cups/api-overview.shtml

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  Introduction to CUPS programming content for the Common UNIX Printing System
  (CUPS).

  Copyright 2008 by Apple Inc.

  These coded instructions, statements, and computer programs are the
  property of Apple Inc. and are protected by Federal copyright
  law.  Distribution and use rights are outlined in the file "LICENSE.txt"
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<h2 class="title"><a name="OVERVIEW">Overview</a></h2>

<p>CUPS provides two libraries that interface with the different parts of the
printing system. The "cups" library provides all of the common application and
filter functions while the "cupsimage" library provides all of the imaging
functions used in raster printer drivers. The "cups" library functions are
accessed by including the <var>&lt;cups/cups.h&gt;</var> header, while
"cupsimage" functions are found in the <var>&lt;cups/raster.h&gt;</var>
header.</p>

<h2 class="title"><a name="COMPILING">Compiling Programs</a></h2>

<p>The CUPS libraries can be used from any C, C++, or Objective C program.
The method of compiling against the libraries varies depending on the
operating system and installation of CUPS. The following sections show how
to compile a simple program (shown below) in two common environments.</p>

<p>The following simple program lists the available printers on the system:</p>

<pre class="example">
#include &lt;stdio.h&gt;
#include &lt;cups/cups.h&gt;

int main(void)
{
  int i;
  cups_dest_t *dests, *dest;
  int num_dests = cupsGetDests(&amp;dests);

  for (i = num_dests, dest = dests; i &gt; 0; i --, dest ++)
  {
    if (dest->instance)
      printf("%s/%s\n", dest->name, dest->instance);
    else
      puts(dest->name);
  }

  return (0);
}
</pre>

<h3><a name="XCODE">Compiling with Xcode</a></h3>

<p>In Xcode, choose <var>New Project...</var> from the <var>File</var> menu,
then select the <var>Standard Tool</var> project type under <var>Command Line
Utility</var>. Click <var>Next</var> and choose a project directory. Click
<var>Next</var> to create the project.</p>

<p>In the project window, double-click on the <var>Targets</var> group and
control-click on the simple target to show the context menu. Choose
<var>Existing Framework...</var> from the <var>Add</var> submenu. When the file
chooser sheet appears, press the <kbd>/</kbd> key and enter "/usr/lib". Scroll
down the file list and select the <var>libcups.dylib</var> file. Click the
<var>Add</var> button in the file chooser and attributes sheets.</p>

<p>In the project window, double-click on the <var>main.c</var> source file.
Replace the template source code with the listing above and save it. Click the
<var>Build and Go</var> button to build the sample program and run it.</p>

<h3><a name="COMMANDLINE">Compiling with GCC</a></h3>

<p>From the command-line, create a file called <var>sample.c</var> using your
favorite editor and then run the following command to compile it with GCC and
run it:</p>

<pre class="command">
gcc -o simple `cups-config --cflags` simple.c `cups-config --libs`
./simple
</pre>

<p>The <code>cups-config</code> command provides the compiler flags
("cups-config --cflags") and libraries ("cups-config --libs") needed for the
local system.</p>

<h2 class="title"><a name="WHERETOGO">Where to Go Next</a></h2>

<p>If you are developing a print filter, driver, or backend, see the
<a href="api-filter.html" target="_top">Filter and Backend Programming</a>
guide. Raster printer driver developers should also read the
<a href="api-raster.html" target="_top">Raster API</a> reference.</p>