# Gmsh: a three-dimensional finite element mesh generator with built-in pre- and post-processing facilities

### Christophe Geuzaine and Jean-François Remacle

### Version 2.0.8, July 13 2007

Description | Documentation | Mailing lists | Download | Authors and credits | Licensing | Screenshots | Links

## Description

Gmsh is an automatic 3D finite element grid generator with a build-in CAD engine and post-processor. Its design goal is to provide a simple meshing tool for academic problems with parametric input and advanced visualization capabilities.

Gmsh is built around four modules: geometry, mesh, solver and post-processing. The specification of any input to these modules is done either interactively using the graphical user interface or in ASCII text files using Gmsh's own scripting language.

See Gmsh's reference manual for a more thorough overview of Gmsh's capabilities.

## Documentation

- Reference manual (also available in postscript, pdf, text and info formats, or as a single html file)
- Graphical user interface tutorials:
  - how to create a simple 2D model (also available in pdf format)
  - how to visualize deformations (also available in pdf format)
  - how to use post-processing plugins (also available in pdf format)
- Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
- Version history
- Credits

We need your help to build a library of examples! (username: gmsh, password: wiki)

## Mailing lists

- gmsh is the public mailing list for Gmsh users. You should send all questions, bug reports, requests or pleas for changes related to Gmsh to this list. The list is archived here.
- gmsh-announce is a moderated (i.e. "read-only") list for announcements about significant Gmsh events. You should subscribe to this list to get information about software releases, important bug fixes and other Gmsh-specific news. The list is archived here.

## Download

Gmsh is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). Pre-compiled binaries1 are available for Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. The tutorial and demo files are included in the archives.

- Windows (NT, 2000, XP)
- Linux (Intel, glibc 2.3)
- Mac OS X (Universal, 10.4)
- Source (all platforms) 2

Older versions are also still available: sources, binaries. If you use Gmsh, we would appreciate if you could mention it in your work (books, articles, reports, etc.). Cite the web site for now; a paper is in preparation, but is not yet ready.

## Authors and credits

Gmsh is developed by Christophe Geuzaine (University of Liège) and Jean-François Remacle (Catholic University of Louvain). The CREDITS file has more information.

Please use gmsh@geuz.org to send questions or bug reports.

## Licensing

Gmsh is copyright (C) 1997-2007 by C. Geuzaine and J.-F. Remacle and is distributed under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL) (with an exception to allow for easier linking with external mesh generators).

In short, this means that everyone is free to use Gmsh and to redistribute it on a free basis. Gmsh is not in the public domain; it is copyrighted and there are restrictions on its distribution (see the license and its associated FAQ). For example, you cannot integrate this version of Gmsh (in full or in parts) in any closed-source software you plan to distribute (commercially or not).

If you want to integrate Gmsh into a closed-source software, or want to sell a modified closed-source version of Gmsh, please contact us in person. You can purchase a version of Gmsh under a different license, with "no strings attached" (for example allowing you to take parts of Gmsh and integrate them into your own proprietary code).

## Screenshots

- Various screen captures: pict1, pict2, pict3, pict4.
- Sample STEP models: pict1, pict2, pict3, pict4, pict5.
- Mesh around an airplane: pict1, pict2, pict3, pict4.
- Dynamic clipping and cutting: pict1. pict2, pict3.
- Lenna as background mesh: pict1.
- Structured vs. unstructured grids: pict1, pict2, pict3, pict4.
- Various colormaps: pict1, pict2, pict3.
- Parts of a magnetron: pict1, pict2, pict3, pict4 (P. Lefèvre).
- Circuit breaker: pict1 (S. K. Choi).
- Electrical machine: pict1 (J. Gyselinck).
- CFD post-processing: pict1, pict2, pict3, pict4 (P. Geuzaine).
- Braids: pict1, pict2 (D. Colignon).
- Pump: pict1 (EDF R&D)

## Links

Gmsh can be linked with OpenCascade to provide support for STEP, IGES and BREP files. Gmsh can also be linked with several external mesh generators (currently Triangle from Jonathan Shewchuk, Netgen from Joachim Schöberl and TetGen from Hang Si).

Gmsh's high quality vector PostScript, PDF and SVG output is produced by GL2PS.

Gmsh's cross-platform graphical user interface is based on FLTK and OpenGL.

Make sure to also check out GetDP, a rather general finite element code that can be used right from Gmsh's graphical user interface.

1You need the OpenGL libraries installed on your system (and in the path of the library loader). A free replacement for OpenGL can be found at http://mesa3d.sourceforge.net. Remember that you may have to reconfigure the loader (ldconfig under Linux) or modify the LD_LIBRARY_PATH/SHLIB_PATH/etc. environment variable in order for Gmsh to find the libraries.

2You need the GSL (>= 1.2) and FLTK (1.1.x) libraries properly installed on your system in order to compile Gmsh. Non-graphical versions can be compiled without FLTK.

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