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1. Introduction

1.1 So What Is eFractal?

eFractal is a fractal program that I wanted to write because I couldn't find any for Linux that had the features I wanted. Also it had to run on Alpha processors. eFractal currently doesn't have everything I would like, but I think it works pretty well as it is.

The "e" in eFractal is for Eiffel. Which is the programming language I used to make it. It is an object oriented language that is really fun to program in.

1.2 Compiling and Running eFractal

I actively program eFractal on an AMD K6-2 166Mhz with 64MB of RAM and a Compaq Alpha 533Mhz with 512MB of RAM. I know other fractal programs are faster then mine, but I tried to balance performance and ease of programming for me.

I keep actively compiled versions for Linux (both x86 and Alpha) and for Windows. Personally I don't use Windows all that much, but several of my friends do. And if your friends can't run your programs what fun would that be?

(I'll just assume that you are trying to compile eFractal on a Un*x like system.)

To compile the source code you need to have X Windows, GTK+, Imlib, SmallEiffel, and EXG. See the documentation at the EXG website "http://exg.home.att.net" because if you have gotten EXG installed correctly then compiling eFractal should only require you to run make dist in the root directory of eFractal. This will generate the efractal binary.

To run execute the efractal binary from within X Windows.


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