Re: [Axiom-developer] opinion

[Frederic Lehobey]

Hi,

Sorry to feed this somewhat off-topic thread, I'll refrain from doing
it after this message.

On Thu, May 26, 2005 at 06:40:32PM -0400, Page, Bill wrote:

> For a baseline one can compare this to the overall increase in
> the number of debian users reporting by this system
> 
> http://people.debian.org/~igloo/popcon-graphs/index.php?packages=base-files&;
> show_installed=on&show_vote=on&beenhere=1
> 
> which is approaching 7,000. So according to this about 1% of Debian
> users have installed Axiom and about 5% have installed Maxima with
> the number of "regular users" very much less than 1%.

> > Do not misinterpret this: I do not mind the Windows porting efforts
> > and even appreciate them, but if the Windows figures are more relevant
> > as the axiom-developers site is almost the only source for axiom
> > download, nothing such may be said for the GNU/Linux (or Bsd) versions
> > that have alternative distribution schemes.  Only compare things that
> > are comparable.
> 
> I agree. However if we do attempt to compare the debian Axiom
> popcon numbers with the Axiom for Windows downloads from the
> axiom-developer.org site, then the number Linux users is still so
> small as to be "off the map".

Well, I do not know.  Do you have any idea of the percentage of
Windows users who are regular users of Axiom?  I expect it to be much
much smaller than 1%.

> > The only figure that matters is the number of involved developpers:
> > if many people have the goal and skills to improve the Windows port,
> > then the power is to them, that is the way free software works.
> 
> I agree but I think that this is an interesting question: Does
> the increase in the number of Axiom for Windows users translate
> into an increase in the number of involved Axiom *developers*?
> 
> So far postings to the axiom-developer web site and to this email
> list suggest that the answer to this quesiton is "no", at least
> not within the time period that the Windows version has been
> available (since December 2004). :(

Unfortunately, up to now.  But I praise your efforts and hope to see
them soon rewarded by a much wider Windows user (and hopefully
developer) base.

Personally, I have interest (and some skills) in working on the
GNU/Linux version but have not yet found the time to do it (other more
urgent but not always more important matters).  I feel ashamed and
frustrated compared to your work but hope I will not not stay too long
like this.

Best regards,
Frederic