Fractint
Encyclopedia
FractInt is a freeware
program
that can render and display many kinds of fractal
s.
, since the first versions of it computed fractals by using only integer arithmetic (also known as fixed-point arithmetic
), which led to much faster rendering on x86 computers without math coprocessor
s. Since then, floating-point arithmetic and "arbitrary-precision
" modes have been added, the latter of which emulates an arbitrarily large mantissa
in RAM. The arbitrary-precision mode is slow even on modern computers.
s. These include cellular automata.
platform, but has since been ported to Unix
/X
and Microsoft Windows
. The DOS, Windows, and Linux versions are currently at level 20.4.11, which was released on June 13, 2011 from the Developer's web site. FractInt is one of the oldest freeware programs still being maintained.
FractInt originally appeared in 1988 as FRACT386, a computer program for rendering fractals very quickly on the Intel 80386
processor using integer arithmetic. Most '386 processors of the era did not come with floating point unit
s (387), so the integer approach was much faster.
The early versions of FRACT386 were written by Bert Tyler, who based it on a Mandelbrot generator for a TI-based processor that used integer math and decided to try programming something similar for his 386 machine.
In February 1989, the program was renamed FractInt. In July 1990, it was ported to the Atari ST with the math routines rewritten in M68K assembler by Howard Chu.
It was written and maintained by the "Stone Soup Group" who took their name from the fable of the stone soup
. Along with Emacs
and NetHack
, it is one of the oldest still-maintained free programs.
Freeware
Freeware is computer software that is available for use at no cost or for an optional fee, but usually with one or more restricted usage rights. Freeware is in contrast to commercial software, which is typically sold for profit, but might be distributed for a business or commercial purpose in the...
program
Computer program
A computer program is a sequence of instructions written to perform a specified task with a computer. A computer requires programs to function, typically executing the program's instructions in a central processor. The program has an executable form that the computer can use directly to execute...
that can render and display many kinds of fractal
Fractal
A fractal has been defined as "a rough or fragmented geometric shape that can be split into parts, each of which is a reduced-size copy of the whole," a property called self-similarity...
s.
Name
Its name comes from the words fractal and integerInteger
The integers are formed by the natural numbers together with the negatives of the non-zero natural numbers .They are known as Positive and Negative Integers respectively...
, since the first versions of it computed fractals by using only integer arithmetic (also known as fixed-point arithmetic
Fixed-point arithmetic
In computing, a fixed-point number representation is a real data type for a number that has a fixed number of digits after the radix point...
), which led to much faster rendering on x86 computers without math coprocessor
Coprocessor
A coprocessor is a computer processor used to supplement the functions of the primary processor . Operations performed by the coprocessor may be floating point arithmetic, graphics, signal processing, string processing, or encryption. By offloading processor-intensive tasks from the main processor,...
s. Since then, floating-point arithmetic and "arbitrary-precision
Arbitrary-precision arithmetic
In computer science, arbitrary-precision arithmetic indicates that calculations are performed on numbers whose digits of precision are limited only by the available memory of the host system. This contrasts with the faster fixed-precision arithmetic found in most ALU hardware, which typically...
" modes have been added, the latter of which emulates an arbitrarily large mantissa
Significand
The significand is part of a floating-point number, consisting of its significant digits. Depending on the interpretation of the exponent, the significand may represent an integer or a fraction.-Examples:...
in RAM. The arbitrary-precision mode is slow even on modern computers.
Features
FractInt can draw most kinds of fractals that have appeared in the literature. It also has a few "fractal types" that are not strictly speaking fractals, but may be more accurately described as display hackDisplay hack
A display hack is a computer program with similar purpose to a kaleidoscope: to make pretty pictures . Famous display hacks include munching squares and smoking clover. Some display hacks can be also implemented by creating text files which contain numerous escape sequences for a text terminal to...
s. These include cellular automata.
Platforms
The program originated on the MS-DOSMS-DOS
MS-DOS is an operating system for x86-based personal computers. It was the most commonly used member of the DOS family of operating systems, and was the main operating system for IBM PC compatible personal computers during the 1980s to the mid 1990s, until it was gradually superseded by operating...
platform, but has since been ported to Unix
Unix
Unix is a multitasking, multi-user computer operating system originally developed in 1969 by a group of AT&T employees at Bell Labs, including Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Brian Kernighan, Douglas McIlroy, and Joe Ossanna...
/X
X Window System
The X window system is a computer software system and network protocol that provides a basis for graphical user interfaces and rich input device capability for networked computers...
and Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows
Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...
. The DOS, Windows, and Linux versions are currently at level 20.4.11, which was released on June 13, 2011 from the Developer's web site. FractInt is one of the oldest freeware programs still being maintained.
History
Intel 80386
The Intel 80386, also known as the i386, or just 386, was a 32-bit microprocessor introduced by Intel in 1985. The first versions had 275,000 transistors and were used as the central processing unit of many workstations and high-end personal computers of the time...
processor using integer arithmetic. Most '386 processors of the era did not come with floating point unit
Floating point unit
A floating-point unit is a part of a computer system specially designed to carry out operations on floating point numbers. Typical operations are addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and square root...
s (387), so the integer approach was much faster.
The early versions of FRACT386 were written by Bert Tyler, who based it on a Mandelbrot generator for a TI-based processor that used integer math and decided to try programming something similar for his 386 machine.
In February 1989, the program was renamed FractInt. In July 1990, it was ported to the Atari ST with the math routines rewritten in M68K assembler by Howard Chu.
It was written and maintained by the "Stone Soup Group" who took their name from the fable of the stone soup
Stone soup
Stone Soup is an old folk story in which hungry strangers persuade local people of a town to give them food. It is usually told as a lesson in cooperation, especially amid scarcity. In varying traditions, the stone has been replaced with other common inedible objects, and therefore the fable is...
. Along with Emacs
Emacs
Emacs is a class of text editors, usually characterized by their extensibility. GNU Emacs has over 1,000 commands. It also allows the user to combine these commands into macros to automate work.Development began in the mid-1970s and continues actively...
and NetHack
NetHack
NetHack is a single-player roguelike video game originally released in 1987. It is a descendant of an earlier game called Hack , which is a descendant of Rogue...
, it is one of the oldest still-maintained free programs.