Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!kent
From: kent@swrinde.nde.swri.edu (Kent D. Polk)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga
Subject: Re: Scientific programs on Amiga
Message-ID: <28476@swrinde.nde.swri.edu>
Date: 28 Sep 90 16:25:18 GMT
References: <31796@nigel.ee.udel.edu>
Reply-To: kent@swrinde.UUCP (Kent D. Polk)
Organization: Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio, Texas
Lines: 50

In article <31796@nigel.ee.udel.edu> boily@phy.ulaval.ca (Edouard Boily) writes:
>
>	I think that everybody can agree with the fact that there is
>not enough scientific programs to fill the growing needs of the Amiga
>community. Charles Stockman have been explicit on that and I must say
>that I feel a bit like he does.
>
>	To solution our (the Amiga community) problem, we need to
>organize ourself.  We should define what our most urgent needs are.

There have been a few of us scientists who have been discussing
something like a mailing list to keep track of what is available & what
is needed, but none of us have the time, etc. to do so. It appears that
many of us write our own software and from what I see, (in my case) it
is too specialized to be of much benefit to anyone else. Exceptions are
programming tools and libraries - Especially things like PLPLOT (Thanks
Tony and Steve).

Also of benefit would be to have help port some of the standard
scientific packages create with federal funding that exist on the Mac,
etc.  I currently appear to be the 'gateway' for SwRI scientists who
work with the Amiga, and have requested help in getting some of the
packages ported - nothing has resulted.  What would be of assistance
would be a way of connecting programmers with us. Does someone know of
a way to notify these labs of the need and arrange to have the software
written or ported as was done with the Mac? Please help if you know.

Any suggestions on how to do this? We need these contacts.
Want a list of what we need ported?

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With all this recent talk about lack of software, etc. I must say that
even though it has taken me 4 years to get to this point, I believe I
have finally hit 'critical mass' with respect to the Amiga. Things are
really improving, and people are starting to take notice. Much of it
has happened with the advent of the beta 2.0 releases. 2.0 has really
opened up my options - Thanks again C= personnel.

No, I don't just work with Amigas, and they have their limitations, but
I believe they offer an excellent 'desktop platform' for scientific
data manipulation if you don't have a workstation. While it is true
that more scientific software needs to be available, I have found that
I can manipulate my data in more flexible ways at greater throughput,
and end up with more professional reports than I can with a PC or Mac
given the time I have.  It's also more fun.

Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute (512) 522-2882
Internet : kent@swrinde.nde.swri.edu
UUCP     : $ {cs.utexas.edu, gatech!petro, sun!texsun}!swrinde!kent