Version 0.15 of PyNAG released

September 10th, 2009 | Categories: NAG Library, python | Tags:

Just a quick note to say that I’ve released version 0.15 of PyNAG – my Python interface to the NAG C library and given it its own dedicated page on Walking Randomly.  New features include

  • Basic support for 165 functions from Mark 8 of the NAG C library.
  • 29 simple but fully functional examples.
  • Added initial support for NAG’s Complex structure.
  1. Z
    October 18th, 2009 at 21:12
    Reply | Quote | #1

    Hi Mike,
    I’ve been keeping an eye on NAG Library for a long time.
    However, to be honest, with several other numerical libraries at hand for free, I can’t see any reasonable evidence that can persuade me to pay for it. What do you think are the advantages of NAG Library? Thanks.

  2. October 20th, 2009 at 09:59
    Reply | Quote | #2

    Hi Z (why not use your actual name? I won’t bite)

    I guess it depends what you want to do – if you are happy with the free libraries then there is no need to look elsewhere. In general, I recommend and use the NAG library for the following reasons

    -It’s fast – partly because it’s written in FORTRAN. I am not a fan of FORTRAN but I don’t need to be because NAG have done the dirty work for me.

    -It’s well tested – NAG routines are used in some very major commercial applications such as Maple, Origin and the ACML. If it’s good enough for those guys then it’s good enough for me.

    -The support is superb – and I REALLY mean this. I deal with support teams from many software companies and few compare with NAG’s. I often end up talking to the people who WROTE the software rather than some script-reading flunky.

    -It’s well documented – very well documented.

    -I can call the library from any language I choose – NAG will (and have) helped me and my users do this.

    -The site license conditions are amazing – It doesn’t cost my uni all that much to have all NAG products on site license. The licensing system is very simple compared to some I could mention. I could literally give every student and member of staff in the University a license for the library and the compilers.

    -It’s comprehensive – I don’t need to learn several libraries to get the job done.

    -They listen to their customers – Over the years I have moaned that the NAG library lacks one thing or another and NAG have listened. There are functions in Mark 22 that are there because academics in my university asked for them. If I have the temerity to moan about the lack of something in certain open source products then I sometimes get the not so helpful ‘You know where the source code is – add it’.

    Free libraries are cool too – I can’t be bothered with a holy war so please don’t start one. One thing to bear in mind is that some of those routines in your favourite free library might have been written by NAG. They have contributed heavily to LAPACK for example.

    Yep, I like em.

    If you don’t feel that any of the above are advantages then don’t pay for them