Tcl is available for most unix platforms, VAX/VMS, Macintosh, DOS, MS-Windows, OS/2, AmigaDOS and NeXT.
The user interface calls FORTRAN language routines for optimization and stand simulation. C language routines could be used as well. The optimization routines are adopted from Osyczka (1984) and they are described in Valsta (1992a and 1992b). The optimization method is a modification of the Hooke and Jeeves' direct search algorithm which is classified as a derivative-free nonlinear programming algorithm
Stand simulation routines depend on the purpose of the tool. Two case studies are described below. Necessary parameters for optimization and simulation are passed as argument lists to called routines.
The user interface also calls the visualization routines for two and three dimensional graphs produced by the Khoros system, developed at the University of New Mexico, USA (Rasure and Williams 1991). The Khoros consortium has established a company, Khoral Research, Inc. to continue system development. The next version of the system will be made publicly available in August 1994.
Graphing information is obtained from disk files and argument lists. Once a graph is formed by Khoros programs, it can be extensively customized with the options provided in the programs. Printing options are also well developed. The Khoros system is available on most unix platforms for mainframe and micro computers.