
David Abrahams said: (by the date of Sun, 18 Jun 2006 15:49:16 -0400)
Janek Kozicki <janek_listy@wp.pl> writes:
That something IMHO is a wiki with specifications of those libraries (when decided to decouple dimensions, units and linear algebra (not geometry!)).
Since I'm working on a linear algebra library I've noting with some confusion all the talk of vectors and matrices in the PQS thread. Can someone give me the three-sentence summary that explains why anyone would think to couple linear algebra and units/dimensions in the first place? I mean, can't you just make a vector of velocities or whatever? Or is this about vectors where each element has different dimensions?
Yes, it is just about vectors and matrices where each element has different dimensions. It is useful for certain calculations. Leland Brown gave an example from his own program: http://lists.boost.org/Archives/boost/2006/06/106412.php My apologies for lack of imagination to get a good name. I picked 'linear algebra' just becasue I was sure that 'geometry' (suggested by Andy) is certainly a bad name. But now Geoffrey Irving has now a better idea to call it 'vectors'. Maybe even 'small vectors'. Geoffrey Irving said:
Most people who see linear algebra will think large dimensional spaces, large dimensional linear system solves, eigen-analysis, etc. How about just 'vectors'?
If you want to suggest another name, please go on :) -- Janek Kozicki |