A Simple GUI for Developing Applications That Use Mathematical Software Systems

摘要

We have observed that many mathematics teachers (of different educational levels), that know and use a certain mathematical software (like Maple™, Maxima, MATLAB®,...) and consider it useful for classroom use, do not use it in the classroom because they do not want to spend the time required to introduce the mathematical software system. Simultaneously, many small specific purpose mathematical applications (usually applets), that take much time to be programmed because they do not take advantage of the possibilities of existing software, have been developed. Therefore, we have implemented a humble GUI that can call different pieces of mathematical software, mainly computer algebra systems. This way, anyone with some experience programming one of the compatible pieces of mathematics software can effortlessly develop easy-to-use specific purpose applications (where the end user, for instance a student, only has to type the data or code indicated by the GUI, without having to learn in detail the mathematical software own syntax). Accessing Rule Based Expert Systems is an example of application. The GUI is compatible with most mathematical software systems that have command line versions using standard text interfaces, but requires Windows® to be the operating system chosen. The GUI is freely available from the authors' web page. This is a hot topic. For instance, the last release of Maple™, Maple™ 18, greatly increases its possibilities in this line, developing the so called "embedded components", "Clickable Math™" and "Explore" command.