# Preface

This software users manual provides a step-by-step guide for using the CUPSTM Driver Development Kit ('DDK'), version 1.1.

## Software Overview

The CUPS Driver Development Kit ('DDK') provides a suite of standard drivers, a PPD file compiler, and other utilities that can be used to develop printer drivers for CUPS and other printing environments. CUPS provides a portable printing layer for UNIX®-based operating systems. The CUPS DDK provides the means for mass-producing PPD files and drivers/filters for CUPS-based printer drivers.

The CUPS DDK is licensed under the GNU General Public License. Free support is available by posting messages to the `cups.ddk` newsgroup at:

        http://www.cups.org/newsgroups.php

The `cups.ddk` newsgroup is monitored by volunteers, so your message may go unanswered for days or weeks. Please be patient.

## Document Overview

This software users manual is organized into the following sections:

- 1 - Building and Installing the CUPS DDK
- 2 - Getting Started with the CUPS DDK
- 3 - Developing Raster Printer Drivers
- 4 - Developing PostScript Printer Drivers
- 5 - Localizing Printer Drivers
- 6 - Doing Raster Color Management
- 7 - Distributing Printer Drivers
- A - Software License Agreement
- B - PPD Compiler Driver Information File Reference
- C - CUPS Driver API Reference
- D - Man Pages
- E - Release Notes

## Notation Conventions

Various font and syntax conventions are used in this guide. Examples and their meanings and uses are explained below:

Example |  | Description
`lpstat` `lpstat(1)` |  | The names of commands; the first mention of a command or function in a chapter is followed by a manual page section number.
/var /usr/share/cups/data/testprint.ps |  | File and directory names.
`Request ID is Printer-123` |  | Screen output.
`lp -d printer filename ENTER` |  | Literal user input; special keys like `ENTER` are in ALL CAPS.
12.3 |  | Numbers in the text are written using the period (.) to indicate the decimal point.

## Abbreviations

The following abbreviations are used throughout this manual:

CMYK
  Cyan Magenta Yellow Black
DDK
  Driver Development Kit
ESC/P
  Epson Standard Code for Printers
Gb
  Gigabytes, or 1073741824 bytes
HP-PCL
  Hewlett Packard Page Control Language
K
  Black
kb
  Kilobytes, or 1024 bytes
Mb
  Megabytes, or 1048576 bytes
PJL
  Printer Job Language
PPD
  PostScript Printer Description
RGB
  Red Green Blue

## Other References

Adobe PostScript Language Reference Manual, Third Edition
  The official reference manual for the PostScript language.
Adobe Technote #5003: PostScript Printer Description File Format Specification
  The official reference manual for the PPD file format.
CUPS PPD Extensions
  The official reference manual for CUPS extensions to the PPD format.

## Providing Feedback

Feedback and bug reports for this manual and the DDK as a whole are welcome. Please use the `cups.ddk` newsgroup to discuss potential problems and report all confirmed problems and documentation errors using the form at the following URL:

        http://www.cups.org/ddk/str.php