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Motivation
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I like to find, install, and use free technical/scientific software. This
includes engineering, scientific, and mathematical analysis and modeling
packages that I have used or would like to use in my own work. I became
enthusiastic while still a graduate student and the intended audience of this
web site is, in fact, the graduate student in engineering, applied math, and
science. However I hope it is also useful to practicing engineers, undergraduate
students, even high school students and hobbyists.
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| Possibly like you, I have groaned about having to follow the rules laid down
(out of necessity, no doubt) by overworked and distracted computer system
administrators for a long time. I perceive that the only way the researcher or
student can truly control the computer software resources that he or she needs
is to carry a laptop computer with the packages he or she has chosen. The rise
of the internet over the past few years has provided an incredible resource
which, if you're at all like me, is proving irresistible. With your laptop you
can carry your original research, notes, ideas, and email at all times. You can
sit down and compute and create as the inspiration arrives. You can communicate
at all times with people from all over the world who share the same interests
(and in the technical fields, the total number might be pretty darned small).
And, what is germane to the idea behind this web site, you can download and try
the latest software without having to cajole the system administrator to install
software that you might find useful.
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I look at this website as an ongoing effort, a living book (if you will
permit me the cliché) and a labor of love (and another). Please email me at raluke@yahoo.com if you know of other such resources on the net that I might
include.
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The requirements for inclusion on my web site are:
 | The software must be free, although it doesn't have to be open source. |
| It has to install fairly easily, so that the harried user does not have to
stress over yet something else; |
| It has to be useful for serious work, with the ability to help lead the
serious student to a degree in a technical field; and |
| It has to be cool. |
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How to contribute:
I am very interested in hearing your suggestions and constructive criticism
about my site. I am just getting started and have big plans. It all depends on
my own time, of course, because this project is definitely only a hobby. If you
would like to correspond with me, please write me at raluke@yahoo.com
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Note on book links:
In some areas of this web site, (but not all) I've included some links to
books that either:
| I have personally found to be useful in learning to use the software
discussed on this web site, or |
| I've heard are pretty good. |
In either case, "your mileage may vary." There are no longer
any links from these books to vendors, so I get no financial advantage from
recommending these books. If you know of book that you want included,
please let me know.
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