Re: Maxima and Macsyma_422



Hi,

I have to say that I have never used the commercial version of Maxima.
The only copy I have access to is unusable due to some license-related
problem.  The best way to find out if Maxima will meet your needs is to
just try it. The GUI for Maxima is definitely lacking -- our plan is to
work on improving it after we've solidified the current non-GUI code
bas.

>    o  Does Maxima have the batch and writefile commands?

Yes.

>    o  Does Maxima have on-line help, tutorials, demos and examples?

Yes. I don't know how they compare to Macsyma.

>    o  How do their X-packages compare, where X (for now) represents "convert
> to Fortran," graphical, matrix, ode & ratsimp?

I really don't know.

>    o  Are your NT and Unix versions (reasonably) in-sync?  If not, which
> platform do you favor?

We attempt to keep the code as platform-neutral as possible.

Best,
Jim Amundson


On Fri, 2002-07-12 at 11:38, Tony Brocci wrote:
> Mr Amundson:
> 
> I represent a site that has long used the commercial version of Macsyma;
> e.g., we are now using Version 422 on an SGI platform.  Since I've been
> here, I have dealt with the Macsyma, Inc office in Arlington, MA, which
> "ceased to exist" in mid-2000.
> 
> I periodically search the www to see if this office has been restored, and
> it was during my most recent search that I discovered Maxima.  Before we
> even consider downloading it, I would very much appreciate hearing your
> view, and perhaps those of your colleagues, regarding the capability of
> Maxima with respect to 422.  I recognize that your thoughts may be just your
> best guess, but any thoughts/opinions will be most welcome.
> 
> In particular:
> 
>    o  Does Maxima have the batch and writefile commands?
> 
>    o  Does Maxima have on-line help, tutorials, demos and examples?
> 
>    o  How do their X-packages compare, where X (for now) represents "convert
> to Fortran," graphical, matrix, ode & ratsimp?
> 
>    o  Are your NT and Unix versions (reasonably) in-sync?  If not, which
> platform do you favor?
> 
> Finally, what advice/counsel would you offer a potential "downloader" whose
> Lisp experience/knowledge is limited?
> 
> Thanks in advance for your help in this matter.
> 
> 
> 
> Tony Brocci
> KAPL, Inc
> Mail Stop 123
> PO Box 1072
> Schenectady, NY  12301
> 
> 518-395-6682  (voice)  and -4422 (fax)
> 
> brocci@kapl.gov
>