Data Language is an incremental compiler that is interactive and compatible with Interactive Data Language.
GDL implements the file input-output system completely, with netCDF files fully supported, HDF files partially supported, and basic support for HDF5 files. Furthermore, GDL implements more than 240 library routines, and a sorted list of the routines can be found by entering HELP,/LIB in the command prompt and looking for library routines written in GDL in the src/pro subdirectory. Additionally, GDL can run the WRITEFITS procedure and the READFITS function from the IDL Astronomy User's Library.
Graphical output is partially implemented with the PLOT, OPLOT, PLOTS, XYOUTS, and TV commands (along with WINDOW, WDELETE, SET_PLOT, WSET, TVLCT) working for X windows and postscript output. Important keywords, some !P system variable tags, and multi-plots are supported. However, GDL doesn't provide GUI support (widgets) yet.
GDL also has an interface with Python. To use GDL, you need plplot, gsl, and readline. GDL is free software licensed under the GPL.
New features in this release include increased speed, with up to 60% speed increase depending on factors like program structure, called routines, processor, and compiler used. Also, some new subroutines were implemented, including CREATE_STRUCT, CONTOUR, LAGUERRE, and STRCMP. SYSTIME now has sub-millisecond resolution. Additionally, the FFT procedure can use the FFTW library, resulting in about double the execution speed.
Version 0.8.11: N/A