Miscellaneous Programs

This page contains lists many of the programs that are available for use on our department's computer system, as well as instructions on how to find out more about those programs. Many of the programs require an X-Windows terminal --- i.e., the programs cannot be run on a remote terminal.

For each entry, the name of the program is shown in boldface; it is followed by a very brief description of the program, and then instructions on where to get more information about the program. In most cases, you can get some basic information about the program by typing either "man" or "info" followed by the program's name --- e.g., by typing "man python" --- but more information is given at the location listed below.

In most cases, you can start the program by typing its name and then pressing ENTER. Or, you may want to type the program's name, followed by a space, followed by an ampersand (&), followed by ENTER, to keep the text window available while the other program is running. Names of programs are case-sensitive -- e.g., typing "netscape" will not have the same effect as typing "Netscape".

Any "local link" is click-accessible from this web page if you're running Netscape on one of our local X-Windows terminals, but it is not accessible remotely (e.g., via modem). Those web pages are also accessible by remote access (e.g., via modem), by this more complicated procedure, if you have an account on our system: Copy the URL that begins with "ftp://username@atlas". (Yes, that's an URL, even though it begins with "ftp" rather than the usual "http".) Replace "username" with your username. Then paste the resulting URL into the "location" blank at the top of your Netscape or Explorer screen. Then press the ENTER key on your keyboard. You will then be prompted for your account password. After that you'll be taken to the desired web page.

Math environments

mathematica -- Interactive computer algebra system

online introductory page

maple -- Interactive computer algebra system

online tutorials etc (see also Maple Front End)

matlab -- mathematics environment

local link or ftp://username@atlas.math.vanderbilt.edu/usr/local/matlab/help/helpdesk.html
-- See also /usr/local/matlab_r12p1/help/pdf_doc

TeX- or text-related

tex -- typesetting system

Assorted documentation at local link or ftp://username@atlas.math.vanderbilt.edu/usr/local/teTeX/texmf/doc/index.html -- also see our introductory web page at http://www.math.vanderbilt.edu/ourequip/basics/tex.html

lyx -- LaTeX WYSIWYG editor

Online manual

ispell -- spelling checker

ispell can ignore TeX and Latex commands. Moreover, it can be used from inside of GNU-Emacs. Also, as currently installed it can spell-check American English, British English (-d british), German (-d deutsch), French (-d francais), Spanish (-d espa~nol), and Greek (-d ellhnika).

For more information use "man ispell" or "info ispell"

gs -- "ghostscript" viewer of postscript files

General documentation in local link or at ftp://username@atlas.math.vanderbilt.edu/usr/local/stow/ghostscript/share/ghostscript/5.50/doc/. That page points to several other pages, among which Uwe particularly recommends the one at local link or ftp://username@atlas.math.vanderbilt.edu/usr/local/stow/ghostscript/share/ghostscript/5.50/doc/Use.htm

Graphics

geomview -- interactive geometry viewer

local link or ftp://username@atlas.math.vanderbilt.edu/usr/local/stow/Geomview/doc/geomview_toc.html

gnuplot -- plotter

Html page at local link or ftp://username@atlas.math.vanderbilt.edu/usr/local/stow/gnuplot/docs/html/index.html --- also available as a dvi file, at local link or ftp://username@atlas.math.vanderbilt.edu/usr/local/stow/gnuplot/docs/gnuplot.dvi

gimp -- graphics editor

Online manual

xv -- graphics editor

Web page manual can be viewed at this local link or this URL: ftp://username@atlas.math.vanderbilt.edu/usr/local/stow/xv/html/index.html

For programmers

bash -- GNU Bourne-Again SHell

Web page manual can be viewed at this local link or this URL: ftp://username@atlas.math.vanderbilt.edu/usr/local/stow/bash/doc/bash/bash.html

tcsh -- C shell with file name completion and command line editing

Web page manual can be viewed at this local link or this URL: ftp://username@atlas.math.vanderbilt.edu/usr/local/stow/tcsh/doc/tcsh/index.html

python -- programming language

Online manual

Tcl, tk, TclX, expect -- Tool control language for Unix, etc.

web page

This page last updated 20 Sept 2001 by webmaster. Your own contributions to this page would be greatly appreciated. I am grateful to Uwe Mayer for his many contributions to this page.