CUPS 1.0 Enters The World

Michael Sweet writes "Well, it's taken us long enough (nearly 2 years since we started the project), but the Common UNIX Printing System, or "CUPS", is finally out of beta and ready to replace all those 1970's line printer spoolers masquerading as printing systems. What is CUPS, you ask?

Well, it's basically a completely new printing system based on the Internet Printing Protocol ("IPP") that supports PostScript and non-PostScript printers and a variety of different file formats to make your life easier.

CUPS provides all of the normal printing commands ("lpr", "lp", etc.) - you still use "lpr" to print from Netscape, etc. However, these commands take on a new life with CUPS - instead of bringing up an application everytime you want to print, you can print most images, PDF files, etc. directly. CUPS figures out the type of file and runs any necessary filters to format it for the printer. Have a file that CUPS doesn't handle? No problem, just add a filter and CUPS will handle it, for any printer you have.

Printer drivers are provided for PostScript and HP PCL based printers. We're hoping that the filters provided with CUPS (including a PostScript RIP based on GNU GhostScript) will encourage independent developers and printer manufacturers like EPSON to start developing drivers that use CUPS. Only time will tell.

CUPS can be downloaded from our website at cups.org and is provided under the terms of the GNU General Public License. Commercial printer drivers based on CUPS are available from our main website. "