Talk:Magma computer algebra system

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[edit] Free Software

• how come it says "free software"?
  it is very costy, look at http://magma.maths.usyd.edu.au/magma/Ordering/Pricing.html
  • I can't see where "it says" that.
    SH 111 10:51, 5 September 2006 (UTC)
    • words "It is non-commercial software, distributed under a cost recovery licence." sound like it is free to use, while it is not, it requires $1500 and even more for a license.
      • What words in any of that suggest that it is free? "Cost recovery" means that a licence fee is charged to cover costs. But it is non-commercial, i.e., it is NOT produced by a business making a profit. Allansteel 15:52, 11 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Proposed deletion

This reads like an ad. Why is it encyclopedic? Septentrionalis 03:07, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

I added lots of the information. My intention was not to make it like an ad. See Mathematica, which gives lots of features of the system too; that looks fine to me. I am interested in adding more CORRECT info in wikipedia on computer algebra; many of the articles in that area have INCORRECT information, written by people who don't know what they're talking about, which is FRUSTRATING. For some of the many things I've fixed in this area (and new comp alg articles I've written), I've added links to these from Magma, since Magma is sometimes the only comp alg system which does them. Also, before I edited this page, it had some some fatuous non-encyclopedic opinions. Currently it is objective in describing it, so I don't see what the problem is. Allansteel 04:13, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

Please relax; I'm not criticizing your edits, I'm sure it was much worse earlier. I came to this article by chance; and comment on what I now see. Accuracy is good; but why is this system notable? Septentrionalis 04:44, 6 October 2006 (UTC)

Well, there are very few general computer algebra systems out there anyway, so any non-trivial system which covers several areas of computer algebra is notable anyway. But Magma is also notable for often having the fastest implementation out there, for many algorithms; that was noted originally (I didn't write the comment that said that; was there already)... Allansteel 05:11, 6 October 2006 (UTC)