Invoking and quitting

Mathematica

Mathematica has a graphical interface, as well as a text interface. Most students will prefer the graphical version, but the text version can be handy for remote work or very quick calculations. To start the graphical Mathematica, at a command prompt, type mathematica:

$ mathematica

Note: The graphical interface does not function well in Unix environments if the Num Lock light is lit! They do not seem eager to fix this, so remember to turn off the Num Lock (you’ll notice that backspace and other keys fail to function when it is on).

To start the text version of Mathematica, type math:

$ math
Mathematica 4.2 for Linux
Copyright 1988-2002 Wolfram Research, Inc.
 -- Terminal graphics initialized --

 In[1]:=

You quit either version with the same command, which must be capitalized (and you press Shift-Enter at the end in the graphical interface):

In[1]:= Quit

Maxima

Like Mathematica, Maxima has graphical and text interfaces. The graphical version is called xmaxima and the text version is simply maxima. One important thing to understand about both interfaces is that they build on top of a lisp environment. This means that sometimes when you type something that the program doesn’t understand, you are prompted for lisp commands. You can generally use :t to get back to a "top level" Maxima prompt.

(1) :?oeu

Error: Regexp Error: ?+* follows nothing
Fast links are on: do (si::use-fast-links nil) for debugging
Error signalled by COMPLETE-PROP.
Broken at SYSTEM:STRING-MATCH.  Type :H for Help.
MAXIMA>>:t

(C2)

To quit, use the quit() function. It must be typed with parentheses and terminated with a semi-colon(;).

(C2) quit();

Axiom

Axiom has text interface with a hypertext help system. To start Axiom, type axiom.

$ axiom
GCL (GNU Common Lisp)  2.6.6 CLtL1    Jan 18 2005 00:13:38
Source License: LGPL(gcl,gmp), GPL(unexec,bfd)
Binary License:  GPL due to GPL'ed components: (READLINE BFD UNEXEC)
Modifications of this banner must retain notice of a compatible license
Dedicated to the memory of W. Schelter

Use (help) to get some basic information on how to use GCL.
                        AXIOM Computer Algebra System
                   Version: Axiom 3.0 Beta (February 2005)
              Timestamp: Monday February 21, 2005 at 20:01:15
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Issue )copyright to view copyright notices.
   Issue )summary for a summary of useful system commands.
   Issue )quit to leave AXIOM and return to shell.
 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------

   Re-reading compress.daase   Re-reading interp.daase
   Re-reading operation.daase
   Re-reading category.daase
   Re-reading browse.daase
(1) ->

One of the first commands you will probably want to give is (note the parenthesis)

(1) -> )set messages autoload off

Without this, Axiom will flood you with lots of messages every time it loads new functions. In fact, you will probably want this setting so often that it makes sense to put it in your .axiom.input file as a preference. You only need to do this once, and you can do this from the command prompt before you start axiom:

$ echo ')set messages autoload off' >> ~/.axiom.input

To quit Axiom type ")quit":

(1) -> )quit
   Please enter y or yes if you really want to leave the interactive
      environment and return to the operating system:
y

Octave

Octave has only a text environment, which can be invoked by typing octave on the command line. The quit command stops the program. You can generally quit by pressing Ctrl-D as well (this is very traditional for Unix programs).

octave:1> quit

Processing data

Mathematica

Mathematica executes your commands when you press Shift-Enter. In the graphical version, simply pressing Enter alone begins a new line but will not actually process a calculation. If you want to suppress the output from a command when it executes, terminate it with a semi-colon(;) before you press Shift-Enter.

Maxima

The end of a calculation is marked by a semi-colon(;). If you press Enter without ending a line with a semi-colon, input will continue onto the next line. Add the semi-colon when finished, and press Enter. If you wish to suppress output from the command, terminate the line with dollar($) instead.

Axiom

Axiom executes your commands when you press Enter. If you wish to suppress output from the command when it executes, terminate it with a semi-colon(;).

Long lines may be continued onto a second (or more) line by ending the first line with a single underscore (_) and pressing Enter. The first line not ending with an underscore signals the end of the command.

Octave

Calculations are processed when you press Enter except in special occasions where Octave can see that the line should be continued. Automatic continuation happens you start a matrix but haven’t completed it, or when you have started a function but haven’t finished it. You can force continuation onto the next line by putting a backslash(\) as the last character on the line. If you wish to suppress output from the command when it executes, terminate it with a semi-colon(;).