Mercurial > web-octave
annotate about.md @ 188:52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
author | Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com> |
---|---|
date | Wed, 08 Jul 2020 13:38:29 +0900 |
parents | aaf612aece2b |
children | 899288d58c0e |
rev | line source |
---|---|
0
7abe02bf29ec
initial commit
Alex Krolick <whokilledtheelectricmonk@gmail.com>
parents:
diff
changeset
|
1 --- |
7abe02bf29ec
initial commit
Alex Krolick <whokilledtheelectricmonk@gmail.com>
parents:
diff
changeset
|
2 layout: page |
7abe02bf29ec
initial commit
Alex Krolick <whokilledtheelectricmonk@gmail.com>
parents:
diff
changeset
|
3 title: About |
5
e210b708b330
fill in site content
Alex Krolick <whokilledtheelectricmonk@gmail.com>
parents:
0
diff
changeset
|
4 menu: true |
0
7abe02bf29ec
initial commit
Alex Krolick <whokilledtheelectricmonk@gmail.com>
parents:
diff
changeset
|
5 --- |
7abe02bf29ec
initial commit
Alex Krolick <whokilledtheelectricmonk@gmail.com>
parents:
diff
changeset
|
6 |
188
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
7 GNU Octave is a high-level language, primarily intended for numerical |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
8 computations. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
9 It provides a convenient command line interface for solving linear and |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
10 nonlinear problems numerically, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
11 and for performing other numerical experiments using a language that is mostly |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
12 compatible with Matlab. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
13 It may also be used as a batch-oriented language. |
92
7609e2a6faef
maint: revert changeset 40 (2ff331fce678) .gitignore -> .hgignore.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
43
diff
changeset
|
14 |
188
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
15 Octave has extensive tools for solving common numerical linear algebra problems, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
16 finding the roots of nonlinear equations, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
17 integrating ordinary functions, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
18 manipulating polynomials, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
19 and integrating ordinary differential and differential-algebraic equations. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
20 It is easily extensible and customizable via user-defined functions written in |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
21 Octave's own language, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
22 or using dynamically loaded modules written in C++, C, Fortran, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
23 or other languages. |
0
7abe02bf29ec
initial commit
Alex Krolick <whokilledtheelectricmonk@gmail.com>
parents:
diff
changeset
|
24 |
188
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
25 GNU Octave is also freely redistributable software. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
26 You may redistribute it and/or modify it under the terms of the |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
27 [GNU General Public License (GPL)][GPL] as published by the |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
28 [Free Software Foundation](https://www.fsf.org/). |
94
e8fc61e077fc
Merged closed branch "kai" into default.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
92
diff
changeset
|
29 |
188
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
30 Octave was written by [John W. Eaton](mailto:jwe@octave.org) and |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
31 [many others](https://hg.savannah.gnu.org/hgweb/octave/file/tip/doc/interpreter/contributors.in). |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
32 Because Octave is [free software](https://www.gnu.org/philosophy/free-sw.html) you are encouraged to help make Octave |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
33 more useful by writing and contributing additional functions for it, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
34 and by reporting any problems you may have. |
94
e8fc61e077fc
Merged closed branch "kai" into default.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
92
diff
changeset
|
35 |
e8fc61e077fc
Merged closed branch "kai" into default.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
92
diff
changeset
|
36 |
e8fc61e077fc
Merged closed branch "kai" into default.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
92
diff
changeset
|
37 # History |
0
7abe02bf29ec
initial commit
Alex Krolick <whokilledtheelectricmonk@gmail.com>
parents:
diff
changeset
|
38 |
188
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
39 Octave was originally conceived (in about 1988) to be companion software for an |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
40 undergraduate-level textbook on chemical reactor design being written by James |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
41 B. Rawlings of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and John G. Ekerdt of the |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
42 University of Texas. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
43 We originally envisioned some very specialized tools for the solution of |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
44 chemical reactor design problems. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
45 Later, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
46 after seeing the limitations of that approach, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
47 we opted to attempt to build a much more flexible tool. |
0
7abe02bf29ec
initial commit
Alex Krolick <whokilledtheelectricmonk@gmail.com>
parents:
diff
changeset
|
48 |
188
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
49 There were still some people who said that we should just be using Fortran |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
50 instead, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
51 because it is the computer language of engineering, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
52 but every time we had tried that, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
53 the students spent far too much time trying to figure out why their Fortran |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
54 code failed and not enough time learning about chemical engineering. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
55 We believed that with an interactive environment like Octave, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
56 most students would be able to pick up the basics quickly, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
57 and begin using it confidently in just a few hours. |
0
7abe02bf29ec
initial commit
Alex Krolick <whokilledtheelectricmonk@gmail.com>
parents:
diff
changeset
|
58 |
188
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
59 Full-time development began in the Spring of 1992. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
60 The first alpha release was January 4, 1993, and version 1.0 was released |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
61 February 17, 1994. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
62 Since then, Octave has been through several major revisions, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
63 is included with [Debian GNU/Linux](https://www.debian.org/), |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
64 [openSUSE](https://www.opensuse.org/), |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
65 and many other GNU/Linux distributions. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
66 Octave was reviewed in the in the July, 1997 issue of the |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
67 [Linux Journal](http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/1225). |
0
7abe02bf29ec
initial commit
Alex Krolick <whokilledtheelectricmonk@gmail.com>
parents:
diff
changeset
|
68 |
188
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
69 Clearly, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
70 Octave is now much more than just another courseware package with limited |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
71 utility beyond the classroom. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
72 Although our initial goals were somewhat vague, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
73 we knew that we wanted to create something that would enable students to solve |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
74 realistic problems, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
75 and that they could use for many things other than chemical reactor design |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
76 problems. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
77 Today, thousands of people worldwide are using Octave in teaching, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
78 research, and commercial applications. |
0
7abe02bf29ec
initial commit
Alex Krolick <whokilledtheelectricmonk@gmail.com>
parents:
diff
changeset
|
79 |
188
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
80 Just about everyone thinks that the name Octave has something to do with music, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
81 but it is actually the name of one of the author's former professor |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
82 [Octave Levenspiel](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octave_Levenspiel) |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
83 who wrote a famous textbook on chemical reaction engineering, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
84 and who was also well known for his ability to do quick "back of the envelope" |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
85 calculations. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
86 We hope that this software will make it possible for many people to do more |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
87 ambitious computations just as easily. |
94
e8fc61e077fc
Merged closed branch "kai" into default.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
92
diff
changeset
|
88 |
188
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
89 Everyone is encouraged to share this software with others under the terms of |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
90 the [GNU General Public License (GPL)][GPL]. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
91 You are also encouraged to help make Octave more useful by writing and |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
92 contributing additional functions for it, |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
93 and by reporting any problems you may have. |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
94 |
52a48083f269
Overhaul About page with minor content changes.
Kai T. Ohlhus <k.ohlhus@gmail.com>
parents:
136
diff
changeset
|
95 [GPL]: https://www.gnu.org/copyleft/gpl.html |