Fractint

Fractint

Fractint is a freeware open source software package that can render and display many kinds of fractals. Its name comes from the words fractal and integer, since the first versions of it computed fractals by using only integer arithmetics, which led to much faster rendering on x86 computers without math coprocessors. Since then, floating-point arithmetics and "arbitrary precision" modes have been added, the latter of which emulates an arbitrarily large mantissa in RAM.

Fractint can draw most kinds of fractals that have appeared in the literature. It also has a few "fractal types" that are not strictly speaking fractals, but may be more accurately described as display hacks. These include cellular automata.

The program originated on the MS-DOS platform, but has since been ported to X Window System and Microsoft Windows. It is currently at version 20.0, and no new versions have been released for several years. As of early 2004, the Microsoft Windows version does not include arbitrary precision mode, and the X version is somewhat counterintuitive to use (it must be given input on its controlling terminal, not within the created window as with many X programs).

Fractint was written by the "Stone Soup Group" who took their name from the fable of the stone soup.

External links

Fractint official homepage