[boost] Re: math & numerics in Boost

From: Hubert HOLIN (Hubert.Holin_at_[hidden])
Date: 2002-09-18 07:22:55

Somewhere in the E.U., le 18/09/2002

        Bonjour

Jason D Schmidt wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I'm kind of new to Boost (I've used it a little, I've been on the
> developers' list for a few months, but I haven't submitted any code), so
> I'm
> wondering about what direction Boost is going regarding math & numerics.
> I
> see a number of directories/files in the CVS, like
> math/special_functions/,
> math/quaternion.hpp, math/octonion.hpp, mpl/, multi-array/, numeric/mtl/,
> and numeric/ublas.  I have a number of questions:
> 
> 1.  Will Boost add more special functions to make its library more
> complete,
> like Gamma functions, Bessel functions, Hermite functions, etc.?

                That's the plan, at least. The major stumbling block, so far, has been
finding enough time to do so :-)  ...

[SNIP]

> 4.  Are Boost developers interested in adding more numerical support for
> their array classes, like root-finding, derivatives, integrals,
> interpolation, curve fitting, solving differential equations, fourier
> transforms, statistics?

                Definitely. Some examples have been submitted to the files section for
FFT, for instance, and I feel the lack of good optimisation libraries
(perhaps building on COOOL) is just screaming at us.

> I know there are a lot of great numerical packages for C++ (Blitz++, MTL,
> &
> more), and people can write their own from Numerical Recipes, but it
> would
> be really nice if some of it got into Boost.  It would be advantageous
> for
> C++ users because Boost is peer-reviewed, it would provide a single
> source
> for comp. sci. and numerical needs that seamlessly work together, and it
> ensures that container classes (matrices, vectors, arrays of data) are
> STL-compliant.  Plus, it would be great to see more numerical support in
> the
> next standard of C++.  C++ would gain a lot of users in the science &
> engineering community if it added more numerical support either in Boost
> or
> in the next standard.  Finally, C++ and its Boost extensions really
> promote
> well-written code and good software engineering, which, from my
> experience
> are sorely lacking in the scientific & engineering community.
> 
> Jason Schmidt
> jd.schmidt_at_[hidden]

        Bon courrage

                        Hubert Holin
                        Hubert.Holin_at_[hidden]