README file for maxima

MAXIMA is a fairly complete computer algebra system.

This system MAXIMA is a COMMON LISP implementation due to William F.
Schelter, and is based on the original implementation of Macsyma at
MIT.  It is available through the National Energy Software Center at
Argonne Ill.

The known shortfalls of being completely within the common lisp
standard, are several calls to errset.  This can be circumvented but
not completely eliminated.  Also there are some special variables
which need to be proclaimed and then unproclaimed special later.

On most common lisp systems, all necessary files are in the src directory.
Basically one loads the file sysdef.lisp, after having set the directory
paths in that file, and then does a (make :maxima :compile t).  Before
dumping it one does (make :maxima ).    

BUILDING:
========

For GCL (GNU Common Lisp) version 2.0 and later, edit the file ./configure
putting the correct
directories in these.  It presupposes your having the .o files from
the GCL available, since a large link will be done to produce a new
image containing maxima.

Then in the main maxima directory,

% ./configure
% make

This should produce eventually a file maxima/src/saved_maxima

TESTING
=======
To test the system, in the main maxima directory do

% make test

If this completes successfully, then you may wish to eliminate those .o
files no longer needed:

% (cd src ; make clean)

If you wish to eliminate the source to save space and just keep the
necessary .o files, and autoloading .lisp and .mac files, as well as
the documentation, you may

% (cd src ; make eliminate-source)

The maxima/info directory contains a first draft of a manual for maxima.
The make in that directory can produce a .dvi file for printing and
maxima.info for examination in the info system of emacs.   We would MOST
welcome some tutorial and beginner information for this manual.

INSTALLING
==========

After building and possibly removing source and .o files as above,
do

% cd maxima
% make install
to put things in /usr/local (recommended default).

To put things under /public/bin and /public/lib/maxima-5.x.x use

% make install PREFIX_DIR=/public

The MAXIMA_DIRECTORY environment variable will be set to the
maxima library directory, by the executable shell script 'maxima'
which invokes maxima.


W. Schelter, the University of Texas, and other parties provide this
program on an "as is" basis without warranty of any kind, either
expressed or implied, including, but not limited to, the implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.

