Re: [Axiom-mail] Abstract Vector Algebra

[u1204]

Gaby, 

>> I will note that the NSF will not fund open source projects.
>> Science can only occur if you are at a University. Sigh.
>
>I don't know why you are saying that, NSF certainly has been
>funding many open source projects, as long as they enable or
>they are part of fundamental research.  Check out the projects
>that made it through this program:
>
>   http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=504817

Thanks for the link. Quote from that page:

 "SI^2 envisions vibrant partnerships among academia, government
  laboratories and industry, including international entities, 
  for the development and stewardship of sustainable software
  ..."

Both Open-Axiom (you) and FriCAS (Waldek) are university related
and university supported efforts. Axiom is pure open source with
no affilations.

I'm saying what I said as an almost direct quote from the person
at NSF responsible for the relevant program. And from the person
before that. I tried for several years. I also tried at NIST in
relation to the Mathematical Handbook. I would like to see 
algorithms in the handbook and thought I could find funding there.

The issue seems to be that there needs to be someone who can handle the
receipts. At a University (e.g. CCNY where I used to work) the provost
did that.  Grants to your university fund students.  Open source
projects not associated with a university don't have the required
accounting setup.

I approached IBM (where I used to work) with the suggestion that they
set up a very small (e.g. 2 person) "open source support" organization,
not specifically related to Axiom, which had the job of receiving the
NSF grant money and handling receipts. The accountants would be paid out
of the grant money, similar to the way the provost took over 50% of my
grant for "overhead". I also approached Texas Instruments and Hewlett
Packard. I suppose I should have approached Google but my frustration
level just got too high.

This isn't money for programming. It would be grant money to have
conferences, travel expenses, website support, and code sprints. 
The only direct cash payments would go to summer-of-code-like projects.

It is much more costly but way less frustrating to just fund it myself.

Tim Daly