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Re: Numerical Mathematics Consortium
From: |
Paul Kienzle |
Subject: |
Re: Numerical Mathematics Consortium |
Date: |
Sat, 19 Nov 2005 10:54:47 -0500 |
On Nov 18, 2005, at 6:06 PM, Andy Adler wrote:
I took a quick look at the web site; they're seem to be trying to
standardize mathematical language syntax. The example they give
compares Matlab to Mathcad.
They are trying to standardize the library rather than the syntax.
This is from their executive summary:
"By standardizing the semantics of functions, inputs and outputs will
have the same meaning and order in any compliant application. While the
syntax may change among compliant applications, a developer well versed
in the syntax of multiple products will no longer have to concern
himself with the details of parameter ordering and behavior."
Reading elsewhere in their documents, they are only talking about
numerics, not plotting or language features.
I don't see how they are going to address numerics without talking
about language features like objects, keyword arguments, multiple
returns and type based dispatch. For example, object oriented
libraries tend to define LU as an object which accepts the matrix as
the constructor and has methods for returning L and U whereas octave
returns L and U from a function call.
Unfortunately, Matlab is not a part of the consortium. Unless they
join (and I don't think I see why they might) I can't see much
chance that they could have much useful success.
Any idea what percentage of the market Matlab holds? In this market
I'm including products like Origin+NAG, Mathematica, LabVIEW, S-Plus,
Maple, IDL, Mathcad and other products that support numerical linear
algebra as part of their product line. If we are talking users, rather
than $, then include R, Octave, SciLab, lispstat, ... as well.
I think they can have useful success even without matlab.
It also seems that Octave (and other numerical software such
as SciPy) would be actively invited by such a consortium...
Three membership levels:
* Full at $2500/annum with voting rights;
* associate at $200/annum with full access to outputs;
* advisory at $0/annum
The second statement concerns me---it suggests that the outputs of this
organization will not be freely redistributable, which would make them
useless to us.
Octave has historically tried to stay compatible with Matlab when
possible/reasonable, so that direction is pretty well set.
With namespace support it is possible to be compatible with multiple
libraries simultaneously. Of course this will have to be the work of
someone scratching their own itch to implement the wrapper for the
alternative API and the parser/translator for the alternative syntax.
Just my opinion ...
--
Andy Adler <address@hidden> 1(613)562-5800x6218
On Fri, 18 Nov 2005, Javier Arantegui wrote:
Hello,
Today I learnt that a Numerical Mathematics Consortium (1) haved been
established on August 9. The founding members of the consortium are
Maplesoft, Mathsoft, National Instruments and INRIA (makers of
SciLab).
(1) http://www.nmconsortium.org/
The main goals of the consortium are:
* Provide a fundation that facilitates the reuse of numerical math
algorithms
* Standardize definitions, semantics, etc.
* Help users to interpret and reuse algorithms
* Facilitate the use of these algorithms for embedded and real-time
targets.
I think that it's quite importat that the Octave development team
were part of
this consortium to let the Octave comunity voice be heard.
I'd like to know if there is any action planned in this direction.
Javier
--
Javier Arántegui
Dept. Tecnologia de Alimentos / Dept. of Food Technology
Universitat de Lleida / University of Lleida (Spain)
Tel. +34 973702595
Fax +34 973702596
IM: Jabber - javier.arantegui (AT) jabberes.org
http://www.tecal.udl.es
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Octave is freely available under the terms of the GNU GPL.
Octave's home on the web: http://www.octave.org
How to fund new projects: http://www.octave.org/funding.html
Subscription information: http://www.octave.org/archive.html
-------------------------------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------------------------
Octave is freely available under the terms of the GNU GPL.
Octave's home on the web: http://www.octave.org
How to fund new projects: http://www.octave.org/funding.html
Subscription information: http://www.octave.org/archive.html
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