In-line source for graphics applications

Some of the free-standing graphics applications may also be used (effectively) in-line in LaTeX documents; examples are

- asymptoteThe package asymptote (provided in the

''asymptote'' distribution) defines an environment
''asy'' which arranges that its contents are available for
processing, and will therefore be typeset (after "enough" runs, in
the "usual" LaTeX way).

Basically, you write
```latex
\begin{asy}`
<asymptote code>`

\end{asy}
```
and then execute
 ```latex
 latex document
 asy document-*.asy
 latex document
  ```

- egplot Allows you to incorporate GNUplot

instructions in your document, for processing outside of LaTeX.
The package provides commands that enable the user to do calculation
in ''GNUplot'', feeding the results into the diagram
to be drawn.

- gmp Allows you to include the source of MetaPost diagrams, with

parameters of the diagram passed from the environment call.

- emp An earlier package providing facilities similar to those of

[[ctanpkg>gmp|gmp]] ([[ctanpkg>gmp|gmp]]'s author hopes that his package will
support the facilities [[ctanpkg>emp|emp]], which he believes is in need
of update.)

- mpgraphics Again, allows you to program parameters of MetaPost

diagrams from your LaTeX document, including the preamble details
of the LaTeX code in any recursive call from MetaPost.

In all cases (other than asymptote), these packages require that you can run external programs from within your document.

---

Source: In-line source for graphics applications