Re: [Maxima-discuss] Updating "Maxima -- GPL CAS based on DOE-MACSYMA"

[Stavros M. (Σ. Μ. <mac...@al...>]

I agree on all points.

The name

Maxima, a Computer Algebra System

​is pretty good, but it would be nice to distinguish Maxima from other CASs
for its lineage, maturity, and completeness (though of course much more can
be done)
. I dislike "venerable", which has been used in some of our announcements
​. I doubt many people today have heard of Project MAC, so calling it
"Project MAC's CAS" isn't very evocative.

​How about:

Maxima, a full-function Computer Algebra System from MIT

​I think that's accurate, though incomplete (since of course a lot of
functionality has been added since the MIT version).​
​
​ It would sound better as "*the* CAS from MIT", but I think there are
others​ (Jacal).


​Or maybe "mature" or "comprehensive" instead of "full-function"?

            -s​


On Mon, May 23, 2016 at 10:16 PM, Kris Katterjohn <kat...@gm...>
wrote:

> Hey everyone,
>
> The name of the project on sf.net is currently
>
>   Maxima -- GPL CAS based on DOE-MACSYMA
>
> I'm thinking that this should be updated.  Here are some of my opinions
> (as, I think, the relative youngster here) off the top of my head of the
> pieces of the current name:
>
> * "GPL" - If you're a programmer or user of a lot of open source
> software then you probably know, or have heard of, the GPL.  But how
> many of our users fall into that category?
> Even *if* everyone knows what the GPL is, is it still pertinent enough
> to have in the name?  It may have been important when Maxima was
> released as open source, but that was more-than-half-of-my-life ago.
>
> * "CAS" - I think it would be clearer to spell it out if it doesn't make
> the name too long.
>
> * "DOE-MACSYMA" - "DOE" standing for "Department of Energy" is probably
> non-obvious for many (most?) new people who haven't read the history of
> Maxima (especially for people who are not even from the U.S.).
> In fact, the same goes for "MACSYMA" by itself.  How many new(er) users
> do we expect to know what Macsyma is?  I didn't already know what it was
> when I started using Maxima several years ago as an undergrad.
>
> The current website uses
>
>   Maxima, a Computer Algebra System
>
> which seems clear and concise enough.  I wouldn't be opposed to using
> that or something similar for the sf.net name.
>
> Opinions?  Suggestions?
>
> If we can agree on anything different, I can update the name.
>
> Cheers,
> Kris Katterjohn
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Mobile security can be enabling, not merely restricting. Employees who
> bring their own devices (BYOD) to work are irked by the imposition of MDM
> restrictions. Mobile Device Manager Plus allows you to control only the
> apps on BYO-devices by containerizing them, leaving personal data
> untouched!
> https://ad.doubleclick.net/ddm/clk/304595813;131938128;j
> _______________________________________________
> Maxima-discuss mailing list
> Max...@li...
> https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/maxima-discuss
>