Re: Adding a generic mathematical library

[Eli Zaretskii <eliz@gnu.org>]

> From: Emanuel Berg <incal@dataswamp.org>
> Date: Thu, 18 Jul 2024 09:57:40 +0200
> 
> Eli Zaretskii wrote:
> 
> > To have a math library on ELPA, the library should be
> > reasonably-comprehensive, use solid algorithms, and solve
> > problems that happen in real life frequently enough.
> > By contrast, my impression from looking at your library
> > [...]
> 
> Unbelievable, no one has suggested adding that file to ELPA.

You said, and I quote:

> Maybe we should have a math library in ELPA, then it will be
> less hesitation to just add stuff that is desired as we go
> along, not having to argue what relevance it has to Emacs
> per se as a piece of text editing software.

I was not sure whether you were talking about the library you posted,
so I qualified myself, quote again:

> If what you offer is to have a completely different library, then we
> need first to talk what will be in it and which algorithms it will
> implement.  "Math functions" is a very broad term, so defining the
> scope for such a library is not a trivial job.

Okay?

> > is that it is an ad-hoc collection of functions that solve
> > problems you personally find useful, but their general
> > usefulness is IMO questionable
> 
> Incorrect, most math functions in it are really basic so one
> would expect them to be present in one form of another.

I disagree.  My evidence is that the need for functions presented in
your library, if it exists, was not strong enough, otherwise people
would be asking for some of these functions long ago.

> > and at least in some cases the algorithms are not the best
> > ones known for the job. For example, your mean-value
> > function implements a naive algorithm that has known
> > accuracy and round-off issues.
> 
> Unbelievable comment. This is indeed the problem that happens,
> as has been said in this very thread: without libraries and
> common projects individual people solve their problems locally
> with no incremental gain from one person to another. So it
> won't be as good. And now you see an example of that, bringing
> it up as a reason we can't have a math library in ELPA?

OK, so if you want to talk about adding a math library, I point you
back to my comment above: we should first discuss its scope and
design.