Features of IRAF and ZODIAC

One must be careful when comparing software systems whose applications are broad in scope. While it may be feasible to evaluate two implementations of an FFT algorithm, for example, large packages such as IRAF are applied to a wide variety of problems in many fields. We must therefore take care to examine only generic issues and basic functionality, such as the user interface or line graphic support, and not implementation choices, such as the organization of tasks. A wide variety of approaches to the complex problems of astronomical image processing are often necessary due to constraints such as hardware, but such variety is also beneficial for the end user, providing alternatives for personal preference. The current proliferation of scripting packages (e.g., perl , python , tcl ) are evidence of this well-known software development concept. We now outline a number of features of IRAF and ZODIAC that facilitate the reduction of complex three-dimensional astronomical data sets. We will examine three aspects in particular: the user interface, the programming interface, and Fabry-Perot data reduction support.