azzxxx at gmail.com wrote:
> Hello.
>
> I need to learn a computer algebra system. I have come to a choice
> between Reduce and Maxima, but their capabilities look quite similar
> to me.
> So, can anyone provide a comparison of these systems and tell what are
> significant differences between them and which tasks are they best
> suited for?
>
> Thanks.
I can't answer the basic question you are asking, but I'm sure you are aware
that Maxima is freely available, is used throughout the world, includes
contributed code in many interesting disciplines, and has an excellent
graphical front end (wxMaxima). However, I want to expand on Michel Talon's
comment "Also you have a community, very useful to answer questions." I'm
convinced that the Maxima mailing list is one of the best you'll find on the
Internet. Richard Fateman is a well-known researcher in the area (he did a
lot of work on the precursor macsyma), and there are also many developers,
listed at http://sourceforge.net/project/memberlist.php?group_id=4933, who
know the system well. These people have helped create a first-rate forum
where all questions, from beginning to advanced, are answered in a
professional manner, usually quickly. It may be an important factor to
consider when deciding on a computer algebra system.
---George Leeman