How install/run MockMMA??? needs Maxima to run?

--- seberino@spawar.navy.mil wrote:
> 
> Why isn't it simple to tweak MockMMA string and send it to Maxima
> for processing?

To the best of my understanding, it's not just a matter of mapping
strings.  You have to understand what the Mathematica command does,
what the Maxima command you are mapping to does, and what the different
behavior might be between those two functions in a large variety of
cases.  This is a root problem which will arise in any possible
translation of Mathematica documents to Maxima - you have to consider
what assumptions each command is making, not only about its own
behavior but the behavior of other functions it deals with as well.

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but that was my understanding.
 
> If I'm not mistaken Symaxx is a Perl front end that talks
> to Maxima with strings in both directions.  Is that right?

Yes, but Symaxx doesn't do any math itself or make any assumptions - it
just displays what Maxima produces.  Mathematica documents have built
into them Mathematica ideas and concepts.

> *Why* is it really hard to make some sort of Maxima shared object or
> library that we can access from another object?

Partially because it is a lisp program, and talking between Lisp and
the rest of the world is an effort.  Actually, interlanguage
communication is often a problem, not just with lisp - it's just that
lisp being the minority language has to deal with other languages more
frequently. It involves Foreign Function Interfaces typically, which
take a lot of work. If you want an embedded math capability to use in
another program I'd look at expanding Yacas, or perhaps GiNaC would
suit your needs.  You of course are welcome to try, but unfortunately
string manipulation is just the tip of the iceberg.

CY

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