nick@ZERMATT.LCS.MIT.EDU (Nick Papadakis) (08/23/88)
Draft-Composition-Date: Sat, 20 Aug 88 23:41 EDT Date: Sat, 20 Aug 88 23:41 EDT To: ailist Subject: MACSYMA Availability If the messages I have received since my posting in AIList V8 #35 are any gauge, there seems to be a fair amount of misinformation on the subject of MACSYMA and where to get it. The following is a summary of the best information I have been able to garner via numerous telephone conversations (I had requested hardcopy, but am tired of waiting for it to arrive). * * * The original MACSYMA code is owned by MIT, which has granted licenses to distribute it to three other organizations. SYMBOLICS: Runs on Apollo, Sun, Symbolics, and all VAXes. Licenses range from about $5K to $15K (US prices, for commercial customers) Probably the most sophisticated version, many enhancements. Source code is NOT provided. Call 1-800-622-7962, (in Mass. (617) 621-7770) or email petti@ALLEGHENY.SCRC.Symbolics.COM NESC (National Energy Software Center): Referred to as 'DOE MACSYMA'. Runs on Alliant, Celerity, Data-General, Encore, LMI Lambda, Sun, Symbolics, TI Explorer, VAX. About $2K to $3K for non-subscribers (subscribers get 2 programs free, subscriptions are $2.5K to $3.5K) Source code IS provided. Call Margaret Butler (312) 972-7250 [As of March 87, an improved version of DOE MACSYMA for the TI Explorer (including the SHARE libraries), was available to any NESC licensee from Hyde%NGSTL1@TI-CSL.CSNET@RELAY.CS.NET] INTERMATH - This startup company's product is still in the works, but they are interested in talking to people who "might want to embed some portion of MACSYMA's functionality in another system". Call (617) 868-4510 * * * Now for the distressing part. The MIT patent office states that DOE (via NESC) is only permitted to distribute MACSYMA to government agencies, contractors, and grantees. NESC says that is completely untrue, and that they will continue to distribute to commercial customers. Symbolics has trademarked the name 'MACSYMA'. DOE claims that "it wasn't theirs to trademark." I'm not sure I want to know precisely what causes such a massive failure of communication. I am _quite_ sure that I do *not* wish to receive (and will not post) any more messages pointing out that the version being distributed by a certain company was 'the only licensed version' and that all others were 'bootleg'. This list exists to inform the AI community, and not to serve any commercial interest. It is clear that the various versions available have varying degrees of enhancement and support. The informed customer will take this into account when making a decision. I think it is unfortunate when the good efforts of those who have worked to enhance a product are compromised by the unsavory tactics of others seeking to promote it. - nick