... [snip] ...
I guess that's where we differ. Axiom is a piece of research software.
Axiom was never intended to be a product. IBM gave us two choices. Either
find someone to market it (NAG) or throw it away. FOSS software did
not exist at that time and we were not allowed to work on it in any
capacity once it was sold. That stopped the research but not the desire.
On the "little problem" front I have many things I would like to do with
Axiom. For example, I have a hierarchical graph of about 50 different
kinds of matrices arranged so Axiom's inheritence would fit perfectly.
Within that set are things like unitary matrices which would have just
the algorithms you need to do quantum computers. The DHMATRIX
domain would be usefully extended to drive the several robots I have
in my office. Fourier and Laplace transform algorithms would be very
useful for robot dynamics. Graphics algorithms should be extended
to show Bode plots. The graphics world could be extended to do 3D solid
models to use with my 3D printer. Quantum-safe encryption uses
lattices which would fit well with skew matrix algorithms. There are
a lot of "little problems" I wish I had time to work on.
Richard Hamming (of Hamming distance fame) has a youtube video [0].
He used to ask his Bell Labs colleagues "What are the fundamental
problems in your area and why aren't you working on them?"
So what are the "fundamental problems" of combining computers and math?
Why aren't you working on them?
I see two streams of computer mathematics. The computer algebra
stream started in the 60s/70s and uses the "It works for me" approach.
The proof stream started in the 90s and uses the "Lets prove my
current theorem". The two streams have only James Davenport
in common.
"Computational Mathematics" would be a combination of both of these
streams. Proofs would make Axiom less ad-hoc. Proven computer
algebra algorithms would vastly expand proof assistants with trusted
results.
I view "Computational Mathematics", combining computer algebra
and proofs as one of the "fundamental problems" of this era. The
SANE version of Axiom is my attack on a fundamental problem.
Axiom is the best research platform available to show both camps
what is possible in future mathematics. Axiom showed the power that
comes from using mathematics as a scaffold architecture guiding
the organization. Grounding the group theory scaffold with proofs
will make Axiom a much more solid structure for future mathematics.
That said, my real motivation is that this research is fun.
I am pretty sure nobody but me will ever care.
I'm a "research rat" by nature.
Tim
[0] You and Your Research