Path: utzoo!utgpu!water!watmath!clyde!att!osu-cis!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!mailrus!iuvax!ndcheg!jeff
From: jeff@ndcheg.cheg.nd.edu (Jeffrey C. Kantor)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac
Subject: Re: Mathematica - I like it (really Matlab)
Summary: There's more than one version of Matlab out there!
Keywords: Mathematica, symbolic mathematics
Message-ID: <604@ndcheg.cheg.nd.edu>
Date: 1 Aug 88 15:14:09 GMT
References: <601@ndcheg.cheg.nd.edu> <1491@pembina.UUCP>
Organization: Dep't of Chemical Eng., Univ. of Notre Dame
Lines: 57

In article <1491@pembina.UUCP>, simon@alberta.UUCP (Simon Tortike) writes:
> In article <601@ndcheg.cheg.nd.edu>, jeff@ndcheg.cheg.nd.edu (Jeff Kantor) writes:
> > learn to use it well.  It will nicely complement my other main research tool,
> > Matlab, a programmable numerical linear algebra package.  But I wonder if
> > people other than technical professionals will be willing to pay the stiff

> ...but the one that got my attention was
> an implementation of the Matlab FORTRAN source, MacMatlab, for only
> US$50.00.  Two applications are provided, one to run on MC68000, and
> one for 68020/68881 units.  It included 3d plotting, so I wasted no time
> ordering it.  I used to use APL for matrix manipulation, but no one has
> come out with an APL that will run on a Mac II yet.  Trapeze is quite good
> at linear algebra, but isn't quick and dirty, nor does it do 3d plots.
>   -------------------
> Simon Tortike
> Dept Min, Met &    UUCP:   ...{ubc-vision,mnetor}!alberta!simon
>   Petroleum Engg   BITNET: stortike@ualtavm
> Univ. of Alberta   AGT:    403/432-3338

Matlab is a numerical linear algebra package that is available from a number
of sources.  But they are not all the same!

Matlab was orginally written in Fortran as an interactive front end to Linpack
and Eispack.  This was done by Cleve Moler at U. New Mexico for instructional
use.  The Fortran code is apparently public domain (but please don't ask me
how to get a copy).  That code was subsequently used as the basis for a couple
of commericial control design packages, Control-C and Matrix-X.

The MathWorks was started by several individuals involved with the development
of the Fortran code, including Cleve Moler.  They apparently rewrote the code
from scratch in C to make it more efficient, include more features, a much
better Macro facility, and for portability.  The MathWorks version is available
on PC's, Macs, Vaxes, Suns, 386's, perhaps others as well.  The Macro facility
is very well done, it's really better described as a programming language
complete with functions, local & global variables, control structures, etc.
The good thing is that primatives operate on vectors and matrices, making it
easy to very quickly write some impressive numerical codes.

Several Univ. (Illinois and Minnesota are two) have put Macintosh front ends
on the original Fortran code.  I've looked at these, and while they are
nice products for the price (ca. $50), I don't think they are up to same 
standard as the MathWorks product.  Particularly regarding the Macro facilities.
I think most technical professionals willing to spend the time to learn
to Matlab properly won't mind the higher price of the MathWorks (typ. $400-$800,
with good discounts for Univ.).  It really is an outstanding product if you
are doing any type of Scientific Computing involving matrices or vectors.

Jeff Kantor
Univ. of Notre Dame

jeff@ndcheg.cheg.nd.edu

-- 
Jeff Kantor                      US Mail:  Department of Chemical Engineering
                                           University of Notre Dame
    uucp:  iuvax!ndmath!ndcheg!jeff        Notre Dame, IN   46556  USA
internet:  jeff@ndcheg.cheg.nd.edu