View source for Asymptote (Vector Graphics Language)

{{Asymptote}}

'''Asymptote''' is a powerful vector graphics language designed for creating mathematical diagrams and figures.  It can output images in either eps or pdf format, and is compatible with the standard mathematics typesetting language, [[LaTeX]].  It is also a complete programming language, and has cleaner syntax than its predecessor, [http://netlib.bell-labs.com/who/hobby/MetaPost.html MetaPost], which was a language used only for two-dimensional graphics.

Here is an example of an image that can be produced using Asymptote:

<center>[[Image:Figure1.jpg]]</center>

In a sense, Asymptote is the ruler and compass of typesetting.


You can use Asymptote on the AoPSWiki right now, by enclosing the Asymptote code within <tt><nowiki><asy>...</asy></nowiki></tt> tags. For example, the following code
<pre><nowiki><asy>
draw((0,0)--(3,7),red);
dot((0,0));
dot((3,7));
label("Produced with Asymptote "+version.VERSION,point(S),2S);
</asy></nowiki></pre>
created the picture 
<center><asy>
draw((0,0)--(3,7),red);
dot((0,0));
dot((3,7));
label("Produced with Asymptote "+version.VERSION,point(S),2S);
</asy></center>
And on the AoPS forums you can use <tt><nowiki>[asy]..[/asy]</nowiki></tt>

Another example:

<pre><nowiki>[asy]
pair A,B,C,X,Y,Z; 
A = (0,0);
B = (1,0);
C = (0.3,0.8);
draw(A--B--C--A);
X = (B+C)/2;
Y = (A+C)/2;
Z = (A+B)/2;
draw(A--X, red);
draw(B--Y,red);
draw(C--Z,red);
[/asy]</nowiki></pre>

<asy>
pair A,B,C,X,Y,Z;
A = (0,0);
B = (1,0);
C = (0.3,0.8);
draw(A--B--C--A);
X = (B+C)/2;
Y = (A+C)/2;
Z = (A+B)/2;
draw(A--X, red);
draw(B--Y,red);
draw(C--Z,red);</asy>
=== See also ===
*[[LaTeX]]
* [http://artofproblemsolving.com/wiki/index.php?title=LaTeX:LaTeX_on_AoPS AoPS's Getting Started with LaTeX guide]
* [http://www.artofproblemsolving.com/community/c68_latex_and_asymptote Asymptote Forum on AoPS+AoPS new checkers class]
[[Asymptote: Getting Started | Next: Getting Started]]