LaboImage provides teachers and scientists with general purpose as well as specific processing families and tools in a highly interactive and experimental environment. The current software reflects half a decade of development and experiences. Throughout this paper, the initial need for such a software is presented as well as its evolution. The current features are listed; also described is the LaboImage interface design and how users interact with the software. The implementation aspects are then detailed, concerning data structures as well as algorithms and interfaces. The data file and descriptor file format used for storing images is described. The organization in memory of multiple data such as images, vectors and macros is presented, as well as the source code organization. A clear separation between algorithmic and interface code has proven to be very important, in order to allow easy extensions of the basic system. Finally, some aspects that distinguish LaboImage from other imaging softwares are discussed.