I highly recommend the paper: http://portal.acm.org/citation.cfm?id=1073884.1073921
Domains and expressions: an interface between two approaches to computer algebra by Cosmin E. Oancea, Stephen M. Watt University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada ABSTRACT This paper describes a method to use compiled, strongly typed Aldor domains in the interpreted, expression-oriented Maple environment. This represents a non-traditional approach to structuring computer algebra software: using an efficient, compiled language, designed for writing large complex mathematical libraries, together with a top-level system based on user-interface priorities and ease of scripting. We examine what is required to use Aldor libraries to extend Maple in an effective and natural way. Since the computational models of Maple and Aldor differ significantly, new run-time code must implement a non-trivial semantic correspondence. Our solution allows Aldor functions to run tightly coupled to the Maple environment, able to directly and efficiently manipulate Maple data objects. We call the overall system Alma. -------- Although this kind of reminds me of a marriage between a Hippopotamus and the Elephant's daughter :), I think this paper is well worth reading and understanding. It presents a brief but thorough introduction to Aldor domains and categories. Then it demonstrates how these can be represented in terms of Maple's object-oriented "modules" and vice-versa. Maple is presented as an expression-oriented user interface with a sophisticated scripting language. Aldor on the other hand provides a high performance strongly-typed compiled language for writing mathematical libraries. The overall result of this "marriage" seems quite complex but the examples make it obvious that it provides a way to fully exploit Aldor within Maple's un-typed environment. I think this paper is important from the point of view of the uni-typed language B# that has been proposed as an alternative to Axiom's current interpreter. Regards, Bill Page. _______________________________________________ Axiom-developer mailing list [email protected] http://lists.nongnu.org/mailman/listinfo/axiom-developer
