CFFI: Was ( Question on augmented_lagrangian_method)
Subject: CFFI: Was ( Question on augmented_lagrangian_method)
From: Kostas Oikonomou
Date: Sun, 20 May 2007 09:03:19 -0400
I agree with Michel that the "using external libraries"
issue is very important, frustrating, and, if
properly addressed, would greatly enhance Maxima.
Kostas
Michel Van den Bergh wrote:
>>
>> There are doubtless much stronger methods. About ipopt,
>> that could be used via a foreign-function interface. I believe
>> the project called CFFI is the most widely supported of such
>> interfaces. CFFI doesn't work with GCL, unfortunately. But
>> maybe it is not too early for Maxima to start working on
>> libraries in C/C++ and/or Fortran via CFFI for other Lisps.
>>
> <rant>
> This is one of the most frustrating things in maxima. There are so
> many excellent free software libraries around but they are very
> difficult to use
> in maxima since GCL does not support a decent foreign function
> interface. As a result the wheel has to be reinvented all the time.
> Sage for example does not have this problem.
> Python is trivial to interface with libraries and hence sage can pick and
> choose the best available implementations for specific functionality
> (the object oriented nature of python makes this very natural).
> So sage has very fast linear algebra over finite fields using linbox,
> very fast
> polynomial arithmetic using the new libSingular etc...
>
> Personally I would simply drop support for GCL if the developers want to
> stay
> in their own little world and not support something **vital** like CFFI.
> The possible drop in speed
> would be more than offset by the possibility of using external optimized
> libraries for
> specific tasks.
> </rant>
>
> Michel
> _______________________________________________
> Maxima mailing list
> Maxima at math.utexas.edu
> http://www.math.utexas.edu/mailman/listinfo/maxima