Mercurial > web-octave

annotate pages/menu/about.md @ 280:2bf083b44c5c

Find changesets by keywords (author, files, the commit message), revision number or hash, or revset expression.
* pages/menu/about.md: Update URL, do not mention Linux distros directly.
author Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
date Sun, 08 May 2022 02:32:13 +0900
parents 598d7f098082
children
Ignore whitespace changes - Everywhere: Within whitespace: At end of lines:
rev   line source
217
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
1 ---
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
2 layout: page
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
3 title: About
241
598d7f098082 Overhaul website, less JavaScript, more FontAwesome.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents: 226
diff changeset
4 icon: <i class="fas fa-info-circle"></i>
217
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
5 menu: true
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
6 permalink: about
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
7 ---
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
8
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
9 GNU Octave is a high-level language, primarily intended for numerical
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
10 computations.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
11 It provides a convenient command line interface for solving linear and
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
12 nonlinear problems numerically,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
13 and for performing other numerical experiments using a language that is mostly
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
14 compatible with Matlab.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
15 It may also be used as a batch-oriented language.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
16
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
17 Octave has extensive tools for solving common numerical linear algebra problems,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
18 finding the roots of nonlinear equations,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
19 integrating ordinary functions,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
20 manipulating polynomials,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
21 and integrating ordinary differential and differential-algebraic equations.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
22 It is easily extensible and customizable via user-defined functions written in
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
23 Octave's own language,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
24 or using dynamically loaded modules written in C++, C, Fortran,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
25 or other languages.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
26
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
27 GNU Octave is also freely redistributable software.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
28 You may redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
29 [GNU General Public License (GPL)][GPL] as published by the
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
30 [Free Software Foundation](https://www.fsf.org/).
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
31
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
32 Octave was written by [John W. Eaton](mailto:jwe@octave.org) and
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
33 [many others](https://hg.savannah.gnu.org/hgweb/octave/file/tip/doc/interpreter/contributors.in).
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
34 Because Octave is [free software](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html) you are encouraged to help make Octave
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
35 more useful by writing and contributing additional functions for it,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
36 and by reporting any problems you may have.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
37
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
38
241
598d7f098082 Overhaul website, less JavaScript, more FontAwesome.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents: 226
diff changeset
39 ## <i class="fas fa-landmark"></i> History
217
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
40
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
41 Octave was originally conceived (in about 1988) to be companion software for an
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
42 undergraduate-level textbook on chemical reactor design being written by James
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
43 B. Rawlings of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and John G. Ekerdt of the
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
44 University of Texas.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
45 We originally envisioned some very specialized tools for the solution of
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
46 chemical reactor design problems.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
47 Later,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
48 after seeing the limitations of that approach,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
49 we opted to attempt to build a much more flexible tool.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
50
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
51 There were still some people who said that we should just be using Fortran
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
52 instead,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
53 because it is the computer language of engineering,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
54 but every time we had tried that,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
55 the students spent far too much time trying to figure out why their Fortran
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
56 code failed and not enough time learning about chemical engineering.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
57 We believed that with an interactive environment like Octave,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
58 most students would be able to pick up the basics quickly,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
59 and begin using it confidently in just a few hours.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
60
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
61 Full-time development began in the Spring of 1992.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
62 The first alpha release was January 4, 1993, and version 1.0 was released
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
63 February 17, 1994.
280
2bf083b44c5c * pages/menu/about.md: Update URL, do not mention Linux distros directly.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents: 241
diff changeset
64 Since then, Octave has been through several major revisions and is included
2bf083b44c5c * pages/menu/about.md: Update URL, do not mention Linux distros directly.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents: 241
diff changeset
65 with many GNU/Linux distributions.
2bf083b44c5c * pages/menu/about.md: Update URL, do not mention Linux distros directly.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents: 241
diff changeset
66 Octave was first reviewed in the July, 1997 issue of the
2bf083b44c5c * pages/menu/about.md: Update URL, do not mention Linux distros directly.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents: 241
diff changeset
67 [Linux Journal](https://web.archive.org/web/20211107141537/https://www.linuxjournal.com/article/1225).
217
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
68
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
69 Clearly,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
70 Octave is now much more than just another courseware package with limited
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
71 utility beyond the classroom.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
72 Although our initial goals were somewhat vague,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
73 we knew that we wanted to create something that would enable students to solve
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
74 realistic problems,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
75 and that they could use for many things other than chemical reactor design
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
76 problems.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
77 Today, thousands of people worldwide are using Octave in teaching,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
78 research, and commercial applications.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
79
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
80 Just about everyone thinks that the name Octave has something to do with music,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
81 but it is actually the name of one of the author's former professor
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
82 [Octave Levenspiel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octave_Levenspiel)
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
83 who wrote a famous textbook on chemical reaction engineering,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
84 and who was also well known for his ability to do quick "back of the envelope"
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
85 calculations.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
86 We hope that this software will make it possible for many people to do more
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
87 ambitious computations just as easily.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
88
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
89 Everyone is encouraged to share this software with others under the terms of
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
90 the [GNU General Public License (GPL)][GPL].
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
91 You are also encouraged to help make Octave more useful by writing and
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
92 contributing additional functions for it,
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
93 and by reporting any problems you may have.
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
94
6de5c7dcc43f maint: add "pages/menu" subfolder to get a better overview.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
diff changeset
95 [GPL]: https://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html