Re: aspect ratios...

> example, i'll output a graphic in R.  when i *first* switch to the
> window with the graphic, the graphic itself is the right aspect ratio,
> living in a small part of a window which itself fills up whatever frame
> it is in.  if i then hit some key, the graphic grows to fill up the
> frame, changing its aspect ratio.
> 
> similar aspect ratio badness happens in other cases.  (below is a simple
> gnuplot script; the circles should circles, not ellipses.)

I consider that a mis-feature[1] in those programs. Changing a window size
should not change the aspect ratio of graphs, but only the size.
For most graphic viewers you just get blank areas or scroll bars
if the ratio of the window size does not match the one of the graphic to be
displayed.

        Bernhard R. Link

[1] i.e. a bug by design.