Maxima server, was: using maxima as a batch operation



hi harry,

> what i am tyring to propose is a way to batch the operations of
> maxima.. in order to interface with java without xMaxima popping up.
> in order to do this one option that seems to make sense is if maxima
> could be run from the command line.
> 
> If i can do that then i can pipe info to and from it.. well, hopefully.

i think what you want to do is execute maxima in server mode.
there is a command line option --server  which tells
maxima to listen for commands on a socket.
xmaxima and other user interfaces use this mechanism
if i am not mistaken. 

if there is a firewall installed it might try to prevent the
connection -- dunno about the details.

i don't know if there is any documentation about server mode.
maybe you can take a look at the xmaxima script, which is
installed somewhere (dunno where it goes on windows). 
unfortunately i really don't know anything about it.
be that as it may i am pretty sure you want to try that
instead of reinventing this particular wheel.

hope this helps & all the best,
robert dodier