PLT Scheme Science Collection

PLT Scheme Science Collection
Version 2.1

  The PLT Scheme Science Collection is a collection of modules that provide
functions for numerical computing.  The structure of the science collection and
many of the underlying algorithms were inspired by the GNU Scientific Library
(GSL).  The functions are written entirely in PLT Scheme and present a
true Scheme look-and-feel throughout.  The source code is distributed with the
science collection and licensed under the GNU Lesser General Public License
(LGPL).

  The motivation behind the PLT Scheme Science Collection is to provide a
numerical framework for knowledge-based simulation in PLT Scheme.  Indeed,
many of the routines were originally developed as part of the PLT Scheme
Simulation Collection.  It was noted that that much of the functionality (e.g.
random number generation, random distributions, histograms and statistics) did
not depend on, or could be separated from, the underlying simulation engine.
When this was done, it was further noted that this functionality represented a
subset of the functionality in the GSL.  At that point, it was decided
to use the structure, and to the extent practical, the algorithms of the GSL as
a reference model.  Thus, the PLT Scheme Science Collection was born.

  The PLT Scheme Science Collection covers a range of topics in numerical
computing.  Functions are available for the following areas:

    * Mathematical Constants and Functions
    * Special Functions
    * Random Numbers
    * Random Distributions
    * Statistics
    * Histograms
    * Ordinary Differential Equations
    * Chebyshev Approximations

  The complete reference manual for the PLT Scheme Science Collection will be available on-line at some point.  In the meantime, please contact the author mailto:[email protected] for a copy.