Why and howto design a generic and efficient image processing framework: The case of the Milena library

Most image processing frameworks are not generic enough to provide true reusability of data structures and algorithms. In fact, genericity allows users to write and experiment virtually any method on any compatible input(s). In this paper, we advocate the use of generic programming in the design of image processing software, while preserving performances close to dedicated code. The implementation of our proposal, Milena, a generic and efficient library, illustrates the benefits of our approach.