
			DOE-Macsyma


Several people have posted queries about DOE-Macsyma.  This is to my
knowledge the most powerful symbolic algebra program available.  The
latest version, which I use on a Lisp machine from GigaMos, differs
from other Macsymas in that almost everything works, including the
Share functions, and that there are powerful features designed to aid
large-scale Macsyma programming and Fortran code generation.

There are various versions of DOE-Macsyma built on various Lisps.  The
ZetaLisp version runs on GigaMos, Symbolics, and TI Explorer Lisp
machines.  The NIL version runs on Vaxes using the VMS operating
system.  The public domain Franz Lisp version, runs on Unix machines,
including Suns and Vaxes using Unix.  There is also a less powerful
version of Macsyma based on Franz Lisp, due to Richard Fateman and
known as DOE-Vaxima.  A Common Lisp version of DOE-Macsyma will soon
be available.

The name suggests the main problem with this Macsyma: it is not
available to everyone.  The U.S. Department of Energy has rights to
Macsyma which include use by U.S. government agencies and their
contractors for government purposes only.  Other rights to Macsyma are
claimed by other parties, including MIT and Symbolics, Inc.  Though
DOE-Macsyma is "free", distribution channels are restricted in order
to keep it to government use.  You can obtain it from the National
Energy Software Center at Argonne, Illinois.  Their only charge is for
their distribution costs, although those costs are surprisingly high.

If you want consulting help with installation or use of DOE-Macsyma, I
would recommend hiring Leo Harten of Paradigm Associates.  He may be able to 
give valuable advise even before you get it from Argonne.  His telephone
number is 617-492-6079.

Jeffrey F. Painter
painter@lll-lcc.aRpA 
Lawrence Livermore Labs, Livermore Ca

                            *** Some Features ***

* Has a garbage collector under DEC Common Lisp and can now run under VMS
  BATCH mode using command files (both unlike the older NIL Lisp version.)
* Full Macsyma Constortium (MIT-MC) environment with SHARE library files
  compiled, including source, demo, usage, and verification files.
* Numerous bug fixes throughout the kernel of macsyma.
* Completely updated on-line documentation. Changed pages to Part I of the
  Reference Manual.
* Enhanced PRIMER, BATCH, DEMO, EXAMPLE, DESCRIBE.
* PLOT2 graphics supporting TEK4014, POSTSCRIPT, and VAXSTATION (UIS).
* Ability to create a SUSPENDED environment or a static-linked EXE file
  under your own copy of VAX-Lisp 2.2 . You only need one copy of VAX-Lisp
  to create a portable EXE file, and the EXE file can be constructed so
  that you do not need any additional licensing to use the EXE file site-wide.
  Contact Paradigm for information if you don't have a VAX-Lisp 2.2 somewhere
  on site.
  The minimum "run-time only" distribution with a 15,000 block shareable EXE
  file requires 32,000 blocks (NIL needed about 60,000, and NIL had a small
  shared EXE file and a large unshared suspended file.)
* Passes the extensive Paradigm test-suite, which compares results of
  DEMO, EXAMPLE, LPH, SHAREM, SHARE, SHARE1, SHARE2, ODE, and TENSOR example
  and demo files with checked-output files. The test suite runs more than 1 CPU
  day on a VAX-Station II, so we recommend it be run over the weekend.
* GNU EMACS 18.51 for VAX/VMS is included, with sources, and can be called from
  inside DOE-Macsyma to edit files which can then be BATCH'ed in Macsyma.
* Prof. Fateman's Macsyma-->TEX converter allows TEX formatting.

George Carrette and Leo Harten
gjc@bu-cs.BU.EDU (George J. Carrette)
Paradigm Associates, Inc.
29 Putnam Avenue, Suite 6
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 492-6079
