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Date:Mon May 26 12:40:36 2001 
Subject:GSL collaboration and formal methods. 
From:cglur 
Volume-ID:1010526.03 

cglur@onwe.co.za wrote:
> > My request for explanation/example of 'gsl extension to pop-11'
> > received no reply.

"Graham Higgins" <gjh@bel-epa.com> wrote:
> At a guess (google, given 'gsl' returns) ,,,
> 
> GSL -- The GNU Scientific Library. ... gsl is free software. It is distributed
> under the terms of the GNU General Public License. What is gsl? ... 
> Description: 
> A collection of routines for numerical computing, written in ANSI C. 

OK, Good.

> > My initial guess that it refered to greater mathematical functionality,
> > is apparently wrong ?   A superficial look suggests that there's already
> > substantial maths capability.
> 
> Substantial but possibly still not enough and why re-invent a wheel.
Yes.

Presumably 'senior member(s)' have judged that the cost/benefit says
do-it.

What skill set do we need ?
1. C fluency ?   I'm not enthusiatic about C.
2. Numerical computing ? I majored in math (& compt Sc ) 25 years ago
   and did some numerical computing courses.  But I'm guessing that
  porting to poplog does not require understanding the inners of the
  algorithms.   Hopefully a standardised/cannonical suite of tests exists:
  this is an example of what I mean by "formality" vs. "free-form arty".
3. Experience in porting software between systems ?
     I've ported my pascal-subset: compiler, editor, VM (p-code interpreter)
     to several machines -  pre 1985.  This was a pioneering effort, and
     would be done today in a formal (as proven and documented from
     experiences of others) manner.

So 'not re-inventing a wheel' applies also at the level of planning, design,
management of the project.

1. What info has been gathered so for by those who decided that gsl
is worth doing ?

2. How do you imagine the project should proceed ?

Chris Glur.

PS. consider also possible spin-off benefits:
 the expertise built, can be used for other than the gsl project.
 Was the reported 'index out of bounds' problem ever fixed ?