GD Graphics Library

Gd is a remarkable graphics library that enables users to swiftly draw images with multiple colours, lines, arcs, text, and flood fills. Users can also copy and paste from other images and save their result as a PNG or JPEG file, making it perfect for web applications where browsers accept PNG or JPEG formats for inline images.

Initially, in gd 1.0, the software stood for "gif draw." However, after the Unisys patent was exposed concerning the LZW compression method used in GIF, support for GIF files was dropped, and the program did not officially stand for anything. Nevertheless, it is still referred to as "graphics draw." Despite this, the latest version of gd has reinstated GIF support since the patent expiry; nonetheless, it can now handle much more than GIFs.

The software is incredibly easy to install. Users can follow the quick install guide that comes with it. The guide only requires two commands to be inputted. First, users must type './configure', and then they must type 'make install.' Overall, gd is an excellent software that does a fantastic job with graphics, and its compatibility with web applications makes it even more impressive.