> -----Original Message-----
> From: maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu
> [mailto:maxima-bounces at math.utexas.edu] On Behalf Of Robert Dodier
> Sent: Tuesday, May 20, 2008 7:51 PM
> To: Viktor T. Toth
> Cc: maxima at math.utexas.edu; Barton Willis
..... snip.....
> Many of those flags control whether some identities are applied;
> it is really only the weakness of the simplification system that
> makes them necessary.
Since the objective of simplification varies by context and the context may
be known only to the (human) user, there has to be some way of controlling
the program. Setting flags, calling explicit functions, applying rules,
making "type" declarations are 4 different control methods. I think that
about covers the territory right now. Do you have a design that majorizes
all of this somehow, and makes flags unnecessary?
RJF