarily used within technical documentation systems such as pic and troff.

## Key Facts  
- Grap is classified as a programming language specifically for graph and chart generation.  
- It was developed by Jon Bentley and Brian Kernighan.  
- The language is described in the document *GRAP — A Language for Typesetting Graphs*.  
- Grap integrates with typesetting tools like pic and troff.  
- It has limited online presence, with only one sitelink recorded.  
- An official description is available at [https://www.lunabase.org/~faber/Vault/software/grap/](https://www.lunabase.org/~faber/Vault/software/grap/) (accessed July 28, 2023).  
- Alternate name: グラップ (Japanese alias).

## FAQs  
### Q: What is Grap used for?  
A: Grap is used for defining and generating graphs and charts in typeset documents. It allows users to specify data points, axes, labels, and other graphical elements using a simple syntax compatible with troff-based formatting systems.

### Q: Who created Grap?  
A: Grap was created by Jon Bentley and Brian Kernighan, both prominent computer scientists known for their contributions to Unix utilities and programming languages.

### Q: Is Grap still actively used today?  
A: While not widely adopted outside specialized environments, Grap continues to be relevant in legacy and academic contexts involving troff-based document preparation systems.

## Why It Matters  
Grap plays a niche but historically significant role in the evolution of text-based graphics programming. As part of the Unix ecosystem, it reflects early efforts to automate and standardize visual representation in technical writing. Its design influenced how developers approach declarative syntax for graphical output, particularly in constrained or non-interactive environments. Though overshadowed by modern visualization libraries, Grap remains a foundational tool in understanding the lineage of scientific computing and document formatting technologies.

## Notable For  
- First practical integration of graphing capabilities into troff-style document pipelines.  
- Co-development by two influential computer scientists: Jon Bentley and Brian Kernighan.  
- Syntax optimized for minimalism and compatibility with existing Unix text-processing tools.  
- Documented formally in *GRAP — A Language for Typesetting Graphs*, establishing its theoretical and practical basis.

## Body  

### Overview  
Grap is a specialized programming language intended for describing graphs and integrating them into formatted documents. Unlike general-purpose plotting tools, Grap focuses on declarative definitions suitable for use alongside troff and pic—tools traditionally used in Unix-based typesetting workflows.

### Development and Authors  
The development of Grap is credited to Jon Bentley and Brian Kernighan. Both individuals have made lasting impacts in computer science through work on algorithms, programming practices, and system tools. Their collaboration on Grap resulted in a compact yet expressive language tailored for precise control over graphical outputs in static documents.

### Technical Design  
Grap’s syntax enables users to define coordinate systems, plot lines or points, label axes, and annotate features—all without requiring interactive rendering engines. Instead, it produces code interpretable by pic or similar preprocessors, which then embed the resulting image into final printed or digital documents.

#### Core Features:
- Declarative input model
- Integration with troff/pic pipeline
- Support for linear plots, scatter plots, bar charts
- Minimal runtime dependencies

### Documentation and Availability  
Information about Grap can be found in the paper titled *GRAP — A Language for Typesetting Graphs*. Additional resources are hosted online at [https://www.lunabase.org/~faber/Vault/software/grap/](https://www.lunabase.org/~faber/Vault/software/grap/), last accessed on July 28, 2023. Despite sparse web presence, the language maintains utility in select technical communities that continue to rely on traditional Unix documentation stacks.