Re: Octave Help Mode?

[Christian Herenz <herenz@physik.hu-berlin.de>]

Lennart Borgman (gmail) schrieb:

>>> That is a nice idea, but would not solve my problem that I was
>>> actually forced to hand in the results with matlab, otherwise I was
>>> told today by a professor my results would not be accepted. But I am
>>> working on this issue right now, cause my course is called
>>> "Computational Physics" not "Computational Physics with Matlab".
>>>
>>
>> Why on earth do you feel that your Professor should master every
>> application out there that a student might feel is his right to use? Did
>> it cross your mind that he does not have the skill in Octave that you
>> have?

Afaik Computational Physics should not be about programming in a specific 
langauge. There are only some subtle diffrences in syntax and some commands may 
be better (faster) implemented in matlab.
I would understand if he is a FORTRAN guy and I want to write in C, but some 
Mathlab Scripts do run well in Octave an vice versa.

> 
> Christian, I agree with Richard. Most professors I have seen are human 
> beeing with adequate limitations in their capabilities.
> 
> But you do not have to give up on using Octave for that. Can't you for 
> example talk to your fellow students to see if you as a group can ask 
> the institution about the possibility to use Octave instead of Mathlab? 

Sometimes also fellow students can be limited in ther human capabilities (not 
all, of course). I even think some of mine even don't exactly know about the 
difference between "free" software and pirated software :(
(The understanding about the meaning of free software in general needs to be 
stronger communicated to general public I think, but this is really OT)

However, a small group is supporting me. I also have to talk to some of the 
people who help the professor in correcting the homework. Additionally I work 
togehter with a friend of mine, who is in favour of Matlab, but feels exactly 
like I do about "the need" to do the exercises in Matlab, so in case that there 
are differences between matlab and octave we can point these out.

> Then some professor might get time to learn Octave enough.

Hopefully he is willing to do so...

> 
> To convince them you might have to learn some Matchlab and Scilab too 

Thats actually my plan atm :-)

> ... ;-)

Greets,
Christian