>>>>> "Raymond" == Raymond Toy <toy@rtp.ericsson.se> writes:
James> These are all things to worry about. I propose we use the GNU Scientific
James> Library (GSL) to replace {X} in Maxima, where the set {X} includes at
James> least special functions and random number generators. GSL has the
James> following features:
James> - For most of what it does, it is the best such code I know of.
James> - It is actively maintained.
James> - It is documented.
Raymond> Except, the last time I looked, they don't tell you what algorithms
Raymond> are used, and the code is "self-documenting", i.e., like all good
Raymond> code, has no comments.
I apologize. I looked at gsl-1.0 and some selected functions just
now. It's much better documented now.
A quick peek at some bessel.c and bessel_J0.c indicates that some
pretty good algorithms were used, and references are provided. Very
nice.
I also note that some of the routines are translations from SLATEC
code. I would think f2cl would have done a decent translation of
these routines.
Ray