Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Magma VS Mathomatic

Compare Magma VS Mathomatic and see what are their differences

Magma logo Magma

A software package designed to solve computationally hard problems in algebra, number theory, geometry and combinatorics.

Mathomatic logo Mathomatic

Mathomatic is a free general purpose computer algebra system that is an expert in solving and simplifying the algebraic and computation issues.
  • Magma Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-23
  • Mathomatic Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-17

Magma features and specs

  • Comprehensive Functionality
    Magma is highly regarded for its extensive range of built-in functions covering many aspects of algebra, number theory, geometry, and combinatorics.
  • Efficient Algorithms
    Magma includes efficient algorithms for complex mathematical computations, which can significantly reduce computation time for large problems.
  • Active Development
    The software is actively developed and maintained, ensuring that users have access to the latest features and improvements.
  • Strong Mathematical Foundation
    Built upon rigorous mathematical foundations, Magma offers a reliable environment for research-level mathematics.

Possible disadvantages of Magma

  • Cost
    Magma is commercial software, and its licensing fees can be expensive for individuals or institutions, limiting accessibility for some users.
  • Steep Learning Curve
    Due to its complexity and powerful capabilities, new users may find Magma challenging to learn and require significant time to become proficient.
  • Limited Visualization
    Magma's capabilities for graphical visualization of mathematical objects are not as advanced or user-friendly as some other mathematical software.
  • Dependency on Specific Platforms
    Magma is not open-source and is dependent on specific platforms, which may limit its integration and adaptability with other software tools.

Mathomatic features and specs

  • Lightweight and portable
    Mathomatic is a small, portable computer algebra system (CAS) written in C that can run on a wide variety of platforms including Unix, Linux, Windows, and even embedded systems, requiring very minimal system resources.
  • Free and open source
    Mathomatic is released under the GNU Lesser General Public License (LGPL), making it freely available for anyone to use, study, modify, and distribute without any cost.
  • Simple and easy to use
    Mathomatic features a straightforward command-line interface with intuitive commands, making it accessible to users who need quick symbolic math computations without a steep learning curve common in more complex CAS tools.
  • Fast performance
    Due to its small codebase and efficient C implementation, Mathomatic performs symbolic algebra operations quickly, even on older or resource-constrained hardware.
  • Good for basic algebra tasks
    Mathomatic handles core algebraic operations well, including simplification, solving equations, polynomial arithmetic, calculus (differentiation and integration), and symbolic manipulation of mathematical expressions.

Possible disadvantages of Mathomatic

  • Limited advanced functionality
    Compared to major CAS tools like Mathematica, Maple, or even free alternatives like Maxima and SageMath, Mathomatic lacks many advanced mathematical capabilities such as advanced calculus, linear algebra, and specialized mathematical functions.
  • No longer actively maintained
    Mathomatic's development has been largely inactive since the passing of its primary developer, George Gesslein II, in 2018, meaning bugs are unlikely to be fixed and new features will not be added.
  • No graphical interface
    Mathomatic operates solely through a text-based command-line interface and does not offer a graphical user interface (GUI) or plotting capabilities, which limits its appeal for users who prefer visual interaction.
  • Small community and limited documentation
    Mathomatic has a relatively small user community compared to mainstream CAS software, which means limited community support, fewer tutorials, and less comprehensive documentation for troubleshooting.
  • Limited library and ecosystem integration
    Mathomatic lacks robust APIs and integration options with other programming languages, scientific libraries, or notebook environments, making it difficult to incorporate into larger scientific computing workflows.

Analysis of Mathomatic

Overall verdict

  • Mathomatic is a free, open-source computer algebra system that is lightweight and useful for basic to intermediate symbolic math, though it is not as powerful or actively developed as major CAS tools like Mathematica, Maple, or SymPy.

Why this product is good

  • It is free and open-source, making it accessible to anyone
  • Lightweight and simple to install, requiring minimal system resources
  • Capable of symbolic algebra including simplification, solving equations, and calculus operations
  • Portable and can run on various platforms including embedded systems
  • Simple command-line interface that is easy to learn for basic tasks
  • No licensing costs compared to commercial alternatives

Recommended for

  • Students learning algebra and basic symbolic computation
  • Hobbyists who want a lightweight CAS without installing large software
  • Users on resource-constrained or older systems needing simple symbolic math tools
  • Educators demonstrating basic algebraic concepts
  • Programmers who want to embed simple symbolic computation in other projects
  • Those who prefer open-source tools over commercial CAS software

Magma videos

GOJIRA Magma Album Review | Overkill Reviews

More videos:

  • Review - Magma DJ Bags Review - Which one is right for you?
  • Review - Famovape Magma Box Review and Rundown | Small Dual 18650, Dual Resin

Mathomatic videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Magma and Mathomatic)
Technical Computing
73 73%
27% 27
Numerical Computation
76 76%
24% 24
Math Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Mathematics
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Magma seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 10 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Magma mentions (10)

  • Safeguarding cryptocurrency by disclosing quantum vulnerabilities responsibly
    In minutes, on a single computer, for example, is the lowest bar. * https://mathematical-research-institute.sydney.edu.au/quantum-encryption-algorithm-cracked-by-computer-running-magma/ * https://magma.maths.usyd.edu.au/magma/ Props to John Cannon, George Havas, Charles Leedham-Green, et al. - Source: Hacker News / 5 months ago
  • Learn You Galois Fields for Great Good (00)
    If the goal is learning more about Groups, Fields, etc. There are several options of what to do alongside reading the text here; use the provided rust code, write code of your own in language of choice, use pre existing CAS software that has abstract algebra operations, use pencil and paper (there were not that many CAS options back in the early days of scaling the Monster Group .. It was dissected with a mix of... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
  • SMS Security and Privacy Gaps
    Speaking as a grandparent that wrote a chunk of the backend of the first iteration of [-1] I reckon I can handle it. Hell, even great grandmothers can breeze through that stuff [e] [-1] http://magma.maths.usyd.edu.au/magma/ [e] https://research-repository.uwa.edu.au/en/persons/cheryl-praeger. - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago
  • (Harvard in Numbers) Grade Inflation: What Goes Up Must Come Down
    Not if you want peer acceptance and not be dismissed as a mere CS student. It's acceptable to download your brilliance into something such as, say, CAYLEY/MAGMA [1], [2] but, obviously, once you start grinding the organ [3] and using it algorithmically for computation you're just another monkey . . . [1] http://magma.maths.usyd.edu.au/conferences/london93.html [2]... - Source: Hacker News / over 3 years ago
  • Building Flexible, Low-Cost Wireless Access Networks with Magma
    When I read the title, I was thinking that this was an application for the computer algebra system Magma: > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magma_(computer_algebra_system) > http://magma.maths.usyd.edu.au/magma/. - Source: Hacker News / almost 4 years ago
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Mathomatic mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Mathomatic yet. Tracking of Mathomatic recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Magma and Mathomatic, you can also consider the following products

MATLAB - A high-level language and interactive environment for numerical computation, visualization, and programming

COMSOL Multiphysics - COMSOL is the developer of COMSOL Multiphysics software, an interactive environment for modeling and simulating scientific and engineering problems.

Wolfram Mathematica - Mathematica has characterized the cutting edge in specialized processingโ€”and gave the chief calculation environment to a large number of pioneers, instructors, understudies, and others around the globe.

Mathcad - Mathcad is engineering calculation software that drives innovation and offers significant process...

Maple - Considered the leading mathematical software, Maple intertwines the worldโ€™s most advanced math engine with a user-friendly interface.

Sage Math - Sage is a free open-source mathematics software system licensed under the GPL.