Re: The future of Octave

[Andrew Bainbridge-Smith]

I have been a frequent user of MATLAB over the years.  It is a great tool for 
the signal and image processing that I do (particular its ability to render 
complex 3D "images" and the SIMULINK tool).  However, I moved jobs recent and 
haven't been able to convince my boss to purchase MATLAB, and in my search for 
an alternative I found OCTAVE.  Aside from the multi-dimensional "matrices", 
rendering and SIMULINK issues, I suspect (haven't tried everything yet) OCTAVE 
has everything in it I want --- just need to convert my *.m code base.

I think OCTAVE is likely to have a great future provided a core team is 
prepared to take it on.  My main reluctance is only that C++ makes me go weak 
at the knees.  One of the key functions of the maintainers is to foster an 
inclusive framework to the entire OCTAVE community, so as to minimise forking 
of development.  This inclusiveness need not mean a less "clean" code base, as 
every possible feature is added.  Inclusiveness is achieved by open and clear 
communications --- which probably means good documentation like a maintained 
TODO and FAQ lists etc.

It seems to me that SourceForge offers a clean and consistent environment for 
such communications.  It also seems like a good home in that its function is 
to provide a home for packages, over-coming the problem of finding a generous 
host individual and their organisation --- what happens when that individual 
leaves?
I am of course oblivious of the shortcomings of SourceForge,  don't know 
anything about the LWN editorial Dirk (is it that the host is being 
overloaded?)
Anyway another host like SourceForge would be acceptable.

My thanks to all the Octave developers,
        Andrew BS
-- 
Dr Andrew Bainbridge-Smith
Senior Research Engineer 
Vision Technology Development Group
CSIRO Manufacturing Science and Technology
Australia



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