Software used by the Math Center
The following software is most easily used on a Linux system (see "Ubuntu on Windows via Wubi" or "Ubuntu on a Mac" for installation help). Install software using the Software Center.
Each application has icons indicating which platforms the software will run on,
Linux,
Windows, or
Mac OS X.
KTurtle
- About
-
KTurtle is an educational programming environment. It aims to make
programming as easy and touchable as possible, and therefore can be used to
teach kids the basics of math, geometry and... programming. The programming
language used is loosely based on Logo. Other features include: intuitive
syntax highlighting, simple error messages, integrated canvas to make
drawings on, integrated help function, slow-motion or step execution, and
more.
- Installing in Ubuntu
- Install "KTurtle" via Ubuntu Software Center.
TuxMath
- About
-
Tux, of Math Command, AKA TuxMath, is based on the classic arcade game
"Missile Command." Tux must defend his cities. In this case, though, he
must do it by solving math problems.
- Installing in Ubuntu
- Play online following the link.
Kdenlive
- About
-
Kdenlive is a non-linear video editing suite, which supports DV, HDC and many more formats.
Its main features are:
- Guides and marker for organizing timelines
- Copy and paste support for clips, effects and transitions
- Real time changes
- Firewire and Video4Linux capture
- Screen grabbing
- Exporting to any by FFMPEG supported format
- Installing in Ubuntu
- Install "Kdenlive" via Ubuntu Software Center.
LibreOffice
- About
-
LibreOffice is a full-featured office productivity suite that provides a near drop-in
replacement for Microsoft(R) Office.
- Word processor
- Spreadsheet
- Presentation
- Database
- Equation editor
LibreOffice is a community cleanup and improvement of the former OpenOffice from Sun/Oracle.
- Installing in Ubuntu
- Installed by default.
Maxima
- About
-
Maxima is a system for the manipulation of symbolic and numerical
expressions, including differentiation, integration, Taylor series, Laplace
transforms, ordinary differential equations, systems of linear equations,
polynomials, and sets, lists, vectors, matrices, and tensors. Maxima yields
high precision numeric results by using exact fractions, arbitrary
precision integers, and variable precision floating point numbers. Maxima
can plot functions and data in two and three dimensions.
Maxima is a descendant of Macsyma, the legendary computer algebra system developed in the late 1960s at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It is the only system based on that effort still publicly available and with an active user community, thanks to its open source nature. Macsyma was revolutionary in its day, and many later systems, such as Maple and Mathematica, were inspired by it.
- Installing in Ubuntu
- Install "wxMaxima" via Ubuntu Software Center.
GNU Octave
- About
-
GNU Octave is a high-level language, primarily intended for numerical
computations. It provides a convenient command line interface for solving
linear and nonlinear problems numerically, and for performing other
numerical experiments using a language that is mostly compatible with
MATLAB. It may also be used as a batch-oriented language.
- Installing in Ubuntu
- Install "QtOctave" via Ubuntu Software Center.
Qalculate
- About
-
Qalculate! is a multi-purpose desktop calculator. It is small and simple to
use but with much power and versatility underneath. Features include
customizable functions, units, arbitrary precision, and plotting.
- Installing in Ubuntu
- Install "Qalculate!" via Ubuntu Software Center.
TuxPaint
- About
-
Tux Paint is a drawing program for children ages 3 to 12. It combines an
easy-to-use interface, fun sound effects, and an encouraging cartoon mascot
who guides children as they use the program.
- Installing in Ubuntu
- Install "Tux Paint" via Ubuntu Software Center.
XFig
- About
-
XFig is an interactive vector-based drawing tool. In XFig, figures may be
drawn using objects such as circles, boxes, lines, spline curves, text,
etc. Those objects can be created, deleted, moved or modified. Attributes
such as colors or line styles can be selected in various ways.
- Installing in Ubuntu
- Install "Xfig" via Ubuntu Software Center.
GNU Emacs
- About
-
GNU Emacs is the original "everything and the kitchen sink" text editor. It
is the editor we use for all of our programming needs. Mac users should
probably install the Aquamacs version.
- Installing in Ubuntu
- Install "GNU Emacs" via Ubuntu Software Center.
LaTeX
- About
-
LaTeX is a high-quality typesetting system; it includes features designed
for the production of technical and scientific documentation. LaTeX is the
de facto standard for the communication and publication of scientific
documents. Windows users should probably install the
MiKTeX distribution. Mac users should
probably install the MacTeX
distribution.
- Installing in Ubuntu
- Install "Tex Live" and "Texmaker" packages via Ubuntu Software Center.
Installing Software
Software for Linux systems are rarely installed by downloading the program directly from a webpage. Instead, programs are installed directly from the Linux distributor via a "package manager".
Ubuntu Software Center
You can install packages by visiting the "Ubuntu Software Center" (on your computer's application bar or else search for it by clicking on your ubuntu button). The Ubuntu repository includes over 10,000 packages! The packages are organized by type so that you can browse the list of available applications or get a feel for what is available. If you know the specific name of an application, type it into the search box in the software center.
Once you find an apoplication you want to install, click the "Install" button - if the install button is not present, click "More info" then "Use This Source" and type your password then the "Install" button should be available.
