Fall 1998 Computing Languages for Mathematicians

MA-591K
Special Topics: Computing Languages for Mathematicians
Fall 1998

Syllabus People C C++ Java Current Enrollment Resources

Current Announcements

NEW The make-up class covering Java Beans will be taught Thursday, December 10, 2pm-4pm.
NEW On Friday, December 11, I will be going for lunch with anyone who wishes to join at 1pm.
The Java project is now posted. It is due Monday, Dec 14, 5pm.

Peoples' home pages: Erich Kaltofen.

C programs for the course

syllabus

C++ programs for the course

syllabus

Java programs for the course

syllabus

Old Announcements

This course is intended for graduate students in mathematics. Programming languages that are useful to mathematicians are introduced. The course will cover three computing languages, each of which will be allocated about one third of the semester. As homeworks, small programs will be written by the students to practice the learned concepts. Modern program development techniques will be explained. An emphasis is put on program reuse (from existing libraries, for example) and on programming with tools such as visual debuggers.
A listing of the topics follows.

Programming in C Language constructs Memory management Standard libraries Program organization: header files, object code Program development tools: debuggers, makefiles	Programming in C++ The object oriented programming paradigm Class hierarchies and object design Parameterized types and the standard templated library Reusable programming: generic vector and matrix classes Linking to external libraries
Programming in Java Java as an OO programming language Java as a programming tool for Internet browsers	Applet libraries (like NAOMI's PolyMath) Mathematics on the Internet: OpenMath, MathML

Please send me an email message indicating on what days we can schedule make-up lectures in the evening. I will be away early September, early October and mid November for conferences.
If you have a homepage, please send the URL to add to the class list.
The first project is posted (in gzipped postscript). See the syllabus, Sep 11 (when it is due).
See note in syllabus for an error I made in Lecture 4.
I have added several links to C++/Java online material in the syllabus.
C++ sample programs are now available.
Since my trip to Puerto Rico is postponed, there will be class on Monday, Sep 28. There will be no class Wednesday, Sep 30, and Friday, Oct 2.
The C++ example inherit.cpp is now complete. Note that I changed base::operator= because it did not run properly on Microsoft Visual C++.
Project 2 is now completely described. It is due on Tuesday, October 6, at 5pm. Note that I will not be here the week of September 28, so an early start gives you the chance to have me help you.
I have finished the description of the C++ project. It will be due Friday, November 6, 5pm. If you obtained an old copy of sparsemat.h, please get a new one.
The C++ project is posted, but I am still working on the description.
As by our discussion in class on Oct 23, I have slightly changed the description of the C++ project.
I am preparing notes on comparing Java to C++, which may be interesting even while learning C++.
My exception handler example now works and is posted exception.cpp.
The C++ project deadline is extended to Monday, Nov 9, at midnight. I have put the modular reciprocal member function online (z_p.h).
I have fixed read in sparsemat.h of the C++ project. It now also stops if the row index is a negative integer.
The syllabus now contains the Java lectures.
The C++ project now has a bonus problem: implementing an abstract field.
I will be away all of next week (Nov 16-20).
The class before Thanksgiving was cancelled. The material ScrollTest.java and ScrollTest_1_1.java (Java 1.1 event model) will be covered on Monday after Thanksgiving.
I have enhanced the CheckboxTest.java program so that it can be closed via the close menu item on the window menu bar (23 Nov, 7:50pm).
The following URL on a critique of C++ was just brought to my attention.
The teaching evaluation will take place on Friday, Dec 4, during class. I will not be able to attend that class and John has volunteered to conduct the evaluation.