For those who don't know yet, MathRider (http://mathrider.org) is a new mathematics computing environment which has the following features:
- Supports multiple scripting languages (for both extension of the application and general use). - Interactive 2D graphics (including XY plots and network graphs). - Interactive 3D graphics on the way. - Syntax highlighting for over 150 file types. - Numerous programmer's text editor tools. - Console interface. - Worksheet interface. - A Robust plugin architecture that enables MathRider to be extended to almost any feasible level. MathRider currently includes an entry-level Lisp-based CAS called MathPiper. MathPiper is significantly easier to learn than Maxima or Axiom, but it is also designed to teach CAS beginners the skills needed to successfully move on to more sophisticated CAS systems. One way to look at MathPiper is as a way to prepare CAS beginners to successfully enter the Maxima and Axiom communities. The marketing strategy for MathPiper is based on the observation that the largest group of mathematics computing users in the world are scientific calculator users. MathPiper is not able to successfully compete with more advanced CAS systems like Mathematica, but it is much more powerful than most scientific calculators and therefore it should be able to successfully compete with them. Since most scientific calculator users are high school and college students, MathPiper is being specifically targeted at this group. Towards this end, I am writing what appears to be one of the first CAS books which is designed for the needs of beginners and I have begun testing it on students in the 11-18 year old age range. If anyone would like to look at the current version of this book (which is called "MathRider for Newbies") it can be obtained here: https://mathrider.dev.java.net/servlets/ProjectProcess?tab=1 What is the current status of using Maxima and Axiom with MathRider? Maxima works with MathRider at an experimental level (which has not been released yet) and I am currently studying Axiom to determine a good way to interface with it. If anyone would like to get a feel for what using Axiom or Maxima with MathRider will be like when they are supported, I encourage you to download MathRider and play with it. If there are capabilities you would like to see MathRider have, let me know and I will look into adding them. Also, if you know any CAS beginners (especially young people) who might be interested in learning how to use a CAS, please let them know about MathRider. Thanks :-) Ted Kosan ted.kosan at gmail.com _______________________________________________ Axiom-developer mailing list [email protected] http://lists.nongnu.org/mailman/listinfo/axiom-developer
