GraphCalc is an open source

Open source

The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...

 and GPLed

GNU General Public License

The GNU General Public License is the most widely used free software license, originally written by Richard Stallman for the GNU Project....

 computer program that runs in Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows

Microsoft Windows is a series of operating systems produced by Microsoft.Microsoft introduced an operating environment named Windows on November 20, 1985 as an add-on to MS-DOS in response to the growing interest in graphical user interfaces . Microsoft Windows came to dominate the world's personal...

 and Linux

Linux

Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...

 that provides the functionality of a graphing calculator

Graphing calculator

A graphing calculator typically refers to a class of handheld calculators that are capable of plotting graphs, solving simultaneous equations, and performing numerous other tasks with variables...

.

GraphCalc includes many of the standard features of graphing calculators, but also includes some higher-end features:

• High resolution
  • Graphing calculator screens have a resolution typically less than 120×90 pixels, whereas computer monitors typically display 1280x1024 pixels or more.
• Speed
  • Modern computers are considerably faster than handheld graphing calculators
• Three-dimensional graphing
  • While high-end graphing calculators can graph in 3-D, GraphCalc benefits from modern computers' memory, speed, and graphics acceleration (OpenGL
    OpenGL
    OpenGL is a standard specification defining a cross-language, cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. The interface consists of over 250 different function calls which can be used to draw complex three-dimensional scenes from simple primitives. OpenGL...
    
    )

GraphCalc was originally developed by Brendan Fields and Mike Arrison, computer science students at Bucknell University

Bucknell University

Bucknell University is a private liberal arts university located alongside the West Branch Susquehanna River in the rolling countryside of Central Pennsylvania in the town of Lewisburg, 30 miles southeast of Williamsport and 60 miles north of Harrisburg. The university consists of the College of...

, before graduating in 2000.