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'''GRASS''' (''GRAphics Symbiosis System'') is a [[programming language]] created to script [[2D computer graphics|2D]] [[vector graphics]] animations. GRASS was similar to [[BASIC]] in syntax, but added numerous instructions for specifying 2D object animation, including scaling, translation and rotation over time. These functions were directly supported by the [[Vector General 3D]] [[graphics terminal]] GRASS was written for. It quickly became a hit with the artistic community who were experimenting with the new medium of [[computer graphics]], and is most famous for its use by [[Larry Cuba]] to create the original "attacking the [[Death Star]] will not be easy" animation in ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977).
As part of a later partnership with [[Midway Games]], the language was ported to the Midway's [[Zilog Z80|Z80]]-based Z Box. This machine used [[raster graphic]]s and a form of [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprites]], which required extensive changes to support, along with animating color changes. This version was known as '''
==History==
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[[Larry Cuba]]'s ''Star Wars'' work is based on semi-automated filming of a GRASS system running on a [[Vector General 3D]] terminal. The VG3D had internal hardware that performed basic transformations - scaling, rotation, etc. - in realtime without interacting with the computer. It is only during the times when new scenery is being presented that the much slower communications with the GRASS language takes place. This can be seen in the sequence, as the initial sections of the film show the [[Death Star]] being rotated and scaled very rapidly, while the later sections simulating flight down the trench requires new scenery to be paged in from GRASS "trees". These can be seen appearing in groups.
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In 1977, DeFanti was introduced to Jeff Frederiksen, a chip designer working at [[Dave Nutting Associates]]. Nutting had been contracted by Midway, the videogame division of Bally, to create a standardized [[video display unit|graphics driver chip]]. They intended to use it in most of their future arcade games, as well as a [[video game console]] they were working on which would later turn into the [[Astrocade]]. Midway was quite interested in seeing the GRASS language running on their system, and contracted DeFanti to port it to the platform. A number of people at the Habitat, as well as some from Nutting, worked on the project, which they referred to as the '''Z Box'''. GRASS3 running on it became '''Zgrass'''.{{sfn|DeFanti|1980}}
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