On Jun 18, 2010, at 1:58 PM, arthur wrote:
On Jun 18, 3:25 pm, kcrisman <[email protected]> wrote:
But sounds like, as with a big buffet, too much of a good thing is
just too much.
It's worth pointing out, though, that most of the optional packages
are databases, packages for some very specific research use,
additional graphics, or computer internals, in which case perhaps the
user could download his/her own copy of Sage to use them? What sort
of context are you envisioning this for?
- kcrisman
Well, I'm a SysAdmin, not a mathematician, hence my knowledge of what
our various mathematicians might need is limited.
I'm working on standardized disk images that will be distributed on a
few dozen Macs. I'm trying to install the broadest, most useable
version of SAGE possible, so it will be most useful for the broadest
swathe of mathematicians who use those disk images. For individuals
I'd be happy to install specific packages if they're not already
installed, but I'd much prefer to have the needed packages already
available on their installation so they don't have to figure out what
they need, tell me, wait for me to have the time to install it, etc.
Most of our users don't have root on their desktop machines: not being
able to change system level software and configs allows me to push out
new software, updates, etc. without breaking what they're used to, but
it also means I have to give them what they need, hopefully
anticipating it before they need it.
Sounds great.
Also, we have a fair number of shared public machines, so for those I
can't really install individual packages since I never know which
individuals will be using which public systems, they all have a common
disk image.
One thing to note is that Sage ships "with batteries included" and has
a most functionality in just the standard install. I'm not trying to
discourage you from installing optional package, but just note that
they're not necessary to have a very versatile, useful install.
Personally, the only optional packages I've ever used are the elliptic
curve databases, and I've been using Sage for years.
Part of why I posted was not only to get my own installation in good
shape, but to help out others in the same boat by helping to improve
the documentation, error messages, and installation procedures for
non-
specialists (like me).
I suspect William would say I should help improve the documentation by
not only posting reports (and should any of this sort of thing be a
formal bug report?) but by fixing the source/docs... and I'd agree
with him except 1) I don't know the answers to these questions (i.e.
which databases go with which research purposes, etc) and 2) I'd have
to properly (re)learn mercurial... though the latter I really ought to
do anyway, if I only had the time.
Or, as an even lower barrier, add it to the wiki.
- Robert
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