[LUGSB] New project: GNUmatica

[Michael Graffam]

On Sun, 9 Feb 2003, Christian D Austin wrote:

> Besides being interest in Linux, I am also interested in Math,
> and am a Mathematics major major myself. The GNUmatica project sounds like
> a great idea, and I would like to participate. This semseter is going to
> be very busy for me; so I might not be able to do anything until it is
> over, but I would be willing to work during summer break.
>
> I have experience in Java and C, but have not done that much Linux/UNIX
> programming (one operating systems course). If there is anything that I
> can do, please let me know.
>

Well, Octave and TeXmacs are written in C++, and Maxima is written in
GNU Common Lisp. The "blood" of this system will be Scheme (a
Lisp dialect) that TeXmacs uses as its extension language.

So, the language requirements are basically: C++, Lisp/Scheme, and Octave.

I don't know how happy you'd be about learning new languages, but if
you're interested in math learning Octave and Maxima are really good
ideas. Octave is very similar to MATLAB, and Maple was actually designed
with Maxima as a reference. Maxima is a GPL'd version of Macsyma -- the
first full-featured computer algebra system ever developed (by MIT). Its
the actual MIT code, updated and GPL'd. Sweet :)

And, of course, every programmer should learn Lisp or Scheme. When you
finally "get it" you will be instantly enlightened and it will make you a
better programmer regardless of your language choice.

But, I can always use beta testers with knowledge of mathematics, so once
I get out of alpha, there will be lots of work for you to do :)

I hope to have a source tree snapshot containing: Maxima, TeXmacs and
Octave sources at beta level all pre-patched and ready to compile by the
end of the semester.