FAQ

There are no stupid questions, only stupid answers.
Old proverb

Table of Contents

Bugs and other vermins

It doesn't work at all, why?
Please check that you have the Javascript interpreter running. If it is the case control if some policies installed by your system administrator doesn't allow you to run the code. If you use the frontend from the package screen the code if some filter replaced, changed and/or deleted the Javascript code partially (the parts might be very small, it could be the eval() command only) or in full. The system administrator is in most cases easily persuaded if it doesn't involve too much work. A little gift might do wonders, too.
It still doesn't work at all, why?
The code of the frontend might not work with your Javascript interpreter. Please check the compatibility list if it had been tested and if it is supported.
Well…
It still doesn't work? Please file a bug. See the next point for how to do it.
I found a bug, how do I file it?
Sourceforge offers a system for it with its Bug Tracker. Please give the following informations
  • Name of the Javascript interpreter with the exact version
  • Name of the operating system with the exact version
  • Th part of the packet you used ("all" for the full frontend)
  • All available error messages
  • An exact description of the bug with enough information to repeat it but not more
If you cannot repeat it or cannot give enough information to repeat (confidential data) file nevertheless but be prepared to answer a lot of questions and try a lot of things. This is a direct link to submit a bug
The algorithm XYZ is plain wrong
Can happen, please file a bug. If you know the correct formula/algorithm please tell.

Best Wishes

I need algorithm XYZ but it isn't in the collection, can you write it for me?
It would be a pleasure if you are able to describe your problem exactly or have a formula at hand. Please bear in mind that it is an interpreted language and it hasn't been designed for heavy numerical applications. You should also be aware of the fact that such wishes are not without a cost, so please have something you can offer in exchange. I don't take money, but a lot of charitable organizations do. The documentation needs also a lot of work. Please post the feature requests at the Feature Request Tracker.
I need a function to do some symbolic math?
This collection consists only of numerical functions. Symbolic mathematics might be added later but is not planned for the near future. Use pen&paper in the meantime.
I have this neat little snippet here, are you willing and able to insert it into the collection?
If the code is good, the function not too obscure and the license compatible…

License

The collection is licensed under GPL version two, I want to use it within code that is licensed under GPL version 3, can I use it?
Short answer: no.
Long answer: the full collection is licensed under the GPL-2 because some functions have been ported from code with a GPL-2 license. Some of the underlying functions are not if used in a standalone way i.e.: without any GPL'd code from the rest of the collection. The functions that do not even use GPL'd code are:[long list]. (The long list had been deleted because of the author's inability to maintain it. He simply lost the thread of the continuos changes at one point and never found it again. Nevertheless, the following License still holds) I cannot put these functions into the public domain as they rightfully deserve because of legal reasons I do not have to take the responsibility for (I voted for the other party! ;-) so they are hereby and herewith licensed under the following simple license:
Copyright (C) Christoph Zurnieden

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.

The software is provided "as is", without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to the warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and noninfringement. In no event shall Christoph Zurnieden be liable for any claim, damages or other liability, whether in an action of contract, tort or otherwise, arising from, out of or in connection with the software or the use or other dealings in the software.

Except as contained in this notice, the name of Christoph Zurnieden shall not be used in advertising or otherwise to promote the sale, use or other dealings in this Software without prior written authorization from Christoph Zurnieden.

Installing

How do I install it?
There is no automatic install, you have to copy it manually to the place where you need it.

Documentation

The documentation is a horrible pile of…!
That's not a question. But you are right of course; feel free to change it. Cleanup and other cosmetic work will not be done before the feature freeze which is expected around the end of 2008 or start of 2009
Is there a tutorial for the frontend?
It can be used with plain ECMA-script (standardized Javascript). Tutorials for Javascript can be found on the web or on the bookshelf. But at least a short introduction is planned.

Miscellaneous

Did you know that the abbreviation of your…
Yes, I do! 'T was an accident, I swear!