Introduction

The AGD server ( agd_server) is an executable program that allows to run all AGD algorithms from the command line. The program reads the input graph in GML or GraphWin format from a given file and loads the corresponding options from a second file. It runs the selected algorithm and writes the result back to the same file. If an error occurs (e.g., if a precondition is violated) a diagnostic message is written to this file.

The program recognizes a special list command that prints a list of all available algorithms together with their default options. This command can be used to create an initial option file. The option file format is based on the GML format. The output of the list command for the current agd_server version (1.4) is listed at the end of this section.

The main reason for developing the AGD server program was to create a file or socket interface that allows applications implemented on different platforms (e.g., not based on LEDA or not written in C++) to use the algorithms of the AGD library. Such a client application now can easily contact the AGD server by writing the graph to be drawn to a temporary file (either in GraphWin or GML format) running the agd_server command with appropriate options on this file and reading the result from the same file. The application may ask for the list of all available AGD algorithms (e.g. for building a corresponding pull-down menu) by using the list command of the server.