It’s been a while since I’ve said anything. However, that is about to change, I hope. In the meantime, I must complain about Maple. For my linear algebra class, I am required to use MapleSoft’s main program, called, Maple. It is a Computer Algebraic System, or CAS, designed for use in academia. It is total and complete rubbish.
If you have hopes of getting a project done efficiently on it, give up, and go get a piece of software like Matlab, by MathWorks. Although I’m not a big fan of MathWorks, and find GNU Octave (an open source/free software, program that is very similar to Matlab), at least Matlab is usable. First off is the UI. The graphical version of Maple prides itself in being able to print out text in a pleasing way. This is true, however, Maple has implemented it horribly. Typing anything into it is a pain, because Maple will make several subfields for something as simple as an exponent. And it doesn’t even use common sense when ending those fields. If I were to raise a number to a summation, I would use parentheses, and if I wanted a polynomial, I would just leave the exponent clear, without any parentheses. As such, it seems logical that maple would automatically end the exponent subfield, but maple insists on continuing to type in that field until you hit the right arrow key. Also, if you want to go back a bit in your equation, it is a pain to hit the back button, and edit what you wanted to change. Also, if you want to remove an equation you typed, forget about hitting the delete or backspace key, you have to manually select it, and delete your selections. There is also the matter of entering equations. The syntax that maple uses is awkward at best, and downright painful at it’s worse.
I was amazed that such a program that could be so bad. However, I went to open up the font color chooser, and out pops the JColorChooser, the interface was made in Java. No wonder it was so horrid. Now, to be fair, I don’t think the whole program was written in Java, I think the engine that powers Maple is written in C, and to be fair, it is still a very powerful engine. But why would you get it when Matlab can do the same things?
All in all, on a scale to ten, I have to give maple a 4. 3 points for it’s engine, which, while powerful, it’s not revolutionary, and 1 point for at least having a UI, and having some documentation, rather than some other programs that have nothing whatsoever.
What do you think, am I wrong, right, neither?
