While the VISTA framework as described in [HPR
95] provides
a host of functionalities and services for a variety of simulation tasks
in the TCAD domain and elsewhere, implementing, e.g., abstractions of
the operating system and the X Window-based graphical user interface
to ensure portability across platforms, as well as providing
a PIF data base interface and higher-level libraries for
PIF data manipulation, and additional support for tool development,
VISTA/SFC bridges the gap between generic versatility and
practical application.