PostScriptlike

Postscriptlike is a descriptive label used in computing and printing to refer to file formats, languages, or data representations that resemble PostScript in how they describe page content and graphics. In practice, postscriptlike implies a stack-based, postfix syntax, with commands for drawing primitives, text, and graphics state changes, producing a device-independent description that can be interpreted by a printer or rendering engine.

Origin and usage: The term appears in technical discussions and documentation to distinguish true PostScript from formats that imitate its style. It is common in discussions of embedded printer languages, lightweight page description formats, or export tools that target printers without implementing a full PostScript interpreter.

Characteristics: Postscriptlike systems often feature postfix operators, a graphics state or context stack, operators for path construction and painting, and the ability to describe a page in a device-independent form. They are frequently simplified or constrained relative to PostScript and may map to backends such as PDF, rasterizers, or dedicated printer firmware.

Relation to PostScript: While true PostScript is a complete, Turing-complete programming language, postscriptlike formats are generally descriptive subsets or variants designed for interoperability or efficiency. The term is pragmatic rather than formal, used to indicate familiarity with PostScript concepts without claiming full compatibility.

See also: PostScript, PDF, page description language, printer language.