Doug Stewart wrote:
> Nicolas Pettiaux wrote:
>
>> Maple is the CAS (computer algebra software) of Matlab.
>>
>> How difficult would it be to have maxima more closely linked with
>> octave in a similar way ?
>>
>> I know that there is the SAGE project that is very interesting, but
>> this is yet another language of its own, aka python, on top of the
>> octave and maxima ones.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Nicolas
>>
>>
>>
>
> I did some work on this and it is not hard to run Maxima from Octave.
> The problem is that you now have 2 different languages to learn. Octave
> and Maxima.
>
> Or we would have to write a converter between the two systems. ie. Have
> a complete symbolic syntax addition to octave, and then a converter
> that runs behind the scene that would change to Maxima syntax. This
> wouldn't be too hard for integration and derivatives and some series.
> But Maxima is huge and we would have to decide how much to implement.
>
> If we don't go with the converter system and we make everyone learn
> Maxima then I do not see much advantage to join them together. I now use
> mainly Octave, and when I have to I fire up Maxima or Axium and then
> bring the results back to Octave.
>
> I found that there is big learning curve for Maxima
>
> Just my 2 C worth.
>
> Doug
>
By the way, anyone interested in symbolic math inside Octave should try
out the symbolic package in octave-forge, which links to GiNaC.
Quentin