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Maxima

Maxima is a fairly complete computer algebra system written in Lisp with an emphasis on symbolic computation.

Maxima

Maxima Reviews and Details

This page is designed to help you find out whether Maxima is good and if it is the right choice for you.

Screenshots and images

  • Maxima Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-15

Features & Specs

  1. Open-source

    Maxima is freely available and open-source, allowing users to access, modify, and distribute the software without any cost.

  2. Symbolic Computation

    Maxima specializes in symbolic computation, providing robust tools for algebraic manipulations, differentiation, integration, and equation solving.

  3. Customizability

    As an open-source software, Maxima is highly customizable, and users can modify the source code or write their own functions to extend its capabilities.

  4. Documentation

    Maxima comes with extensive documentation, including a comprehensive manual and numerous tutorials, which can aid both beginners and advanced users.

  5. Integration with Other Tools

    Maxima can be integrated with other software tools and languages such as Python (via SymPy), providing flexibility and additional functionality for complex computations.

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Reviews

  1.  
    Stable (slow but steady growth)

    I've been using Maxima since my undergraduate (over 10 years), now with Ubuntu20.04 lts, I become a newbie of SageMath. For a small project (both symbolical and numerical), in particular, student lab activities, Maxima has been a powerful tool for analyzing and visualizing data. (The Android version is also fantastic, but the poor keyboard.)

    Mathematica is always enemy/friend. (My coworkers are all Mathematica speakers.)

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Wolfram Mathematica
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Easy for cli user|Lithghter
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Good for advanced users of computers (cli is sometimes hard for newbie)|Hard to find official references, tutors, etc

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Social recommendations and mentions

We have tracked the following product recommendations or mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you see what people think about Maxima and what they use it for.
  • Integral Calculator
    I think the really neat piece of software behind this is maxima (https://maxima.sourceforge.io/), a rather influential computer algebra system of ancient lineage still in use today in more place than you might think. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Rye: Homoiconic dynamic programming language with some new ideas
    In the maxima computer algebra system[1] which was ancestrally based on lisp it has a single quote operator[2] which delays evaluation of something and a "double quote" (which acually two single quotes rather than an actual double quote) operator[3] which asks maxima to evaluate some expression immediately rather than leaving it in symbolic form.[4] [1] https://maxima.sourceforge.io/ [2]... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • True or False
    Use wxmaxima, a free and open-source computer algebra system:. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • C++ library for solving EQUATIONS
    There are several options, here is one of them: https://maxima.sourceforge.io. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Do you know computer algebra software capable of managing systems of multiple equations with multiple unknowns and multiple variables?
    You may use maxima cas (https://maxima.sourceforge.io/) to solve symbolic complex problems. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What is CAS?
    If you want to try a PC-based CAS software package, download Maxima (which is open-source). Source: over 2 years ago
  • TeXmacs: yet another great tool I found after more than 10 years of using LaTeX
    I tried TeXmacs ages ago when I first started learning LaTeX, and I found that I preferred using a plain text editor with good LaTeX support (Emacs + AUCTeX). However, I do like using TeXmacs as a GUI frontend for Maxima, a free computer algebra system: https://i.imgur.com/5lg69ih.png. Source: over 2 years ago
  • [2022 Day 21 (Part 2)] [Java] I literally have a working answer, but the AoC Server says "no"
    I also get the ...37 answer from my own code (which also inverts the chain) on the original input, and from both Maxima and Emacs Calc on your text version of the equation. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • -๐ŸŽ„- 2022 Day 21 Solutions -๐ŸŽ„-
    Where k is the side that is constant, x is the value of humn, and f is complicated and unknown. While I waited for my old mate Maxima to install, I realised that x only appeared once and f only consists of the four basic operations, so it's probably linear. So either it's a bunch of things that can be reduced to a constant, plus a bunch of things that can be reduced to a coefficient of x, or x appears on the right... Source: almost 3 years ago
  • [2022 Day 21 (Part 2)] Well, that's a new one for me...
    You can also use maxima, though it definitely takes a bit of getting used to. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Free CLI util for computer algebra - to evaluate, solve equations, differentiate, and more!
    Maxima can also do all this and more. It has a CLI and is scriptable. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • If you're having problems with maths
    Maybe a software tool like https://maxima.sourceforge.io/ can help? Source: almost 3 years ago
  • FOSS graphing calculator?
    Throughout my CS undergrad period I used Maxima a lot. There is a nice GUI for it called wxMaxima. Be sure to check the Maxima tutorial bundled with the manual to get the hang of it in a couple of minutes. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • FOSS graphing calculator?
    I used this one before I started my PhD at a school that could afford mathematica. I remember it being pretty solid and intuitive. https://maxima.sourceforge.io/. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Strategies for doing symbolic integration algorithmically
    The Maxima project has another open source integrator that can be looked at https://maxima.sourceforge.io/ as well. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • I made a stupid error, which led me on to a whole other, very incorrect tangent.
    I ended up learning Maxima as one of its benefits is that it checks that each step is consistent with and can be derived from the previous one. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Scheme and ... outputs!
    The computer algebra system Maxima is written in Common Lisp and has TeX output options. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Alternatives to Symbolic Math Toolbox
    I just discovered Maximaa a bit a go. Free symbolics. https://maxima.sourceforge.io/. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Quick Questions: June 08, 2022
    I personally used to use Maxima a while back: https://maxima.sourceforge.io/ . I found it useful for quickly grinding through simple stuff that I didnโ€™t want to do by hand, or for double checking my work. Source: over 3 years ago
  • What is this problem called? Are there known efficient algorithms for it?
    See for example the way Maxima's simplifier works here. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Experiences with intelligent tutoring systems?
    I have made extensive use of STACK (and before that, a different but similar system) for mathematics teaching. This does not build a persistent model of the student, but it is intelligent in a different sense. It allows students to enter arbitrary mathematical expressions as answers, and uses Maxima to process those answers. This means that you can write complex logic to detect common classes of errors, provide... Source: over 3 years ago

Summary of the public mentions of Maxima

Maxima, a computer algebra system (CAS) with roots tracing back to the 1960s creation of Macsyma at MIT, serves as a notable open-source alternative to commercial tools like MATLAB, Mathematica, and Maple. Known for its capability to handle symbolic and numerical computations effectively, Maxima excels in the manipulation of expressions involving differentiation, integration, linear algebra, ordinary differential equations, and more.

Public Perception and Usage

Maxima's pedigree as a descendant of Macsyma lends it a certain degree of credibility and respect among the technical computing community. Public opinion, as gauged from various mentions in recent articles and user posts, is largely positive, emphasizing its robust capability set and open-source nature. Users appreciate Maxima's accuracy, facilitated by its utilization of exact floating numbers, fractional values, and integers, to produce highly precise results. This is particularly beneficial for applications requiring stringent numerical integrity.

Popularity and Community Support

Despite its relatively humble branding compared to commercial rivals, Maxima has carved a niche for itself, attracting a dedicated community contributing to its development and support. The system is actively maintained, with frequent updates addressing bugs and optimizing the overall experience. This active community engagement ensures the software evolves to meet contemporary computational needs.

Educational and Academic Utility

Maxima is particularly favored in educational and academic settings, where its cost-effectiveness as a free, open-source tool provides a pragmatic choice for both students and educational institutions. As a pedagogical tool, it offers improved access to advanced mathematical tools without the financial barrier posed by premium software. Its usage is noted in intelligent tutoring systems like STACK, where it facilitates complex logic to provide detailed feedback, thus enhancing the learning experience.

Technical Access and Platform Compatibility

Technically, Maxima's versatility is highlighted by its compatibility across various operating systems including Linux, macOS, and Windows. The availability of graphical interfaces such as wxMaxima further augments its accessibility, providing users with a more intuitive way to interact with complex mathematical functions.

User Experience and Interface

While powerful, Maxima does require a learning curve, as suggested by user feedback concerning its sophistication and command-based interface. However, users find value in investing the time to learn Maxima due to its capabilities and the educational benefits it provides. Certain posts articulate the adjustment period required to effectively harness Maximaโ€™s scriptable command-line interface.

Conclusion

Overall, Maxima is esteemed for its depth of mathematical functionality, steadfast community support, and open-source adaptability. While it may not boast the commercial glamour of competitors like MATLAB or Mathematica, it stands as a potent and reliable alternative, particularly suited for users who value precision, community-driven development, and affordability. Its enduring relevance in numerical and symbolic computation underscores its continued significance within the technical computing landscape.

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