Re: [Axiom-developer] Software Archaeology/Patches

[m.rubey]

Thanks a lot for this mail. Docs will follow end of this week. (i.e., I 
will replace my patches with patches to the pamphlet files.)

Martin

On Wed, 9 Jun 2004, root wrote:

> Martin,
> 
> >Concerning Software Archaeology, I agree. However, much of the code -- 
> >especially COMBF -- is very easy to understand. Therefore I suppose the 
> >best thing is to write documentation, both on new and old code, as bugs 
> >are discovered and fixed. In this spirit I volunteer to document those 
> >functions in COMBF and FS that I understand now. Before I do so, I only 
> >ask for a "go ahead" by some key developer, because I don't want to waste 
> >my time.
> 
> You have my permission (though you don't need it) to document parts
> of the system you understand. See src/interp/setvart and 
> src/interp/setvars for examples.
> 
> >Unfortunately, I also have to say that I'm a little bit disappointed: I
> >submitted a patch which fixes a problem that turned up in Wester's
> >test-suite -- no reaction. I posted some questions -- no reaction. A
> >simple (private) "sorry, I don't know - interesting question" or "sorry, I
> >don't know, - but it's a stupid question anyway" would help a lot. At the
> >moment, there aren't that many developers around so that it would result
> >in flooding my email account.
> 
> Your email hasn't been ignored. It's just queued behind others. 
> I know it feels like it's being ignored, a feeling email tends to
> generate. The best path is to file a bug report on the axiom website.
> That makes a permanent record. It may already be there as David Mentre
> manages that.
> 
> As to the actual state of your questions... I looked at the code 
> initially when you sent the problem but didn't understand it well
> enough to comment. Then when your patch arrived it got queued in 
> the list of patches to apply. I'm currently working on replying/fixing
> a very large system hole. There was a mail question about 
> numericalIntegration and I'm working to fix that problem (the fix 
> essentially involves building a replacement for the missing NAG libs
> which has morphed into deeper changes).
> 
> For domain questions like this one of three events occur. Either 
> someone has an answer directly and replies, you find a fix and
> send it to me and it (eventually) gets applied, or I study the
> problem and generate a fix. The last case takes a lot of time since
> Axiom knows a lot more math than I do (witness the last few emails
> about Clifford Algebras which I can barely read). Documentation is
> sorely needed. I try to document everything I touch (yet another
> source of time lag).
> 
> I apologize for not at least sending you an acknowledgement that
> I recieved your mail. I assure you that I read everything that goes by
> and track it as best I can.
> 
> Tim
>