NOTE: Credit given to all except by Falck and Heiman. CS5604 Summary of readings for Digital Libraries unit Martin Falck 9/1/95 DISTRIBUTION OF MATHMATICAL SOFTWARE VIA ELECTRONIC MAIL - Dongarra & Grosse This is a description of the netlib system, developed to provide electronic distribution of public domain scientific software via common electronic mail interfaces. It is designed to alleviate the problems inherent with traditional tape distribution. The commands are defined so that a user can retrieve a full set of routines or specify a subset, and also request brief descriptions. A command parser preprocesses the requests to put it in proper netlib format before making the actual request. Some of the material available is mentioned. The advantages of a service such as netlib are typical of automated systems - no administrative channels, round-the-clock access and latest versions continuously made available. The costs for this service is relatively small, and that is mostly for communications. Administrative and storage costs do not impose much of a load on the host systems that support it. As it turns out, the overhead for running the system is low because it is a free service. Netlib still has expansion possibilities. The editorial system can be expanded. More host sites will alleviate mail delays, althought this brings up the problems of synchronized systems. The netlib concept can also be expanded to include other collections. = = = = = = = = == = = = = = = = = = = == = == = = = = = = = = Group 5 Shirley Carr Mike Joyce Bushra Khan Vas Madhavan Jack Dongarra, Jack and Eric Grosse, May 1987, "Distribution of Mathematical Software via Electronic Mail," Communications of the ACM, Vol. 30, Nr. 5, pp. 403-407. The article introduces its readers to the use of a new system called NETLIB for accessing public-domain software in the field of scientific computing. It discusses techniques for netlib's efficient use, its advantages and disadvantages. Netlib provides accessibility to a large collection of mathematical software through the electronic mail. Requests to netlib through basic forms and automatic processing of the request by the computer help users obtain modules and other pieces of code in a short span. A one line message in the form of or a variant of send index, send index from library, send routines from library, find keywords results in a library catalog to be sent by return mail. The find feature simplifies users search for keywords in the library. Availability of items through netlib is not just limited to public-domain software but also the shell scripts and C codes that do the actual the automatic processing of requests. A request sent to netlib undergoes parsing, translation of library names to a search list, and finally the system loader searches for the routine name. NETLIB is programmed to understand minor syntax deviations but is limited to accept requests in arbitrary English. Advantages of netlib highlighted in the paper are its quick access through automated processing, availability of current versions of software, provisions of receiving a routine as opposed to loads of code. Cost considerations are minimal including maintenance, disk capacity cost etc. Efforts are spent more towards the collection of code. Deficiency of netlib are in its poor support for code documentation, duplication of routines performing same tasks. Future efforts may include increasing the number of contributors, depositories, and expanding new collections. The paper concludes with an assurance that netlib will not see the demise of the commercial software industry. Rather it is a hassle free technique for acquiring software routines that can solve common scientific/mathematical problems. ================================================================ CS 5604 Information Storage and Retrieval Unit 1-- Digital Libraries Group II Submission: Lauren Barton Martin Falck Nelson Kile, Jr. Carolyn O'Hare Robert Ryan The article "Distribution of Mathematical Software Via Electronic Mail," written by Jack J. Dongarra and Eric Grosse describes Netlib, a new electronic system for the distribution of public domain software. Netlib is a service currently free to the public to make locating and obtaining software easy and quick. The article first describes how to use netlib and specific syntax for retrieval of information. It then goes on to describe various features of Netlib: material available, functionality of the netlib server, comparison to other services and hopes for the future. Netlib provides a large variety of mathematical software, even the shell scripts used to reply to netlib requests. The netlib server itself runs UNIX. Netlib consists of a few shell scripts and C programs which parse user requests to send the expected software or information. This automated process does not require any administrative intervention. Compared to other services of its type it is far more developed and provides some key features such as access to software 24 hours a day. In addition, the user is guaranteed they are always receiving the most current copy of the code available in the repository. In order to further customize this service the user can request specific portions of a software package instead of the entire package thereby cutting down on unwanted net traffic . There are still ideas in progress for future improvements such as editors for their library of available software, need for more servers to reduce mail delays. ================================================================= Trish Heiman Unit DL Document Summaries: Distribution of Mathematical Software via E-mail This article describes Netlib, an automated system for public domain software for the scientific computing communities. Material available from Netlib include all major computational libraries. A user sends a request by email to a valid Netlib address. Netlib receives the email and process an automated reply back to the sender. Netlib supports the use of the commands Send, Find, and Whois as well as extensions that allow the user to find keywo rds and certain libraries. There are several advantages to Netlib. Because it is automated, requests can be made at any time. There are no administrative channels to go through, and the most current software versions are available. Further, the user can specify to receive only c ertain routines from a software library. Netlib is continuing to grow as evidenced by request monitoring systems. Additional services planned include the use of editors to review incoming material and expansion to additional distribution sites. = = = = = = = = = = = == = = = = = = = = = = = == = DL Article Summaries. Group 1 James B. Fitzgerald Tom Kalafut Chris Klein John Muhlenburg Distribution of Mathematical Software Via Electronic Mail by Jack J. Dongarra and Eric Grosse Dongarra and Grosse present Netlib - a library of high-quality mathematical software that enables through a server, users to quickly receive programs that solve common, but complex problems. This service saves the user from the time consuming and difficult task of having to write their own routines. Netlib reads requests via e-mail which must be written in a simple but powerful query language and returns the information requested through e-mail. (A user may also utilize a World Wide Web browser to access Netlib.) The service maintains a public domain access with free downloading of its resources. Not only can a user download the requested computer routines but they can also attain the accompanying articles, shell scripts and C coding. The only costs incurred to users are for the e-mail expenses. Although customers may not directly put their own coding onto the system, they are always welcome to offer any suggestions or additions for improving Netlib. The primary advantage of Netlib's automatic server over other available services is that no human intervention is required in the entire process. The article demonstrates some basic query tutoring which is very easy to understand and learn. In addition, the wide selection of library packages currently available are listed. Netlib will continue to upgrade and expand it numerous services. They currently hope to add more editors, depositories, interactive mail, and expanded collections.