RE: [Axiom-developer] hyperlinked algebra

[Bill Page]

On December 9, 2005 10:10 AM Ralf Hemmecke wrote:
> ... 
> There are in fact two problems.
> 1) Get the graph right, ie, reflect the actual dom/cat/pgk in
>    the library.
> 2) Show it in some form for humans.
> 
> The first point can certainly be done automatically some day.
> There should just be someone who would think of a nice format
> (SVG?) and writes a script which does this.

I think SVG is too general. We should use a graph description
language such as the GraphViz dot format.

> 
> The second point is nearly impossible for a program. 
> TouchGraph is not so bad, but I have the feeling that I don't
> easily get an  _overview_ of the packages etc.

I think programs that include more sophisticated graph layout
algorithms combined with manual graph manipulation might make
this possible. In Axiom the shear scale of the algebra graph
with 1,300 nodes and about 20,000 edges is just too much for
currently available software. But with a little intellegent help
from a human designer - picking an pruning the graph in a relevant
manner - I think that it should be doable.

> 
> So getting a good Graph of the Algebra is not easy no matter 
> whether we use pstricks or xypic.
>

I think we should look at automatic graph layout tools like
GraphViz.

http://www.graphviz.org

I works surprizing well.

We already have GraphViz on MathAction

http://wiki.axiom-developer.org/GraphViz
 
> Is there someone who is interested in (1)?
> 

Yes, I am very interested in (1). One source of information
like this in Axiom is the Axiom database (daase files).

Regards,
Bill Page.