Chapter 1Introduction to CUPS
This chapter provides an introduction to the Common UNIX Printing System, or CUPS.
The Printing Problem
For years a printing problem has plagued Unix. Unlike Microsoft Windows or Mac OS, Unix has no standard interface or system in place for supporting printers. Among the solutions currently available, the Berkeley and System V printing systems are the most prevalent.
These printing systems support line printers (text only) or PostScript printers (text and graphics), and with some coaxing they can be made to support a full range of printers and file formats. However, because each variant of the Unix operating system uses a different printing system, developing printer drivers for a wide range of printers and operating ...
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